anglican focus

The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

People seeking safety

Features Daniel Abot and Nicholas Whereat Features

International Day of Peace: End Racism. Build Peace

“What I want to say is that any person who risks their life to seek safety is the same. Whether people come here via a United Nations refugee camp or arrive by either boat or plane to apply for asylum, we all have one thing in common – that is the need to find a safe place to live in freedom,” says Bishop Daniel Abot, as the International Day of Peace approaches

"Throughout Ukraine, anti-tank barriers, featuring what the locals call 'hedgehogs', have been erected to protect towns and villages" (Helen Zahos, 2022)
Features

Nurse’s nerves of steel: to Ukraine and back again

“When I explained that I had volunteered in Ukraine as a nurse-paramedic, after a thoughtful pause the reporter asked…’Are you a believer?’ When I replied, ‘Yes’, his response was, ‘I figured. Nobody would go into a dangerous warzone as a volunteer unless they had faith,’” says Gold Coast nurse-paramedic Helen Zahos

Features

Honouring my curacy pledge six years on because everyone has a right to live in peace and freedom

“The enduring memory I have of the sanctuary training is the sense of unity felt by people of all ages who came together, raising their voices for refugees whose voices were being ignored. The people who participated were from different faith and no faith backgrounds. I remember one young person saying to me, as we sat on the steps of the Cathedral, ‘If church was like this, I would be a part of it!’” says The Rev’d Sue Grimmett from St Andrew’s, Indooroopilly

Features

An open letter, a hand-written card and thousands of prayers

“When I returned home to Bilo from Perth in June, which was an emotional trip leaving me feeling exhausted and deflated, my spirits were buoyed upon seeing a hand-written card from Bishop Jeremy Greaves which he had mailed to me while I was away,” says 33-year-old Anglican Angela Fredericks, who is leading the national fight to bring Nades, Priya and their girls back home to Bilo

Features

Dozens of Anglican Bishops nationally send open letter to Government calling for the return of young family back to Biloela

“As Christian leaders, we echo the call for a compassionate, fair, safe, common sense and permanent solution. We stand in solidarity with this young family seeking peace, safety and stability, and with the Biloela community who are waiting to welcome them back home,” write dozens of Anglican Bishops in an open letter to the PM and the Minister for Immigration