The calendar of dates may be a catalyst to think about collaborations – ecumenical (local and regional) and inter-faith. What may we do better together rather 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.
2023 dates
MAY
27th May – 3rd June Reconciliation Week
Theme: Be a Voice for Generations
May 31st 7am AEST Interfaith Webinar
‘Spirited Seas: Science and Spirituality – an interfaith exploration of the environmental consequences of deep seabed mining’.
(G20 Interfaith Forum).
Information about speakers, and registration here.
JUNE
4th June Trinity Sunday
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.
7th June Wyndham Interfaith Dinner
6.30-9.30pm
Venue: Encore Centre, 80 Derrimut Rd, Hoppers Crossing
Cost: $25 p.p.
Speaker Uncle Andrew Gardiner; Sikh dancers; Peace Choir
Bookings online – www.trybooking.com/CHLAX
Saturday 10th June, 3pm
The Archbishop in Jerusalem, the Most Rev Dr Hosam Naoum, will be speaking in Melbourne. All welcome.
Venue: St John’s Anglican Church, 5 Finch St, East Malvern
Afternoon tea will be served. RSVP for catering purposes, secretary@saintjohns.org.au by Thursday 8th June.
12th June Monarch’s birthday (public holiday)
18th-24th June Refugee Week
Thursday 29th June (also 27th July)
Second in WEBINAR SERIES: INDIGENOUS VOICE TO PARLIAMENT: Moments for healing this country
(Thursdays 25th May, 29th June and 27th July)
4.00pm – 5.00pm (AEST)
Catholic Social Services Victoria & Catholic Social Services Australia invite you to join them in a Webinar Series on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Moments for healing this country.
The Series is an opportunity to better understand the Uluru Statement From the Heart, the process that had led to a referendum in 2023 and what a Voice to Parliament might entail. With the referendum approaching, it is important to understand why and what we are being asked to vote on and what implications this may have for Australia, and reconciliation more broadly, moving forward.
Speakers:
25 May Prof Melissa Castan
29 June Fr Frank Brennan, SJ
27 July A Panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples – names to be confirmed
Cost: $12.00 per session or $30.00 for all 3 Sessions. CSSV and CSSA members free of charge
Venue: Via Zoom – link to be provided
Enquiries: Kate Stilwell e: office@css.org.au
Trybooking link.
The Parliamentary review of the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 must be conducted in the year commencing 19 June 2023. The Victorian Health Minister will soon announce the Terms of Reference for a mandated review of the first 4 years of Voluntary Assisted Dying in Victoria. This survey must be conducted in the 5th year of operation, which will commence on June 20 2023.
JULY
1st July Coming of the Light
Celebrates adoption of Christianity in Torres Strait Island communities in the 19th century
2nd – 9th July NAIDOC Week
Theme: For Our Elders
16th July 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.
19th July 10 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)
29th July – all day conference
Mental health and Disability
Pilgrim Theological College, Parkville
A collaboration of Uniting Church Justice Unit and Victorian Council of Churches
AUGUST
4th August National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
Sunday August 6th-Saturday August 13th, 2023
National Homelessness Week
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 2022
International Youth Day
23rd August International Day For The Remembrance Of The Slave Trade And Its Abolition
More here.
Slavery in Australia including Indigenous Australians and Pacific Islanders (‘black birding’) and modern slavery.
World Water Week, 20-24th August 2023
2023 Theme: “Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World” invites us to rethink how we manage water. Which ideas, innovations, and governance systems will we need in a more unstable and water scarce world?
Perhaps congregations might like to include a focus on water on Sunday 20th August?
Some worship resources for ‘water’ can be found here.
SEPTEMBER
September: Season of Creation (1st September to 4th October)
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.
Sunday 3rd 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)
Child Protection Week (first week in Sept every year)
September 5-11th, 2023
Organised by NAPCAN
For liturgical resources could check out Child Protection Week
8th September RUOK? Day
10th September World Suicide Prevention Day
September 15 – 17 2023 – Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation of G‑d as king.
September 18-25, 2023 (annually in third week of September)
World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
World Council of Churches (WCC) invites people and churches all over the world to pray, advocate, and stand in solidarity with people in the Holy Land during the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel. This year, the theme is anchored in active hope and in striving for a better future with no occupation.
21st September
UN International Day of Peace
Sept. 24 – 25 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement – holiest day of the year in the Jewish faith). It is the Day of Atonement—“For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d” (Leviticus 16:30). Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a day-long fast, confession and intensive prayer, with synagogue services.
September 29-Oct 6, 2023
Jewish Festival of Succot/Sukkot
Succot (‘booth’ or ‘tabernacle’) is the third of the Jewish holidays known as the “Shalosh Regalim” – “three festivals” – the other two being Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot (Pentecost). It takes place after Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) in the Jewish calendar.
The seven days of Sukkot – celebrated by dwelling in the sukkah, is a holiday time when Jewish people experience living in the elements in covered huts, commemorating G‑d’s sheltering the ancestors as they travelled from Egypt to the Promised Land. Coming after the solemn High Holidays, it is a time of joy and happiness.
OCTOBER
Sunday 1st October 2023 World Communion Sunday
2nd October World Quaker Day
World Quaker Day is an annual event to celebrate the diversity of global Quakerism and build connections.
Quakers Australia on Facebook.
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.
15-21 October Anti-Poverty Week
National Carers Week (third week in October)
2023 dates tbc
National Carers Week is an opportunity to recognise the significant contribution that unpaid carers make to our community and to celebrate the diversity of carers and their caring roles. A carer as someone who provides unpaid care and support to family members and friends with a disability, mental illness, chronic health issue or an age-related condition. Check what’s happening in your area, and promote any activities your congregation might be offering. How might you celebrate/recognise carers in your congregation?
October 15-21 2023 Anti-Poverty Week
(17th of October is the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty). Worship resources and information here.
28th October – World Teachers Day
31st October Reformation Day 2022
Reformation Day in 2022 coincides with the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s translation of the New Testament.
NOVEMBER
1st November All Saints Day
2nd November All Souls Day
7th-13th November World Kindness Week 2023 dates tbc
(13th November World Kindness Day)
(7th November – Melbourne Cup – public holiday)
November 11th, Remembrance Day
November 12th Diwali (Hindu religion)
November 18-21 Vic/Tas Uniting Church Synod
Venue: Box Hill Town Hall.
18th – 26th November 2023
Social Inclusion Week: Connect, Collaborate and Celebrate!
Social Inclusion Week aims to help all Australians feel included and valued, giving everyone the opportunity to participate fully in society. Created by Jonathon Welch AM, founder of the award winning Choir of Hard Knocks, Social Inclusion Week is about connecting local communities, workmates, family and friends, in order to build and strengthen relationships or networks and address isolation and exclusion of those who may be marginalised. Key communities who can often feel excluded are young people 12–25 years of age, jobless families with children, people with a disability or mental illness, those who are homeless, the elderly and Indigenous Australians.
Congregations might plan projects, foci and activities as part of Social Inclusion Week in the wider community.
20th November 2022
World Children’s Day
Sunday 20th November 2023 dates tbc
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 Day and remember those who have died.
Wednesday 23rd November 2022
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
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.
26th November Holding the Light ecumenical service
St Peters Eastern Hill
26th November Reign of Christ/Christ the King
DECEMBER
1st December World AIDS Day
3rd December UN International Day of People with Disability
3rd December Advent begins
6th December St Nicholas Day
8th-15th December 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)
10th December UN Human Rights Day
25th December Christmas Day
26th December Boxing Day
31st December New Years Eve/Watch Night
ARCHIVED EVENTS here
1st January New Years Day
6th January Epiphany season begins
15th January 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.
19th January Orthodox Epiphany begins
22nd January, 2023
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’.
26th January – ‘Australia Day’
19th March International Day against bullying and violence
31st March Trans Day of Visibility
Trans Day of Visibility is an annual international celebration recognising trans and gender diverse experiences and achievements.
(Ramadan – continues till evening of 21st April)
16th April Orthodox Easter Sunday/Pascha
Friday 21st April – Saturday 22nd April Eid al-Fitr 2023 (end of Ramadan/breaking of the fast)
21st April – 8 hour day remembrance event (registration on Humanitix – follow the link)
25th April – ANZAC Day
25th April – ANZAC Day Ecumenical Service (St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral)
28th April – International Workers Memorial Day (remembering those who have died at work or associated with their work)
30th April – National Day of Prayer for Myanmar, starting at 5pm.
Collins St Baptist Church, 174 Collins St, Melbourne
This is an interfaith and ecumenical prayer gathering.
It will also be livestreamed.
5th-7th May 2023 Sacrededge Festival, Queenscliff
12th May – International Nurses Day
2023 theme: Our Nurses, Our Future
How might you celebrate the nurses in your congregation/ community? A thoughtful prayer is here.
14th May – Mother’s Day
15th-21st May National Volunteers Week
2023 Theme: The Change Makers
The annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation’s volunteers.
Consider sending an online Certificate of Appreciation to your volunteers. Simply click on the card or certificate that you would like to send, complete the details and click send.
If you are looking for a certificate template to add your logo to, please visit our 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).
18th May-28th May Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
In the southern hemisphere the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is held in the week between Ascension and Pentecost, which in 2023 will be between Thursday 18th May (Ascension) and Sunday 28th May (Pentecost). The resources are available online. The VCC Faith and Order Commission in collaboration with the NCCA has contextualised the resource for Australia and it will be available early in 2023.
21st May 2023 Asia Sunday (Christian Conference of Asia)
Asia Sunday is an annual prayer service organised by the Christian Conference of Asia on the Sunday before Pentecost.
22nd May International Day for Biological Diversity
See post on VCC website here.
21 May to 27 May 2023 National Palliative Care Week
26th May Sorry Day
27th May Anniversary of 1967 Referendum
28th May Pentecost
28th May World Hunger Day
Some prayer resources here.