An evening of Christmas carols and biblical readings at the beginning of Advent from the choir of Claremont Parish St Thomas the Apostle had awakened hope in the hearts of many. Held on 2 December and 6 December 2020, it was the 12th Road to Bethlehem annual concert and most significant yet.

The Archdiocese of Perth established Catholic Outreach in 1990 with the objective of promoting, developing and implementing pastoral care programmes within parishes.
Catholic Outreach has this year marked its 30th year, inviting its many programme coordinators to a landmark Mass celebrated by Applecross Parish Priest Father Nelson Po at the Catholic Pastoral Centre chapel in Highgate on 15 August 2020, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.

During what has been one of the most challenging years in recent memory, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) has strived to promote the good works of the Catholic Church. As ACM Director Donella Brown explains: “The essence of good works in our Catholic Church is when people and ministries engage with and serve the community around them especially the most vulnerable”.

Hope for greater understanding of the need for people with disability to participate in their local parish community is the message shared by Lynette, Susan and Geoffrey, active members of 39 years from the Emmanuel Centre and the Ministry with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.

After much discernment in prayer, Josephite Sister Liz Koziol RSJ recalled being overcome by a sense of peace, as she accepted yet another call, this time to lead the Archdiocesan Prison Ministry as its Coordinator.

A Western Australian living on the gross national minimum wage in 2018 would have to survive on $719.20 weekly.
With rising living cost and housing prices, the amount was certainly inadequate, which would increase the poverty rate and hence homelessness in the State.
The Shopfront is the Archdiocesan agency fully committed to fighting homelessness and helping those in need.

Daydawn Advocacy Centre, the Catholic agency that advocates in the area of indigenous housing, usually sees some 3500 visitors walk through the doors each year, many of whom with dependent children and facing homelessness.

Centacare Employment and Training proudly unveiled their
newly built library at Gosnells site on 23 November. Centacare Gosnells library is a tremendous addition to
providing free, accessible, educational resources for clients in Centacare’s
Skills for Employment and Education (SEE) program.

This year, 2020, the year of COVID-19 also marks the 100th anniversary of the Church’s ministry to seafarers through Stella Maris and unsurprisingly, it is the effects of the pandemic that have occupied Stella Maris centres in ports across Australia and around the world.

Despite the impact of COVID-19 (with its virtual shut-down of all Church activity throughout the middle of the year) Catholic Social Services Western Australia (CSSWA) has forged ahead with the Catholic Volunteer Hub, an initiative that looks set to dramatically increase the potential for ordinary Catholics to get involved with performing the Good Works of the Church. The Catholic Volunteer Hub creates an opportunity for adults who are seeking to volunteer in a parish setting or for an agency, inviting everyone to participate in performing the Good Works of the Church and realise the objectives outlined in the Archdiocesan Plan 2016 – 2021.