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Wear orange for Harmony Day

Australia has much to be proud of in terms of its Indigenous and multicultural traditions. While the First Australians have been on this continent for more than 60,000 years, more recent arrivals have come from the four corners of the globe.

Having faith in the dark times

The ancient texts in the book of Genesis, which speak to us of creation and then our fall from grace, provide us with the most marvellous insights into our nature and the nature of the world about us. Creationists who insist only on a literal interpretation of such biblical texts do themselves and us a great disservice, precisely because they fail to grasp the depth of meaning that lies within them.

St Patrick in Irish folklore

It may be trite to say that St Patrick was a larger-than-life figure, and yet, that is what he was. There is Patrick the saint whose life is a guide for living by the spirit and values of the gospel of Jesus; and then there is Patrick of the folk tradition which is the focus of this article.

Finding God amongst the outcasts

Over the next couple of weeks, we move from the Gospel of Matthew to the Fourth Gospel. Often described as the “spiritual gospel,” this gospel presents Jesus’ teachings in the form of long theologically-charged speeches or his many-levelled interactions with various characters representing key groups within first-century Roman Palestine.

Seeing the importance of the sea

SeaWeek 2023 is being celebrated throughout Australia from March 4 to 12. This year’s theme is Ocean Literacy Principle #1: Planet Earth – The ocean and its interconnected systems. The week coincides with Clean Up Australia Day which was held on Sunday.

Beatification for Spanish woman

Maypole dancing has been part of various European folk festivals for centuries.

The festivals usually occur on May 1 or at Pentecost, although in some countries the maypole is erected between June 20-26. In some places, the maypole is a permanent feature that is only used during the festival.

Playing their part for peace

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is held each year on May 29. It is an opportunity to honour the contribution of the uniformed and civilian personnel who work for the organisation.

The festivals usually occur on May 1 or at Pentecost, although in some countries the maypole is erected between June 20-26. In some places, the maypole is a permanent feature that is only used during the festival.