The Identitywa community gathered for their annual Christmas Mass for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and then on Tuesday, 20 January, the Archdiocesan agency also officially opened two new homes to meet the needs of the people they serve. By Amanda Murthy.

Staff and students at St Norbert College spent part of their year-end holidays bringing joy to Emmaus community residence for people living with mental illness. Seaton Catholic College practised their annual tradition with each student from Years 7 to 11 contributing the St Vinnies Christmas Hampers.

At the Opening Mass of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe emphasised that the Lord is inviting us to reflect deeply and courageously on how we can better, as individuals and as communities of faith, be this living image of the life-giving God who, in Christ, is always seeking to be present and active in our world.

The first “spiritual conversations” of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia covered a broad range of thoughts and topics from Baptism being the place for fundamental conversion to the need for the Church to tend to its past and current failures.

Applecross parishioner Giuseppe Cinanni was announced as one of 1190 Australians to receive a 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for Australia. He was honoured for his involvement in Catholic-based and community support initiatives, where he co-ordinated, volunteered, and organised various fundraising projects through collaboration with strong networks, which he built over the years. By Amanda Murthy.

The month of May is Domestic Violence Prevention Month, and UNDA’s Chaplaincyteam along with their Respect Officers have organised a Remembrance Mass to tribute those who have lost their lives and all those who continue to be impacted by family and domestic violence. By Amanda Murthy.

More than 500 people gathered at St Kieran Catholic Church in Osborne Park parish carpark to witness and celebrate the long-awaited installation, blessing and opening of a prayer shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel on Friday 4 December at 7pm, now located in a space its community will refer to as the Healing and Reflection Garden. By Amanda Murthy.

It is a word used to describe many forms of associations and groupings in our society today. Is it possible that the concept of community will be altered as a result and its rich meaning diluted?

In this Issue 27 of The Record Magazine, we take a look at the issue of Community. Communities, particularly the communities of our parishes, agencies and schools. Read more here https://bit.ly/3m1wOHB

The Netflix series Midnight Diner focuses on the owner of a tiny street alley diner in Tokyo.