22.1 C
Byron Shire
March 18, 2024

Praying for Vanuatu in Ballina

Latest News

Man killed in car crash near Coffs Harbour

A 76-year-old man died when the car he was driving crashed about 35 kms northwest of Coffs Harbour last Friday afternoon, police said.

Other News

Tweed hospital and playgrounds welcomed

State Labor politicians have officially welcomed two upgraded playgrounds and a new hospital built in the Tweed Shire.

Demands for increased housing in Byron Shire raise significant concerns for CABS

Serious concerns have been raised over the Byron Shire Residential Strategy 2041 by the 12 Byron Shire-wide associations that make up Community Alliance for Byron Shire (CABS).

Surf’s up for World Pro Adaptive Titles in Byron

Favourable conditions are expected for the World Pro-Adaptive Surfing Titles 2024, to be held at Byron Bay’s Main Beach from today.

Bangalow Film Festival

There are still plenty of great films to see at the Bangalow Film Festival – highlights include Eskawatã Kayawai – The Spirit of Transformation, the story of the cultural and spiritual renaissance of the Huni Kuin people from the Brazilian Amazon forest through their connection with Ayahuasca, and Freud’s Last Session when on the eve of the Second World War, two of the greatest minds of the 20th century, C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud converge for their own personal battle over the existence of God – both on Wednesday.

Lismore South Public School rebuild to withstand future floods

Following consultation with the local community and other stakeholders the Lismore South Public School and the Ngulliboo Jarjums Preschool will be rebuilt.

Water meter outrage

The Echo’s article about the Rous County Council (RCC) water meter flowback prevention device was very timely. We are...

This Friday, communities from every faith tradition will gather together in peace and goodwill at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Ballina for the World Day Of Prayer.

The country of focus this year is Vanuatu, which is still battered by the effects of Cyclone Pam.

Sue Hetherington is one of the organisers of Ballina’s World Day of Prayer event. Photo supplied.

In Ballina, a young man who served as a volunteer in Vanuatu, and experienced the cyclone first-hand, will speak about the challenges faced by the survivors.

His young daughter will speak about growing up in the multi-island nation.

The service has been prepared by the women of Vanuatu. This year’s theme is hope, with a focus is on gender-based sexual assault of women.

Beginning in Samoa, the same prayer, in different languages, will be said over a 24 hour period in many communities, in 170 countries around the world.

The service will begin at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church (on the corner of Cherry and Crane Streets, in Ballina) at 9am on Friday 5 March.


World Day Of Prayer events will be held across the Northern Rivers – check with your local church for times and locations.


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

1 COMMENT

  1. I bet the women in Vanuatu are confused, at why the good Catholic Women of Ballina are praying for an end to gender based sexual assault, when that same church advocates against those women having the right to control their own fertility and deal with the unwanted consequences of such violence.

    Having worked in many of these countries to try and find sustainable solutions to poverty, my experience is that one of the biggest causes of inter-generational poverty is the misogyny of churches that seek to control women by denying them their basic human rights over their own bodies.

    On International Womens Day – maybe the women of St Francis might be better sending the prayers to their all-male leadership, and sending contraception and family planning to Vanuatu.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Tweed hospital and playgrounds welcomed

State Labor politicians have officially welcomed two upgraded playgrounds and a new hospital built in the Tweed Shire.

Surf’s up for World Pro Adaptive Titles in Byron

Favourable conditions are expected for the World Pro-Adaptive Surfing Titles 2024, to be held at Byron Bay’s Main Beach from today.

More calls for federal intervention in Wallum estate plans

Another ecologist has added their name to the community campaign against development on environmentally sensitive land in Brunswick Heads.

Body found near Byron in search for missing man

A body believed to be that of a man reported missing last week has been found, police on the weekend said.