Students committed to ‘Truth and Peace’

Hundreds of students, teachers and staff from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) came together at West HQ Rooty Hill recently for the 2024-2025 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference's (ACBC) Social Justice Statement Schools Launch: Truth & Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World.

Held in partnership with the Diocese of Parramatta’s Mission Enhancement Team (MET), the Peace, Justice, Ecology Office and Catholic Youth Parramatta (CYP), the launch was attended by Year 8 and 9 students with special guests Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta and CSPD Executive General Manager - Mission Mark Smith.

The launch was celebrated as part of the Parramatta Diocese’s LIFTED GO event which invites students to come together to better understand and consider the role they can play in improving social and environmental justice issues in the world.

"LIFTED GO was an inspiring day for our students to encounter the call of Jesus to seek peace in a world through the Social Justice Statement,” said Mark Smith, CSPD Executive General Manager Mission. “This is a particularly powerful call today with so much suffering caused by conflict. I hope our students return to their schools empowered by this call of Jesus to seek peace in and for our world."

Students discussed current conflicts in the middle east and around the world and how they deal with conflict in their own schools and communities. They considered the importance of trust, which is based on truth, in being able to achieve peace.

In a special Question & Answer session, Bishop Vincent emphasised the importance of building relationships with those affected by violence, stating that we must embrace a culture of encounter and dialogue, and engage in interfaith and ecumenical discussions.

“For conflict to be solved, the truth needs to be shared,” said Nikita, a student at St John XXIII Catholic College Marsden Park.

“We have all seen conflict through war images on social media and tv,” added Tania Melki, CSPD Mission Manager who also took part in the Q&A. “Very little listening is happening but it's more than listening, it’s understanding and empathising. It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing because opposing views hold their own truth. I believe it’s more about understanding the impact upon humanity.”

“I was particularly touched by the testimony of Bishop Vincent and his life experience of fleeing Vietnam due to war,” said Mark Smith. “Also the moving words of James Atanasious, our Diocesan Peace, Justice and Ecology Facilitator, who shared his journey as a Sudanese refugee fleeing terrible conflict in Sudan and the role that his faith played in helping him manage his extreme challenges.”

The Social Justice Statement 2024–2025:

“Truth and Peace – A Gospel Word in a Violent World” analyses the present situation of violence and conflict worldwide and locally, and proposes what is needed if there is to be peace – a peace built on trust, which is based on truth. Using scripture and the guidance of Pope St. John XXIII’s Pacem in Terris and Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti, we learn that peace is possible if we put our trust in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. The statement provides some suggested actions to help us to become peacemakers locally and internationally.

LIFTED GO aims to support young people in developing a deeper understanding of the connection between the love of God, love of self, and love of neighbour. It encourages students to reflect on the importance of caring for all of God’s creations, emphasising charity, advocacy, and justice as integral components of Jesus’ mission in church and society.

Guided by their teachers, many of whom are Religious Education Coordinators (RECs), students engaged in meaningful collaboration to brainstorm actions they can take back to their local school communities in response to the ACBC statement.

Therese Samson, REC at Bede Polding College South Windsor gave a great example of what’s planned for her local community.

“We’re excited to implement ‘Truth Week’ at the College in Term 1 next year,” said Therese. “This will allow for students to hear about the truths of the world, regarding conflicts and to promote understanding and peace.”

Students left LIFTED GO inspired to actively engage in social justice and become catalysts for positive change. Inspired by Jesus, their commitment to ‘Truth and Peace’ is a vital step toward fostering understanding and healing in a world often marked by conflict.

Read Social Justice Statement - Truth & Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World.