Australian Catholics are once again able to be offered deep re-engagement with our sisters and brothers globally.
COVID-19 stopped us reaching beyond but we can now rejoice in renewed opportunities abroad, thanks to Palms Australia, which has been offering mission opportunities since 1961.
Executive Director, Roger O’Halloran said that reaching beyond our own small world is so important to the mutual development of communities here and abroad.
“Australians who respond to the call to share their skills, to mentor those with little other opportunity, get to immerse themselves in resilient communities and learn from their wisdom,” Mr O’Halloran said.
Palms Australia prepares and supports Australians undertaking this adventurous mission to be conduits that encourage communities here and there to discern together, so that we can develop and grow sustainably together.
It begins with a request from an overseas community who identify developments that will foster and build on the strengths of their people.
Looking to develop health, education, technical trade and administrative skills they ask Palms to find appropriately qualified and experienced Australians who might volunteer to assist.
An Energising Exploration
Mr O’Halloran continued by explaining that despite perhaps being well-meaning the paternal or patronising approaches of old, stifled an energising exploration of mutual growth.
“While we have an obligation to share with those who life with less we have at least as much to learn,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“More Australians responding again to the many requests from Catholic communities abroad allows us to rediscover alternatives to the “Western” development model that has taken us down a path of unsustainable resource depletion and damaging climate change.”
Presentation Sister Frances Hayes PBVM shared her experience of having completed a Palms assignment preparation in May at a eight day orientation course, before heading to Mae Ramat on the Thai/Myanmar border in mid-June.
Sr Frances is a teacher, experienced in working with refugees.
She is now working alongside three local teachers, teaching English to Thai students as well as providing additional English language learning opportunities for the many current dormitory students from Myanmar.
Click Here to find out more about Sr Frances’ experience.
Palms is inviting those who are interested to find out more about mission opportunities by joining in a webinar on Monday 1 August 2022 at 7pm.
At this Webinar you will meet with Palms partner organisations abroad and the program participants recently dispatched to their communities.
Click Here for more information about how you can become part of the story that achieves this uplifting vision.