Blog Action Day: Australia- Rich young Nation
On Tuesday the 14th of October, 2008 at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Northbridge, an ecumenical service looking at Anti-poverty week was held, a joint venture by the Catholic Social Justice Council, Archdiocese of Perth; The Socail Responsibilities Commission, Anglican Province of Western Australia; Uniting Church in Western Australia, Social Justice Board; St. George’s Cathedral, Perth; Council of Churches of Western Australia; and Anglicare WA.
The service opened with A Capella Go, directed by Ms Sarah Mills. They sang the zulu song Aya Ngena. Later in the service, they also performed the spiritual Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
Mr Ben Taylor then welcomed us to Noongar land, and shared stories of how he is seeing poverty affect his people. Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation (Acts 2 Come) performed a drama entitled Rich Young Nation. They explored how the young nation of Australia can be hidden through issues such as Refugees, prisoners, the aged, the poor, the indigenous. 
But through Christ, we can turn these issues around into solutions, and give us eternal life. Yet though we are rich, we seem to not have the money to take the final step to fully solve us of these issues, and though we could be free, we miss out on this wonderful gift.
Mr Trevor Turner shared with us how Shopfront, part of Catholic Pastoral Care, has helped him turn his life around and helped him out from depression. We heard from Katrina Fowler, a young mother with a beautiful daughter who is part of the Teen Parents Community run out of Balga Senior High School, who shared with us that help is available and it does get better. Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Perth, the Most Rev Donald George Sproxton shared with us some of the history of St. Brigid’s, 
which was built by many migrant workers, whose families are still around in Perth, but who also struggled through poverty. He also shared with us many of the initiatives that the Catholic Diocese of Perth are implementing to help people break out of the poverty cycle.
Finally, everyone moved to the Parish Hall for refreshments provided by the Redemptorist Monastery of North Perth.
You’ll find below a selection of images taken from the service.
