Refugee Week

Recently, we celebrated Refugee Week which provides us all with an important opportunity to reflect on the dignity of every person and the Gospel call to welcome those in need.

In our Catholic tradition, care for refugees is grounded in the belief that all people are created in the image and likeness of God and deserve compassion and respect. The experience of displacement is deeply woven into our faith story and the stories of many within our Notre Dame College community. Pope Leo XIV reminds us that migrants and refugees are not simply statistics, but “missionaries of hope,” whose courage and resilience reveal God’s presence even in hardship. As we reflect on Refugee Week, we are invited to grow in understanding and empathy, recognising the shared humanity that binds us together.

For our students, Refugee Week is a chance to live out faith in practical ways. Pope Leo calls us not to remain indifferent, warning against a “globalisation of powerlessness” where we feel unable to respond to suffering. Instead, he encourages us to place “the dignity of every human person at the centre” of our actions. This message echoes the Gospel invitation to “welcome the stranger” and challenges our young people to act with kindness, openness and solidarity. Whether through learning, conversation, or small acts of inclusion within our school community, students can help build a culture of encounter and respect.

In doing so, Refugee Week becomes more than awareness—it becomes a lived expression of Catholic identity, forming compassionate young people committed to justice and care for others.

Let us pray for all people around our world who are seeking a better life, that they will find a place of love and welcome.

Keeping the chaos holy,

Brendan Lindsay - Deputy Principal Catholic Identity