The Edmund Rice Centre is committed to remove barriers for our communities and deliver accessible programs. On 31 Oct 2023, we commenced a highly successful program for our Tamil Community in Toongabbie NSW. The program was conducted with Tamil interpretation in order to make it linguistically accessible for those who have language barrier. 21 people benefited from the session. The following topics were covered about Australia's Legal System in this session: 

1. The separation of powers between the three arms of government
2. Referendum as the mechanism to amend the constitution
3. Constitutional law versus statutory law
4. Federal law versus State and Territory law
5. The hierarchy of courts in Australia

Since First Nations leaders called for a post-Referendum week of silence on 15 October, we, along with many like-minded organisations and individuals around Australia, have heeded this call and felt the pain and disappointment of our Indigenous brothers and sisters who fought so hard for a Yes outcome. As we emerge from this week of reflection and lamentation we have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with, and support, them.

Thirtieth Sunday of the Year

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus boldly faces the lawyers out to trip him up. He reduces all 613 commandments in Israelite law to one word: love. We know not what these interrogators hoped Jesus’ answer when asked about the most important law. Jesus responded by quoting the Shema, which Moses taught Israel to hold central, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind’ (Dt. 6:4-5). He said it is ‘the greatest and first commandment’ (Mt. 22:38). But what does this love of God look like? How do we know we are living it?