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HEARTS AROUND THE CATHEDRAL

On Saturday 17 June 2017 at 9.30am at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth Catholic Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB will lead a group of eager volunteers to spread more than 40,000 Hearts around the grounds of the Cathedral.  Secondary school students and Catholic Education WA (CEWA) staff have generously volunteered to help the Archbishop with this special project.

The Hearts were provided by primary students attending the 90 Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Perth, and each heart carries a personal message or a drawing written by the young people to someone in need within the community.

41,000 primary school students recently participated in the Archbishop’s “LifeLink Day Initiative” which saw young students from Years K-6 make a gold coin donation to receive a ‘paper heart’ on which they were encouraged to draw a picture or write a message of support to someone in need.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said “These hearts provide a powerful and visual demonstration of what can be achieved when we join together to make a real difference in the lives of those who reach out to us for help. It is also a public representation that at the ‘heart’ of Catholic Education… is Catholic Faith.

But our message is not just for the young students attending Catholic schools in this Archdiocese. It is a message for the entire community - regardless of faith, creed, colour or circumstance. It is fundamentally important that we embrace a collective spirit of generosity, or be ‘large-hearted’ as I like to say, in responding to people in need within the community. 

In doing so, in making the choice to reach out and help someone in need, we truly walk in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd”, he said.

The hearts will remain on display at St Mary’s Cathedral leading up to the Feast of the Sacred Heart which will be celebrated on Friday 23 June, 2017.

Archbishop Costelloe said “I invite and encourage everyone to visit the Cathedral and take the time to stroll through the hearts and read the beautiful, touching and inspirational messages which the young people have written. I’m sure they will find it to be a joyful experience” he said.

Each year, more than 34,000 Western Australian families and individuals are helped by a Catholic Church welfare agency in WA, which is delivered through LifeLink. LifeLink is the Archdiocese of Perth’s umbrella organisation which supports the Church’s many social service agencies. 

LifeLink agencies deliver professional programs and practical assistance throughout the State.  LifeLink supported agencies reach out to care for people battling homelessness, people with disability, the deaf and hard of hearing, women and children escaping domestic violence or abuse, the long term unemployed or disadvantaged, people with mental health issues, the lonely and the isolated.

Media organisations are warmly invited to attend this event. 

For further information or comment, please contact:
Mr Brett Mendez, Media Manager, Archdiocese of Perth
Telephone: 08 9313 2241 Mobile: 0455 099 652
Email: brett.mendez@perthcatholic.org.au