On Monday 18 March 2019, staff and volunteers at the Edmund Rice Centre held prayers and reflection to remember those who were killed and to stand in solidarity with Muslim communities in New Zealand and Australia. The gathering was organised by Darryl Cronin, Aboriginal staff member at the Edmund Rice Centre and reflection and prayers were led by Father Claude Mostowik.

The Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education Centre (ERC) stands in solidarity with the organisers and participants of the School Strike 4 Climate Rally on 15 March 2019.

Faced with so much to say about Oscar Romero and Paul Vll, I turned to St Teresa. It seemed she was saying: keep it short and focus on what made their hearts burn as for the disciples today in the hope that our hearts would also burn when confronted with the word of God. We cannot relegate the lessons of any hero to the abstract or superficial. In lieu of platitudes, and avoid domestication, we need to make a living, active tribute to such peacemakers, whistle-blowers and prophetic voices who call for peace and justice, sound governance and responsible use of power. In both Oscar Romero and Paul Vl – there is a clear message: solidarity with the ‘poor’ must take centre stage.