Vanuatu, a small island nation in the Pacific, took a bold step in global climate advocacy by initiating a legal campaign to bring the issue of climate change before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This move was sparked by a group of law students from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, who formed the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC). Recognizing the existential threat climate change poses to vulnerable nations like theirs, Vanuatu built a coalition of similarly affected countries, leading to the United Nations General Assembly referring key legal questions to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion.

Join us online for Spirituality on the Sofa on Wednesday 30 July 2025, from 7.30–9pm (AEST) via Zoom, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Spirituality in the Pub. This special event features guest speakers Dr Austen Ivereigh and Professor Anna Rowlands, live from the UK, exploring the timely theme: “Synodality: A New Path for the Church?” Moderated by Susan Eichorn, the evening will continue the tradition of meaningful, faith-filled conversations that began three decades ago. All are welcome to join from home and participate in this dynamic online discussion, which nurtures both local and international spiritual communities. Zoom details and promotional resources are available to help spread the word.

This heartfelt reflection invites families and lay Marists to rediscover the spirit of Fourvière—the moment in 1816 when twelve young seminarians pledged to live in the way of Mary. Although we may be distant from Marist institutions today, this video encourages us to bring the Marist dream home by celebrating “Marist Christmas” with our families. Through storytelling, simple rituals, and renewed commitment, we can rekindle our Marist identity and call down the Holy Spirit to guide us in Mary’s way. Join us in saying, “Happy Fourvière to you.”

In this reflection, Father Jim explores the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, declared by Pope Francis, and its biblical roots in Leviticus. The original Jubilee, celebrated every 50 years, was a time of economic and social reset—debts were forgiven, land was returned, and the goal was to prevent long-term poverty and extreme wealth accumulation. It aimed to keep society just, ensuring no one was trapped in generational poverty or allowed to dominate through excessive wealth. Father Jim draws attention to how far modern society has drifted from this ideal, with the rise of billionaires and increasing numbers of people living paycheck to paycheck—an imbalance that threatens peace and equality.

We’re making a garden;We’re working the ground. In land that’s bombed and torn, Your love soaks through the soil;New life can yet be born.

Our challenge is to accompany people from the margins into a journey towards the fullness of life and love. We are meant to be in the coalface, in the messiness of it all and at the same time in fidelity to the Gospel… Like Christ in his ministry among the sick and the lost, we are called to meet God in the most unlikely people and places. We, too, must be in that frontier space.

Ocean with David Attenborough is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful documentary directed by Toby Nowlan, Colin Butfield, and Keith Scholey, and released through Altitude Films in May 2025. Narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough in his 99th year, the film takes viewers on a sweeping journey from tranquil coral reefs and kelp forests to the remote depths of the open ocean. It offers a testament to marine life’s beauty and complexity, captured in breathtaking high-definition cinematography (Ocean Film, 2025).