Personal Advocacy Service volunteers have this month come together for the annual missioning celebration, marking the beginning of another year of faith-filled service.
The more than 70 volunteers gathered at the head office in Morley for the occasion, which was celebrated by Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton.
A special moment of the service was the blessing of the candles by Bishop Don, symbolising the light of Christ.
Each of PAS’s 15 Special Religious Development (SPRED) groups took part in a touching procession, collecting their group candle as “Light a Candle” music played in the background.
Reflecting the inclusive spirit of PAS, the service continued with spiritual symbolism and participation. One of the attending volunteers led the First Reading, accompanied by movement to the reading and Gospel.
A whole-of-congregation ‘Responsorial Psalm in Movement,’ set to the hymn “Your Words,” created an atmosphere of unity and reflection.
The Gospel Acclamation, sung a cappella, lifted spirits in preparation for Bishop Sproxton’s homily followed by a powerful a cappella rendition of the Lord’s Prayer. The celebration concluded with the hymn “You Are The Light”.
During the service, PAS volunteers were honoured for their 10, 20 and 25 years of dedicated service, with Bishop Don Sproxton presenting awards in recognition of their commitment to fostering faith-based communities where people with intellectual disabilities—affectionately called “Friends”—can belong, grow, and build lifelong friendships with their volunteer advocates.
A New Digital Chapter for PAS
Adding to the joy of the occasion was the launch of PAS’s newly redeveloped website, www.paswa.org.au. The new platform is designed to reflect the agency’s growth and enhance accessibility for the community.
Interim Director Margie Tannock shared insights into the motivation behind the website upgrade.
“Over the past few months, since October 2024, we’ve been working on a big project—redeveloping the PAS website,” Ms Tannock explained.
“Our faith-based community is growing, spanning 15 SPRED groups with expanding programs. We wanted our website to reflect this growth and make it easier for people to connect with us,” she said.
Ms Tannock explained that the new website provides clearer messaging to answer key questions about PAS, its mission, and how people can get involved.
In an increasingly digital world, she noted, a well-designed website is essential for making that crucial first connection.
“A more user-friendly website also helps us build partnerships with Archdiocesan support agencies, sponsors, and other collaborators, enabling us to reach more people,” she said.
“Most importantly, we wanted the website to celebrate the vibrant lives of our Friends and volunteers, showcasing the joy, creativity, and community spirit of our SPRED groups, arts and crafts sessions, and dance activities.”
The redevelopment has placed a strong emphasis on accessibility to ensure that all members of the PAS community can navigate and engage with the site.
Ms Tannock encouraged visitors to explore the new platform and share any feedback to further enhance its usability.
To mark the official launch, Bishop Sproxton ceremonially pressed a button to unveil a video showcase of the website’s new features.
The Personal Advocacy Service warmly invites the Catholic and wider community to visit www.paswa.org.au to discover opportunities for involvement and explore the many ways in which people with intellectual disabilities are supported in faith, friendship, and community life.