As part of the National Week of Prayer and Action 2023, CAPSA has created some school resources to share with Catholic schools to support and offer tools to students, teachers and schools in different ways to take action and encourage learning and reflection.

1. Catholic Alliance for People
Seeking Asylum
National Week of Prayer
and Action Lesson

2. Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we are on
today, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and
extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people who may be with us today.

3. What were you doing when you were 10 years old?
Where did you live?
What were your interests?
What were your favourite possessions?
What were your worries?
Have a quick think about these and jot down the thoughts you have in answer to
them.
Do Now

4. Students will be able to:
Consider the experience of someone coming to Australia as a refugee or asylum
seeker
Discuss the reasons why people are worthy of care and compassion when
seeking refuge or asylum in our country
Discern which actions to take to make a positive difference to this issue
Learning Intentions

5. What do you already know?

6. About CAPSA
CAPSA is the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum, founded in 2013 by
Jesuit Social Services and Cabrini Health
CAPSA is about compassion for people seeking asylum
We support individuals, schools, parishes and Catholic organisations across
education, health, refugee and social services in their advocacy for fair and
humane treatment for people seeking asylum in Australia
Co-convened by Jesuit Social Services and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia,
and supported by an Advisory Group representing peak Catholic bodies from
across Australia

7. How do we work?
We offer a unifying national network that connects and strengthens existing
voices for compassion by sharing resources, ideas and inspiration
We link in and with and support those who want to be more active through
advocacy
CAPSA actions include events, vigils, forums, workshops
CAPSA also holds a National Week of Prayer and Action (4 – 8 September, 2023)
each year – a week of activities and events aimed at engaging the Australian
Catholic community to stand in solidarity with people seeking asylum by taking a
range of practical steps and actions

9. What did you notice?

10. Why CAPSA?
Compassion for the stranger who has fallen on hard times is at the heart of Jesus’
life and the Christian message:
Human Dignity
Common Good
Solidarity

11. Pope Francis and Migrants & Refugees
Pope Francis has made care for people seeking asylum central for the Catholic community.
He has visited camps, begged for refugees to be given a home and prayed at places where
they have suffered.
Pope Francis on the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 2023
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a
stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care
of me, I was in prison and you visited me” (Mt 25:35-36). These words are a constant admonition to
see in the migrant not simply a brother or sister in difficulty, but Christ himself, who knocks at our
door. Consequently, even as we work to ensure that in every case migration is the fruit of a free
decision, we are called to show maximum respect for the dignity of each migrant; this entails
accompanying and managing waves of migration as best we can, constructing bridges and not walls,
expanding channels for a safe and regular migration. In whatever place we decide to build our future,
in the country of our birth or elsewhere, the important thing is that there always be a community
ready to welcome, protect, promote and integrate everyone, without distinctions and without
excluding anyone.”

12. Our key advocacy asks
1. Evacuate the 77 men remaining in PNG through
Australia's offshore detention processing, and
end offshore detention permanently​
2. Provide a pathway to permanency for those on
Bridging Visas and those
who were Medevaced, who continue to live in
limbo​
3. Ensure that all people seeking asylum on
temporary visas have the right to work, study,
access to Medicare and access to a financial
safety net when they are unable to work,
particularly in light of current crises levels of
food and financial insecurity​
4. Revising changes to the Status Resolution
Support Service (SRSS) program to ensure
eligibility to those who need it most​
5. Expanding beyond the Federal Government's
current commitment of 27,000 places in its
humanitarian program​
6. Expanding complementary pathways including
community sponsorship
through the Community Refugee Integration
and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) program

13. Taking action
These issues are complex, but there are practical things students and schools can
do to help.
Students and schools can:
Learn more about asylum seeker issues in Australia, including by listening to the
stories of people with lived experience seeking asylum, and sharing what you
have learned with your family and friends
Participate in National Week of Prayer and Action – 4 to 8 September. 2023
Older students who are passionate about these issues can contact their local
Member of Parliament

14. Learn more about CAPSA
CAPSA has resources to support schools and students on our website.
capsa.org.au
www.facebook.com/joinCAPSA
X - @CAPSA_WeCan