The calendar of dates may be a catalyst to think about collaborations – ecumenical (local and regional) as well as inter-faith, and community based collaborations.
What may we do better together than on our own?
Also, some of the important dates for other religious communities may be a prompt to learn more about their traditions, and to call or write to offer words of support, encouragement and solidarity.
***
Note: EASTER 2025
The last common celebration was in 2017, the next one is expected in 2025, and some calculations report that after 2700 Orthodox and Catholic/Protestant Easter will never coincide again. 2025 also celebrates 700 years since the Council of Nicaea. What ecumenical plans might the common Easter and the celebration re Council of Nicaea offer to the Member Churches
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 1-8 June 2025 (Southern Hemisphere) – between Ascension Day and Pentecost (June 8th 2025), a symbolic date for the unity of the Church.
25th December 2024 to 31st December 2025
Holy Year of the Jubilee 2025 (Catholic)
February => May – Australian Federal election (date tbc)
CALENDAR
JANUARY 2025
21st January 2025 World Religion Day
World Religion Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in January every year, and is a reminder of the need for harmony and understanding between religions and faith systems. On this day, communities of different faiths have the opportunity to get together and listen to each other, as well as celebrate the differences and commonalities that the delicate intermingling of culture and religion brings.
26th January – Australia Day
FEBRUARY 2025
8th February – International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking ACRATH (Catholic)
February 13th Anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations (PM Kevin Rudd speech here)
24th February Universal Day of Prayer for Students (UDPS)
This is one of the longest established ecumenical events. The WSCF publishes ecumenical services of worship on a theme that relates to the Federation’s theme of study for the year or responds to current events and issues of concern to the world’s students.
MARCH 2025
1st March – Ramadan commences (evening)
(note: date may be revised slightly as it’s linked to the moon cycle)
7th March World Day of Prayer
8th March International Women’s Day
(Saturday in 2025)
The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is Accelerate Action.
14th March – International Day of Action for Rivers 2024
This is a day dedicated to solidarity – when diverse communities around the world come together with one voice to say that rivers and the rights of communities who depend on them matters.
14th March Purim (Jewish festival)
17th March St Patrick’s Day
19th March International Day against bullying and violence
20th March National Close the Gap Day
NCTGD is usually held on the third Thursday in March.
Thursday 21st March Harmony Day (United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)
31st March – Trans Day of Visibility
Trans Day of Visibility is an annual international celebration recognising trans and gender-diverse experiences and achievements.
31st March Eid ul Fitr (end of Ramadan)
APRIL 2025
April 7th World Health Day
2025 theme: “Global Action for Universal Health”. This theme focuses on – Achieving universal health coverage, Addressing health access and outcome inequalities, Encouraging healthy behaviors, and Strengthening health systems.
12 April – Sun, 20 April 2025 Jewish Pesach/Passover 2o25
(sundown on 12th April to nightfall on 20th April)
13th April Palm Sunday
[Palm Sunday rally]
Thursday 17th April – Maundy Thursday
Friday 18th April – Good Friday
Ecumenical Walk for Good Friday
Melbourne City Church in Action (MCCIA)
20th April – Easter Sunday
21st April 8 hour day
On this day in 1856, stonemasons walked off the job to protest their long working days. They had an ambitious vision: dividing 24 hours into 8 hours work, 8 hours recreation and 8 hours rest. And they would achieve it with no loss of pay. We led the world in the creation of the 8 hour day, despite the odds.
25th April – ANZAC Day
25th April – ANZAC Day Ecumenical Service (St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral)
Wed, 23 Apr 2025 – Thu, 24 Apr 2025 (sundown)
Yom HaShoah Commemoration (Holocaust Remembrance).
MAY 2025
Thursday 1 – Saturday 31 May – Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an important time to raise awareness of the reality and devastating impact of domestic and family violence in Australia.
17th May VCC AGM – more details available soon
11th May World Fair Trade Day
Resource for congregations here
11th May – Mother’s Day
12th May – International Nurses Day
Theme: Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care.
How might you celebrate the nurses in your congregation/ community? A thoughtful prayer is here.
12th May – World Communications Day
Sunday, 11 May to Saturday, 17 May 2025
National Palliative Care Week – the nation’s largest annual discussion about ‘matters of life and death’.
Website here.
16-24 May 2025 Laudato Si Week
19-25th May 2025 National Volunteers Week
Theme: Connecting Communities – celebrating the ability of volunteering to bring people together.
The annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation’s volunteers.
Consider sending an online Certificate of Appreciation to your volunteers (template available on this website)
If you are looking for a certificate template to add your logo to, please visit the National Volunteer Week Resources page.
(Note: Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators have a special certificate to acknowledge the efforts of outstanding and well-deserving volunteers in their electorate, state or territory. Why not contact your local politician/s to ask about acknowledging volunteers in your community/church/agency etc).
22nd May International Day for Biological Diversity
See post on VCC website here.
Saturday 25th May* Africa Day
(possibly weave in a focus on Africa in worship? Invite a guest speaker to share their experiences? Invite someone from a refugee background?)
[*On 25 May 1963, Africa made history with the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) the precursor to the African Union (AU)]
26th May Sorry Day
National Sorry Day is always commemorated on the same date each year to remember and acknowledge the Stolen Generations highlighted in the 1997 Bringing Them Home report
27th May Anniversary of 1967 Referendum
27th May – 3rd June Reconciliation Week
Theme: Now More Than Ever
(Congregations may choose a focus on Reconciliation Week on Sunday June 1st)
28th May World Hunger Day
Some prayer resources here.
JUNE 2025
Survivors Reunion 2025 – for noting
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the liberation of the last of the Nazi concentration camps. Holocaust Survivors bear the scars of their horrific experiences at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators for their whole lives. Despite this they have been able to overcome their grief and trauma and build new lives raising happy and caring families. They have also contributed immeasurably to the prosperity and well-being of the countries to which they emigrated including Australia. On the instigation of Holocaust Survivor Eddy Boas, The Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants together with other supporting organisations in both Sydney and Melbourne are organising a function to celebrate survivors and pay tribute to their achievements. We anticipate that there will be two functions, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne held in parallel. The functions will be a luncheon held on Sunday, 1 June at an appropriate venue. We would very much like to ensure that we can reach as many survivors as possible to invite to these functions. Therefore, we would be grateful if you could reply to this notice indicating your interest in attending or letting us know of other survivors whom you believe would also be interested. We know this will be a joyful event which will be remembered for years to come. You may reply by email to info@aajhsd.org.au.
1st – 8th June 2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
2025 resources here.
Theme: Praying for Togetherness to a God of Togetherness
5th June World Environment Day
World Environment day is celebrated annually on 5 June and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. The 2025 theme is “Our Land. Our Future: Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience“.
8th June Day of Pentecost
Saturday 14th June. World Wide Knit in Public Day
It takes place each year on the second Saturday of June. It began in 2005 as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy each other’s company.
Dr Steve Taylor has conducted interviews with knitters and written them up as ‘Knitting as public theological witness’. Who’d be interested in working on an event where Steve could speak and people can knit away!! Contact vcc@vcc.org.au if you’re interested.
[In 2024 Manningham UC hosted a knitting afternoon to celebrate all things knitting].
9th June Monarch’s birthday (public holiday)
15th June Trinity Sunday
15th-21st June 2025 World Refugee Week
Theme: “Compassion”.
20th June World Refugee Day
** Keep a lookout for information about 2024 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards (COTA, Victorian Seniors Festival, Victorian State government) – close towards end of July
https://www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/awards
https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/victorian-senior-year-awards
seniorsfestival@dffh.vic.gov.au
Nominee must be Australian citizen 60+ or First Nations 50+.
Nominees will be assessed on their volunteer contribution and achievements since reaching the qualifying age. Nominees are assessed on these criteria: how they make a difference to community well-being through volunteering; their good standing in the community; and how their positive attitude to ageing inspires others. Include at least 2 letters supporting the nomination from colleagues or individuals in the community which are 250-450 words each.
Various categories: premier’s away for Vic Senior of the year; promotion of multiculturalism award (promoting the benefits of cultural diversity in their local or broader community); healthy and active living award; veteran community award; ageing well award; COTA Vic Senior Achiever Awards
ONLINE nomination – https://forms.office.com/r/iVqcnNHBEQ
Victorian Seniors Card program 1300 797 210
JULY 2024
1st July Coming of the Light
Celebrates adoption of Christianity in Torres Strait Island communities in the 19th century
July 6th – 13th July 2025 NAIDOC Week
Theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, Legacy”
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. This year marks the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week.
The 2025 theme celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, “empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors”.
NAIDOC website
Pilgrim Worship Resources website.
13th July Sea Sunday (Seafarer Sunday)
Can be acknowledged on second Sunday in July, 0r another Sunday to suit the congregation. Prayers and resources here.
19th July 2024 12 year anniversary
“Any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees”.
(PM Rudd policy announcement, 19th July 2013)
9000+ people are still in visa limbo in Australia.
20th July 2025 Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday (Uniting Church)
3rd Sunday in July (or another date best suited to the local
setting) is ‘Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday’, to celebrate UCA being a Multicultural Church and to create an opportunity for congregations and faith communities to connect and build relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in their neighbourhoods.
28th July – World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
AUGUST 2025
4th August National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
2024 theme: tbc
August 4th-August 10th, 2025
National Homelessness Week
August 6th Hiroshima Day useful links for worship here.
7th August Aged Care Employee Day #ThanksforCaring
Do you know someone working in the aged care sector? Or a loved one in aged care or providing care for older people at home? The concept of Aged Care Employee Day is centred around acknowledging the dedication and compassion demonstrated by the individuals who care for the elderly population. Aged care employees, encompassing everyone from the frontline staff to the behind-the-scenes teams, play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for elderly individuals. The Aged Care Employee Day, celebrated every 7th of August in Australia, is a day dedicated to recognising and appreciating the hard work of these invaluable individuals. These aged care employees, whether they are nurses, personal care workers, cooks, cleaners, volunteers or administrative staff, all contribute significantly to the well-being of the elderly. The day serves as a reminder to everyone that the care and support provided by these individuals are not just professional services, but acts of kindness and compassion that deserve recognition and appreciation. The celebration is a reminder to society about the importance of ageing with dignity, respect and care. It is a day to honour those who make a difference in the lives of the elderly and their families by providing comfort, companionship, and essential care. Aged Care Employee Day 2024 can be a chance to inspire more people to consider a career in aged care. As the day shines a light on the rewarding and meaningful work of aged care employees, it can serve as a powerful recruitment tool for the sector. (See more here) A blessing prayer for carers of the elderly.
9th August
United Nations International Day of World’s Indigenous People
10th August International Prisoners’ Justice Day
Prisoners’ Justice Day is a solidarity movement that takes place annually on August 10 in support of prisoners’ rights and to remember all the people who have died of unnatural deaths while incarcerated. Plenty to think about with Aboriginal deaths in custody, and refugees who have died in detention.
Resources (prayers and information) here.
12th August 2024
International Youth Day
22nd August The UN International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
In 2019, the United Nations passed a resolution designating August 22 as International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The resolution passed shortly after the attacks on mosques in New Zealand and churches in Sri Lanka.
A brief overview of violence in the world’s regions is outlined on this website. WCC statement. UN 2023 statement
Many refugees who have made Australia home have escaped acts of violence in their homelands.
23rd August International Day For The Remembrance Of The Slave Trade And Its Abolition. More here.
Slavery Resource with prayers and resources, produced by JIM unit (UCA).
Slavery in Australia including Indigenous Australians and Pacific Islanders (‘black birding’) and modern slavery.
24th-28th August 2025 World Water Week
Theme: “Water for Climate Action” – it will focus on the role of water in climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss.
Perhaps congregations might like to include a focus on water on Sunday 24th August?
Some worship resources for ‘water’ can be found here.
31st August – announcement of the Australian Christian Book of the Year.
Sunday 1st September Fathers Day
A Father’s Day blessing (PC NZ)
Father’s Day resources (Strandz)
A Toolkit for Dads (Focus on the Family)
Father’s Day craft activities (Ministry to Children)
Prayers for Father’s Day & Mother’s Day (Building Faith)
Father’s Day (Pilgrim Worship Resources website)
Wattle Day
September: Season of Creation
(1st September to 4th October)
2025 Theme: Tbc
Season of Creation is the annual ecumenical celebration that unites the world’s 2.4 billion Christians in prayer and action for our common home.
(also see Season of Creation website here with the ‘earth’ weeks)
Season of Creation website
Pacific Conference of Churches (includes ecumenical prayer service liturgy
Green Anglican Church resources (including links to many other excellent resources)
Common Grace’s special five-part Season of Creation Bible Study Series exploring Creation and Climate justice.
For the Love of Creation (Canadian resources)
The Queensland Churches Environmental Network has produced a visually stunning ecumenical daily devotional for the Season of Creation which can be accessed here.
Worship resources website.
1st September – National Wattle Day
1st – 7th September 2025
National Child Protection Week (first week of September)
Child Protection Week
For liturgical resources could check out Child Protection Week
September 3rd St Phoebe Day
St. Phoebe’s feast day, September 3, is in the current Roman Martyrology. Her day’s liturgical status is not of a feast or a memorial but that of a “commemoration.” Her liturgy is celebrated in Eastern Rite and Orthodox Churches.
September 3rd 2025 Indigenous Literacy Day
(first Wednesday in September each year)
Purpose: to amplify the importance of reading and learning among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and communities.
5th September UN International Day of Charity
10th September World Suicide Prevention Day
Theme: Changing the narrative on suicide
The theme is a reminder that suicide is preventable, not inevitable. It emphasises that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire the belief that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to people that are struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Thursday 11 September
R U OK? Day
(second Thursday in September)
15th-21stSeptember (3rd week of September)
Theme: tbc
The World Council of Churches invites member churches, faith-based communities, and civil society organizations around the world to join together for a week of prayer for just peace for all in Palestine and Israel. Congregations and individuals around the globe who share the hope of justice shall unite during the week to take peaceful actions, together, to create a common international public witness
15th – 21st September 2025
Dementia Action Week
21st September International Day of Peace
21st September 1886
William Barak delivers a petition to the Victorian Government.
It’s a 67km walk from Coranderrk to Melbourne. Barak did that walk on behalf of his community. Asking to be treated fairer, and bring light to the circumstances which were largely concealed from the general public.
22nd – 24th September 2025
(Evening of Mon, 22 Sept 2025 – Wed, 24 Sept 2025)
Rosh Hashana – the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation of G‑d as king.
23rd September International Day of Sign Languages. 2024 theme “Sign up for Sign Language Rights.” This day highlights the importance of sign languages in promoting the human rights of deaf people and encourages global participation and awareness.
27th September National Police Remembrance Day
29th September World Day of Migrants and Refugees
OCTOBER 2025
1st October (annual) United Nations International Day of Older Persons. Excellent resource here including a liturgy for a service.
Sunday 6th October 2025 World Quaker Day
World Quaker Day is an annual event to celebrate the diversity of global Quakerism and build connections.
Quakers Australia on Facebook.
Sunday 5th October 2025 World Communion Sunday
(first Sunday in October)
9th October Ageism Awareness Day
10th October World Mental Health Day
11th October
International Day of the Girl Child
This day exists to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face all over the world. And to promote the empowerment of young females everywhere while advocating for the attainment of their basic human rights, like education and bodily autonomy. The 1 billion girls alive today can grow up to change the world if they are simply given access to things like secondary education and healthy living.
12th – 18th October 2025
Anti-Poverty Week
October 14th Anti-Slavery Day
14 October
Second anniversary of the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum held on 14 October 2023 in which the proposed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice was rejected.
October 15th Global Handwashing Day
October 15th International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
October 16th World Food day
October 16th International Pronouns Day (3rd Wednesday in October)
October 17th UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Melbourne Prayer Breakfast
(dates tbc – held late October each year)
Melbourne Prayer Breakfast
An annual gathering of people from across Melbourne to uphold our city in prayer. The event is unique in its capacity to bring together people from across denominations, age groups, and organisations.
Penny Mulvey, Chair, Melbourne Prayer Breakfast
penny@melbourneprayerbreakfast.com; 0403 063 499.
16th October – World Food Day
October 17th
United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Worship resources and information here.
22 October
On this day in 2018, then PM Scott Morrison and then-Opposition Leader Bill Shorten delivered apologies on behalf of the Australian people to those who were sexually abused as children. The apology followed the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Many churches made their own acknowledgements and apologies.
Saturday 28th October – World Teachers Day
31st October Reformation Day 2024
NOVEMBER 2025
1st November All Saints Day
2nd November All Souls Day
Sunday 3 November
Intentional Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
(4th November – Melbourne Cup – public holiday)
November 11th Remembrance Day
(13th November World Kindness Day)
(dates tbc – in 2024 it was 23rd November – 1st December)
Social Inclusion Week
Congregations might plan projects, foci and activities as part of Social Inclusion Week in the wider community.
11th-17th November 2024 World Kindness Week
20th November 2022
World Children’s Day
20th November 2024 Transgender Day of Remembrance
The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honours the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. In a simple service of prayer and reflection, family and friends and supporters will mark the TDOR and remember those who have died.
(Transgender Awareness Week, November 13-19 2025. More here)
Wednesday 22nd November Night of the Witnesses
Night of the Witnesses is an evening of testimony, prayer, song and reflection to honour the witness of modern-day Christian martyrs, and to stand in solidarity with Christians around the world who are suffering persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. With its origins at Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur Cathedrals in Paris over 15 years ago, Night of the Witnesses is now a regular feature in many cities around the world.
(no details for any events in Victoria)
Wednesday 23rd November
Go Home on Time Day
This is an initiative of the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work, and serves as an accessible way to start conversations about work-life balance and the enormous unpaid contributions staff make to their workplaces. ‘Time Theft‘; ABC report
23rd November 2025 World Youth Day (Catholic)
Theme: “You also are my witnesses, because you have been with me” (John 15:27).
23rd November 2025 Reign of Christ/Christ the King
25th November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – raising awareness of gender-based violence and the need for accelerating action to protect women from physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
25th November to 10th December
16 days of activism against gender based violence
Held annually from Nov 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day).
Common Grace 16 Days of Prayer series here.
Holding the Light service date tbc
(part of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence)
Remembering victims and survivors of family domestic violence. Now in its ninth year, the service is invitational and held in a spirit of welcome. While it is held within the Christian tradition, it is open to anyone who might wish to join together and take part in a ritual and is a time for anyone to engage in a period of quiet, lament, and prayer/reflection on the tragic results of violence and in hope for a better future for our communities.
An idea for all congregations: the Red Chair
[Red Chair Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence]
Raise awareness of gender-based violence by placing an empty chair left by women who have lost their lives through violence.
Print out a poster and place it on a single (ideally red) chair before taking a photo of it and sharing it on social media.
Post on your own social media and on VCC.
Respect Victoria said domestic and family violence against women was “absolutely at epidemic proportions. It’s a national emergency, and it has been for many decades – and without work to prevent it happening in the first place, will be for decades to come.” On average, one woman a week is killed by a partner or former partner, according to statistics cited by Our Watch, the nation’s leading organisation for the prevention of violence against women and children. One in four women has experienced violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, compared to one in 13 men. One in 3 women has experienced physical violence since the age of 15, one in 4 has experienced emotional abuse by a partner or former partner since that age, and one in 5 has experienced sexual violence since 15.
Helpful links:
The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032
Family and Domestic and Sexual Violence – AIHW
Violence against women
29th November UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
30th November First Sunday of Advent
DECEMBER 2025
1st December World AIDS Day
3rd December UN International Day of People with Disability
6th December St Nicholas Day
10th December UN Human Rights Day
Evening of Sun, 14 Dec 2025 – Mon, 22 Dec 2025
Hanukkah (Judaism)
This festival commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying mighty Greek armies. To celebrate the ancient miracle of the oil burning a candle for eight nights, Jews celebrating Hanukkah light a candleholder called a menorah for eight nights. The Pillars of Light Festival is held in Federation Square to celebrate Hanukkah (Chanukah)
18th December Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)
Blue Christmas 2025 events
25th December Christmas Day
26th December Boxing Day
31st December New Years Eve/Watch Night
ARCHIVE
1st January New Years Day
6th January Epiphany season begins
7th January Orthodox Christmas
19th January 2025
Orthodox Epiphany begins (Feast of Theophany)
In the Orthodox church, Epiphany is celebrated on January 19th. Epiphany is one of three major Orthodox Christian celebrations, along with Christmas and Easter. In the Orthodox Church, Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus rather than the arrival of the Magi (“3 wise men”) which is celebrated on 6 January as Epiphany in the Western Church. The Feast of Theophany concludes the Christmas season.
19th January 2025
Aboriginal Sunday
Day of Mourning (Uniting Church) – resources here
An opportunity to reflect on the effects of invasion, colonisation and racism on First Peoples, in the lead up to ‘Australia Day’.
(see the link here for further information and resources)
OTHER ARCHIVED EVENTS here