For ongoing news concerning the Vincentian Family in Chile (as well as Haiti), see the following Sites:   FamVin,   CMGlobal,    Facebook(Chile) and   Vincentian Encyclopedia (Haiti)   

The  Congregation of the Mission in the Province of Chile maintains a page on Facebook which can be accessed through the link CM Chile (Facebook) .  However most of the messages here are in Spanish.  Significant information will probably appear in English on the sites mentioned above as soon as possible.

 

12/3/10    The 2010 General Assembly of the CMs is approaching !

ROME:  The CM Global Site has posted a prayer in preparation for the 2010 General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission to be held in Paris,  This prayer, along with the logo above, can be found through the link GENERAL ASSEMBLY  .

 

12/3/10    Plea for action on income plan

BRISBANE:  In an article in The Catholic Leader (Mar 14), the Federal Government's plan to introduce forced income management for welfare recipients across Australia has been described by a national Catholic welfare body as a "move towards a meaner social safety net" and "likely to be counter-productive".   Catholic Social Services of Australia executive director Frank Quinlan,  who last month sent a submission to a Senate inquiry into the proposed legislation, said it was hoped the review process would "yield amendments" to make the proposed legislation fairer.  

St Vincent de Paul Society national chief executive officer Dr John Falzon told the Senate inquiry, held in Canberra on February 26, the Federal Government was acting in an "exclusionary and divisive" manner.  Dr Falzon told the inquiry this was because the reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination Act has been made dependent on forced income management of welfare recipients across Australia.   READ FURTHER

 

11/3/10    Vinnies Queensland Leader issues warning

BRISBANE:  The Catholic Leader (Brisbane) reports on March 14 - New Queensland president of the St Vincent de Paul Society Brian Moore has warned the society has a limited future unless it can be "refreshed with new members and volunteers".  Mr Moore, a member of the society for more than 40 years, made the comment soon after his recent election as president.  He was elected after previous state president John Campbell finished his four-year term. READ FURTHER

 

 

  

 

11/3/10    Vinnies launches Western Qld Flood Appeal

BRISBANE:  The St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland on Mar 5 announced its Western Queensland flood  appeal to support those affected by the recent devastating rain.  Newly elected State President Brian Moore urged the public to get behind the appeal, which  will help provide financial and material assistance to people in crisis.  “Many of the communities in the west, Charleville, Roma and St George, are struggling families, and isolated elderly,” Brian said.  READ MEDIA RELEASE   

See also:  Disaster Zone (The Catholic Leader,  Mar 14, 2009)

 

10/3/10    Is Income Control a measure too far ?

AUSTRALIA:    Clare Martin, chief executive of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and former chief minister of the Northern Territory writes for The Australian (Mar 9) -  The federal government is set to take unprecedented control over the finances of low-income Australians in a scheme at present being considered by parliament. Most Australians have heard little about these major reforms that could see the government dictate minor purchasing decisions, like where someone can purchase a carton of milk or buy oranges. Under the government's income management scheme, people on Centrelink's unemployment, sole parent and youth payments for more than a year (or 3 months for young people) would have at least half of their payments managed by government if they live in an area declared by the minister as disadvantaged. The bill before parliament states that a disadvantaged area could include "the whole of a state or territory"  READ FURTHER.

 

10/3/10    We risk robbing the homeless of identity and humanity

SYDNEY: The St VIncent de Paul Society Column in The Catholic Weeklsy (Feb 28) writes - The term “homeless person” is used readily in theory, practice and policy – even among people experiencing homelessness – yet its connotations and impact are rarely considered. Researcher, Guy Johnson says the manner in which housing and homeless service providers interpret an individual’s “housing and homelessness history” is critical in determining a person’s ability to “get out and stay out” of homelessness. The “homeless person” label is a fundamental part of an individual’s sense of self, and it can have a substantial bearing on their capacity to overcome marginalisation and disadvantage. Homelessness is an identity, an identity shaped not solely by an individual’s self perception but also the singular and collective perceptions of others. It is an identity forged through interaction with innumerable social networks, service systems, cultures, policy structures, and environments.   READ FURTHER  

 

9/3/10    Catholic Network Australia launches high speed  links \

CORRIMAL NSW:  Catholic Network Australia (CNA) announced this week the completion of its core telecommunications network initially linking 1,622 schools and education offices across the country. While Catholic schools will be the first to benefit from the network it is envisaged that all Australian Catholic agencies and parishes will be able to participate over time.  For the first time, schools from geographically diverse locations such as Rockhampton (Qld), Bunbury (WA), Port Pirie (SA), Sale (Vic) and Wagga Wagga (NSW) are all connected together on a single national network. The project, in partnership with Telstra Corporation, will also dramatically increase high-speed broadband connectivity to schools in order to enhance virtual learning, collaboration and administration.  The network, which is predominantly fibre-based, will connect five data centres across Australia and use Telstra Government Wideband IP service, which provides carrier grade connectivity.  MORE DETAILS

(CNA logo and story courtesy of CathNews