ANNUAL REPORT 2018 CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES VICTORIA Contents Episcopal 03 Vicar Reflection Chair 04 Report Executive 05 Director Report What’s 06 Been Happening in 2018? Council, 08 Committees & Membership Finance 10 MISSION Report Acknowledgements 11 objectives Fr Joe Caddy AM CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES VICTORIA: Episcopal Vicar for Social Services MISSION: Bernie Cronin Chair of Council To assist the Catholic Church in Victoria to fulfil the gospel imperatives to: (a) Stand with and serve the poor, disadvantaged and Staff (at 31.12.2018) marginalised; and Denis Fitzgerald (b) Work for a just, equitable and compassionate society. Executive Director Peter Hudson Network and Member OBJECTIVES: Support Co-ordinator Catholic Social Services Victoria is auspiced by the Archbishop and Bishops, Lucia Brick and its member organisations to act as a peak body for Catholic community Executive Assistant service works in Victoria by: Claire-Anne Willis • Discerning and promoting within the Church and its agencies and ministries Senior Policy Officer a contemporary vision and focus of the Church’s social mission Fiona Basile Communications • Representing its members and the Church in responding to social welfare Contractor issues so as to bring about social change in accordance with Catholic Social Teaching Elizabeth Freeman Administrative Officer – Resourcing the Bishops, Religious Institutes, Church agencies, ministries Huong Nguyen and other Church-based groups with regard to their social welfare Administrative Officer pastoral responsibilities and ministries Adrian Foley (Volunteer) – Encouraging collaboration in the promotion of opportunities for service Parish Liaison delivery and mission development – Giving effective voice to the experiences and struggles of people who COVER IMAGE are disadvantaged and marginalised through researching, publishing and Fiona Basile | RHSA speaking on issues of justice and equity. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 03 Episcopal Vicar Reflection In Luke’s Gospel (14:7-11) we hear Jesus tell a story about where to sit at a banquet, at one level it seems trivial but when we consider the “honour society” that Jesus was a part of, saving face, looking good in the sight of others, being honoured and never shamed was everything. Jesus is proposing a complete reversal − he is turning the world order on its head! When you come to the banquet sit in the lowest place; when you hold a dinner party don’t invite your own tribe and people of influence and status − no − invite the poor, the lame and the blind. Such a vision challenges us today as well, but it also proposes a vision that gives us a way forward in the face of the many serious issues that face us today. Fr Joe Caddy AM Jesus proposes an approach to our social order that starts EPISCOPAL VICAR FOR SOCIAL SERVICES with the most vulnerable; that is completely other centred. It is not just about our tribe. It calls for courage in the face of power to put into play this dynamic − it’s not about trickle It’s hard to find quiet time in a big city. We are assaulted with down – looking after the powerful first − it is renewal and noise but we, as Christians, are challenged to be discerning resurrection from the bottom. − to be people who are hearing − that is, people who can make meaning somehow of the noise. What if we try that? As a church we can encourage such views as we walk in solidarity with the poor and the most If we listen carefully we will hear the cries of those who vulnerable and enter respectfully into dialogue and service progress has left behind; those who have fallen off with the diversity of people and views in our society. the edges and into our prisons or become invisible on the streets; we will hear the weeping of our seas and Excerpt from Homily – Fr Joe Caddy at 2018 National Social waterways; the wheezing of our atmosphere; the whimper of Services Conference Mass disappearing species and the gasping of dry parched lands. 22 FEBRUARY 2018 As Christians we are called to listen deeply to stories of vulnerability. Those voices are the voices of God in the cries of the poor- those on the margins, who are expendable and of little economic benefit; who are disposable: our Earth − the land and seas and air so delicately hanging in the balance and under such pressure − a pressure that weighs most heavily on the worlds’ poorest communities. How can we transform these pleas into the groans of new birth? To do that we will first need a vision. If we can capture a glimpse of how things could be, then hope will be restored and with hope may come the courage that we need. With it will come a sense that we are not alone and that together we can tackle the seemingly overwhelming issues of our time – global warming, world peace, displaced people Sherry Balcombe and the homeless on our doorstep. ABORIGINAL CATHOLIC MINISTRY MELBOURNE Thanks be to God, throughout the history of the church it has always been clear that a person’s perfection is measured not by the information or knowledge they possess, but by the depth of their charity. Pope Francis, Rejoice & be Glad, 37 04 | CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Chair Report Catholic social services organisations make a substantial contribution to building a more just and compassionate Victorian society. More than 200,000 people were supported by our organisations during 2018. This essential work is carried out by over 17,600 volunteers and 6,800 professional staff. This effort, spread across a very wide range of services, is undertaken by our member organisations, reinforced by the work of Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV) as the peak representative body. Member organisations do not work in isolation as they Canberra Launch of Hearing, Healing, Hope serve those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged. L-R Paul Bongiorno, Maria Harries, Patrice Scale, Fr Frank Brennan Collaboration is part of how the sector operates, and joining together for collective action as CSSV is a valuable part of • Continuing provision of quality formation workshops our endeavours to influence the society we live in. in Mission Inspired Leadership and Catholic Social Teaching The mission of Catholic Social Services Victoria is to assist the Catholic Church in Victoria to fulfil the gospel • Support for parishes as centres of service , including imperatives to stand with and serve those who are poor, local assistance for asylum seekers disadvantaged and marginalised. We have a unique • Resourcing parishes and dioceses to tackle domestic role, working within the Church while endeavouring to and family violence educate, influence and shape its response to the pressing • Promoting best practice in preventing and social issues of the day. As an example, CSSV has responding to child sexual abuse within the church, embraced the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference including supporting members to respond fully to Social Justice Statement 2018-19 ‘A Place to Call Home’. recommendations of the Royal Commission With our members we helped shape the statement and its supporting documentation, and have drawn on the Importantly for the future, the Council has commenced a document to promote a range of responses to the social 12 month process to develop a new five year strategic plan. housing crisis afflicting our society. This plan will be underpinned by extensive consultation with members and an in-depth examination of where Throughout 2018, the Council at Catholic Social and how Catholic Social Services Victoria can add value Services Victoria has worked solidly towards the goals to the collective endeavour of building a more just and outlined in its strategic plan 2017 -2019. This always compassionate Victoria. Collaboration with members involves collaboration with members, other peak bodies in responding to emerging drivers of vulnerability and and Victorian Diocesan stakeholders. Some of our disadvantage will be at its heart. achievements are: All members of the Council deeply appreciate the • The breadth and success of our 2018 National Catholic contributions and involvement of members and the Social Services Conference, and the publication and dedicated work of staff over the year. Together we work varied launches of the associated book towards a more just and compassionate society. • Research and advocacy on homelessness and social housing, including a survey of parish housing initiatives in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, and significant contributions to the impact of the Bishops’ Social Justice Statement • Research and advocacy on needs of regional and rural communities • Effective advocacy on the most urgent issues affecting Bernie Cronin vulnerable communities during the 2018 State election. CHAIR OF COUNCIL We can recognize the truth of statements from their fruits: whether they provoke quarrels, foment division, encourage resignation; or, on the other hand, they promote informed and mature reflection leading to constructive dialogue and fruitful results. Pope Francis, World Communication Day 2018 CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 | 05 Executive Director Report And that network is a place where the intersection of service and justice with faith and Catholic identity can be explored, where the bigger picture of societal and international developments can inform the issues of the moment, and where cooperation across a diverse sector and a diverse Church is part of the culture. In light of the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, building on the strengths of our Catholic identity and the Catholic Conference Plenary 2020 Breakfast tradition can be a challenge. This is exacerbated by other seismic changes in the operating environment: changes in the pattern of Government funding, as exemplified in Hearing, Healing, Hope was the title the NDIS; changes in the needs of people, including and the theme of our February 2018 asylum seekers and those living in new suburbs; and national conference, and of the book that changes in the demographics of our Catholic social emerged from that event.