The eRecord was last week awarded a Highly Commended at the 2015 Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) Awards for the article titled Vincent aims for the heights to help homeless published on 10 April 2015.
The article, written by Archdiocese of Perth Senior Communications Officer and eRecord Editor Jamie O’Brien, looked at a simple plan to help the homeless of Perth that was successfully devised by 10-year-old Whitford Catholic Primary School student, Vincent Pettinchio.
In announcing the judges’ comments for the category of Best Devotional Article Applying Faith to Life, outgoing ACPA President Annie Carrett, Communications Manager from the Diocese of Broken Bay, said one wonders what this young boy might do when his Christian faith blossoms with age.
Mr O’Brien, who attended the Conference and Awards Night which was held on 9 and 10 September at the Mangrove Hotel in Broome said, while he was most honoured to write the article, it was even more inspiring to meet a young person like Vincent, who is obviously filled with a desire to carry out the work of Christ.
The Conference and Awards Night was also the occasion of the 60th anniversary of ACPA and the first time the annual event was held at a regional area in Australia.
In giving the keynote address at the Conference, Bishop of the Diocese of Broome, Christopher Saunders, spoke about his role as the former Chair of the Australian Catholic Social Council for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC).
Bishop Saunders was also speaking in context of the release of the 2015 Social Justice Statement which was released on Wednesday, 10 September.
“The great gift of Francis, our Holy Father… is to awaken us from our slumber, to help us see in the plaintive look of the hungry child, the traumatised refugee, the desperately dispossessed and the marginalised poor, nothing less than the face of the suffering Christ who begs of us compassion and Christian action for justice,” Bishop Saunders said.
Bishop Saunders went on to speak about the history of the Aboriginal community in the Diocese of Broome and the role of social justice.
“I believe without hesitation that the Church in Australia is called to be bold in its part in the service of Australian society – even though we so often appear these days to be on the back foot.
“We share a unique moment in the pages of our country’s history and we are being well prepared as we learn humility which we know is the foundation of all Christian endeavour.”