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.
APRIL 2024
22nd-30th April Jewish Pesach/Passover 2o24
(sundown on 22nd to nightfall on 30th April)
28th April – International Workers Memorial Day (remembering those who have died at work or associated with their work)
29th April – International Workers Memorial Day event
10.30-11.30am, Argyle Square, Carlton
Every year, Victorian Trades Hall Council hosts a memorial service to remember those Victorians who lost their lives at work. The ceremony will include a minute’s silence at 11am and an opportunity to lay wreaths.
The event will also be live-streamed through the Victorian Trades Hall Council Facebook page.
MAY 2024
Sunday 5th May – Orthodox Easter Sunday Pascha
Orthodox Christians calculate Easter using the Julian Calendar, and it often falls later on the calendar.
Sunday 5th May (sundown) – 6th May
2024 Yom HaShoah Commemoration (Holocaust Remembrance Day). Details here.
11th May Faith in a better future conference (free)
(9:00am – 4pm)
In-person at the Uniting Centre for Ministry (Sydney) AND online. ALL keynote sessions will be streamed for online participants. There will be dedicated workshops for both face-to-face and online attendees. Topics will range from issues facing rural communities, how catastrophic climate change magnifies social disadvantage, the importance of youth climate action, how to have effective climate conversations, Pacific climate impacts and solidarity and more!
Contact Jon O’Brien in the Uniting Advocacy team, at joobrien@uniting.org or on 0477 725 528.
Information and registration (free) here.
ARRCC link here
8th May
Echoes of Hope: A Palestinian Theology of Peacemaking
6.30-8.30pm
In person: Ridley College, 170 The Avenue, Parkville
Online: details will be sent when you register.
As a distinguished professor of Biblical Studies and Academic Dean at Nazareth Evangelical College, Rev Katanacho offers a unique perspective shaped by his personal journey as a Palestinian Israeli evangelical. The event will also include a Q&A session where attendees can interact and ask further questions.
You can either attend the event in person or livestream the event, details for the livestream will be sent to you when you register. Registration here.
12th May – International Nurses Day
Theme: ‘Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health. ‘
How might you celebrate the nurses in your congregation/ community? A thoughtful prayer is here.
12th May – Mother’s Day
12th May 2024 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.
12th May – World Communications Day
12th May – 19th May 2024
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.
The resources are available online, contextualised for Australian churches.
Tuesday 14th May 6-7.30pm
St Peter’s Eastern Hill is hosting sessions focussed on Poets and the Faith, presented by a range of local and international Christian lovers of poetry including the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
May 15 Palestinian Day of Catastrophe
Every year on May 15, Palestinians around the world, numbering about 12.4 million, mark the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, referring to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine and the near-total destruction of Palestinian society in 1948.
Thursday 16th May, 12.30pm
The NCCA will be holding an online lunchtime prayer meeting and reflection during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.You are warmly invited to join online at 12.30pm on Thursday 16 May 2024 for a 45-50-minute prayer and reflection based on the theme “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself…” (Luke 10:27)
There is no cost and you can register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Sunday 19th May Pentecost
19th May, 4pm
The launch of the Australian Hymn Association
Venue: St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne
Sunday, 19 May to Saturday, 25 May
National Palliative Care Week 2024
Website here.
20th-26th May National Volunteers Week
2024 Theme: Something for Everyone
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
26th May – Trinity Sunday
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 2nd)
28th May World Hunger Day
Some prayer resources here.
JUNE 2024
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 2024 theme for World Environment Day is “Journey to a Greener Future,” focusing on the collective effort required to protect our planet and ensure a more sustainable future for all.
10th June Monarch’s birthday (public holiday)
Tuesday 11th June 6-7.30pm
St Peter’s Eastern Hill is hosting sessions focussed on Poets and the Faith, presented by a range of local and international Christian lovers of poetry including the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
16th-22nd June World Refugee Week
20th June World Refugee Day
Refugee Week Ecumenical Service (online)
7.30pm AEST, 7pm ACST and 5.30pm AWST
Members of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) are working on preparing an online ecumenical service for Refugee Week. Peter Arndt (Director, Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace, Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service), Rev Deacon Sandy Boyce (Victorian Council of Churches), and Major Karen Elkington (Salvation Army Asylum Seekers Support Services) will plan the service, which will also be available to download.
The theme is Finding Freedom:Family.
The ecumenical service will include prayers, shared experiences by those who have been refugees, music and readings.
All welcome!
21st-24th June NCCA Forum (Adelaide)
11th Forum flyer final A4
17th-23rd June – Refugee Week 2024
** 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
4th – 11th July NAIDOC Week
Theme: For our Elders
Tuesday 9th July 6-7.30pm
St Peter’s Eastern Hill is hosting sessions focussed on Poets and the Faith, presented by a range of local and international Christian lovers of poetry. The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
14th July Sea Sunday (Seafarer Sunday)
19th July 2024 11 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)
21st 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.
28th July – World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2024
AUGUST 2024
4th August National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
2024 theme: tbc
August 5th-August 11th, 2024
National Homelessness Week
August 6th Hiroshima Day
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)
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
Tuesday 13th August 6-7.30pm
St Peter’s Eastern Hill is hosting sessions focussed on Poets and the Faith, presented by a range of local and international Christian lovers of poetry. The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
22nd August The UN International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
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.
23rd-27th August 2024 World Water Week
Theme: “Bridging Borders: Water for a peaceful and sustainable future”.
Water is a catalyst for people to achieve peace, cooperation and security and hence a sustainable future. The concept of peace and security has a very wide scope: not only on a narrow military/defence understanding of the word security but more broadly to include human security, food and nutrition security, ecosystem security as well as water security. The borders to which the title refers can be borders between neighbours, communities, peoples and regions as well as between nations
Perhaps congregations might like to include a focus on water on Sunday 25th August?
Some worship resources for ‘water’ can be found here.
31st August – announcement of the Australian Christian Book of the Year.
SEPTEMBER 2024
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)
September: Season of Creation
(1st September to 4th October)
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)
September 3rd St Phoebe Day
September 4th 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
Tuesday 10th September 6-7.30pm
Poets and the Faith
Venue: St Peter’s Eastern Hill
The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
September 5-11th, 2024 Child Protection Week
(first week in Sept every year)
For liturgical resources could check out Child Protection Week
8th September RUOK? Day
10th September World Suicide Prevention Day
2024 theme: ‘Creating Hope Through Action’
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.
Tuesday 10th September 6-7.30pm
St Peter’s Eastern Hill is hosting sessions focussed on Poets and the Faith, presented by a range of local and international Christian lovers of poetry. The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
29th September World Day of Migrants and Refugees
OCTOBER 2024
October – Second Session of 16ᵗʰ Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (Catholic Church)
2nd – 4th October
Rosh Hashana for Hebrew Year 5785 begins at sundown on Wednesday, 2 October 2024 and ends at nightfall on Friday, 4 October 2024 . Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ראש השנה), (literally “head of the year”), is the Jewish New Year. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation of G‑d as king.
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.
Tuesday 8th October 6-7.30pm
Poets and the Faith
Venue: St Peter’s Eastern Hill
The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
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.
National Carers Week (third week in October)
13th-19th October 2024
Theme: 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 is 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. Carers make an enormous contribution to our communities as well as our national economy. Should all carers decide to stop performing their caring role, it would cost the country $77.9 billion per year to replace those supports – that’s over $1.4 billion per week. 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?
15-21 October Anti-Poverty Weekdates tbc for 2024
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.
Melbourne Prayer Breakfast
(dates tbc – held late October each year – this year will be the 41st 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.
Saturday 28th October – World Teachers Day
31st October Reformation Day 2024
NOVEMBER 2024
1st November All Saints Day
2nd November All Souls Day
4th November
A Day of Prayer for Anglican and Roman Catholic reconciliation
More details here
(5th November – Melbourne Cup – public holiday)
November 11th Remembrance Day
November 12th Diwali (Hindu religion)
Tuesday 12th November 6-7.30pm
Poets and the Faith
Venue: St Peter’s Eastern Hill
The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
11th-17th November 2024 World Kindness Week
(13th November World Kindness Day)
18th – 26th November – 2024 dates tbc
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
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 2024. More here)
Wednesday 22nd November Night of the Witnesses
NEED TO UPDATE 2024 DETAILS
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.
Venue: St Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Cathedral Place, East Melbourne
www.aidtochurch.org/notw/Phone: 1800 101 201.
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
24th November 2024World Youth Day (Catholic)
Theme: “Those who hope in the Lord will run and not be weary,” drawing from the Lord’s promise in Isaiah 40:31.
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.
28th November, 5pm Holding the Light service
Venue: Wesley Uniting Church, Lonsdale St, Melbourne CBD
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
Holding the Light ecumenical service
(part of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence)
Date (usually late November) and venue TBC
24th November Reign of Christ/Christ the King
DECEMBER 2024
1st December World AIDS Day
1st December Advent 1
3rd December UN International Day of People with Disability
6th December St Nicholas Day
10th December UN Human Rights Day
18th December Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)
Blue Christmas events
25th December Christmas Day
25th December 2024-2nd January 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)
25th December 2024 to 31st December 2025
Holy Year of the Jubilee 2025 (Catholic)
26th December Boxing Day
31st December New Years Eve/Watch Night
Other events to be added during 2024.
JANUARY 2024
1st January New Years Day
6th January Epiphany season begins
7th January Orthodox Christmas
19th January 2024 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 2024
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.
21st January 2024
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)
26th January – ‘Australia Day’
8th February – International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking 2024 ACRATH
Tuesday February 13th Anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations
Tuesday February 13th Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day
Wednesday February 14th – Ash Wednesday
(resource here linking Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day – scroll down to the 2018 resource)
8th March International Women’s Day
The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment. Based on the priority theme for the United Nations 68th Commission on the Status of Women, Count Her In will examine the pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls everywhere.
9th March – Ramadan commences (evening)
(to Mon, 8 Apr 2024)
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.
19th March International Day against bullying and violence
Thursday 21st March Harmony Day (United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)
Sunday 24th March – Palm Sunday
Sunday 24th March – Palm Sunday Walk for Refugees
Thursday 28th March – Maundy Thursday
Friday 29th March – Good Friday (Year B)
Friday 29th March – Ecumenical Walk for Good Friday
Melbourne City Church in Action (MCCIA)
Sunday 31st March – Easter Sunday
31st March – Trans Day of Visibility
Trans Day of Visibility is an annual international celebration recognising trans and gender-diverse experiences and achievements.
April 7th World Health Day
2024 theme: My health, My right
Tuesday 9th April – Wednesday 10th April – Ramadan ends at sundown, and Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan/breaking of the fast) commences.
Tuesday 9th April 6-7.30pm
Poets and the Faith, presented by a range of local and international Christian lovers of poetry including the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Venue: St Peter’s Eastern Hill, cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
14th April – Taize service, 5pm
Whitehorse Uniting Church, 333A Canterbury Road, Forest Hill
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.
22nd-30th April Jewish Pesach/Passover 2o24
(sundown on 22nd to nightfall on 30th April)
25th April – ANZAC Day
25th April – ANZAC Day Ecumenical Service (St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral)
ARCHIVED EVENTS here