Dear Clergy and Parish Staff,
Since launching the ‘Shine the Light’ initiative in 2023, the Diocese of Sale remains committed to domestic and family violence prevention.
This October, we invite all parishes to join our four-week awareness journey. To support your community, we have prepared weekly bulletin notices, prayers of the faithful, reflections, and several informational brochures produced over recent years.
We encourage all parishes to conclude the initiative with a special liturgy on Friday, 30 November 2026, and invite all parishioner participation.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to building a safe, supportive community.
Sincerely,
The Shine the Light Team
This artwork was inspired after Colleen Harney experienced a vision at the Shining a Light workshop at the Sacred Heart Church Morwell. This artwork resulted from contact with the artist to create something that reflects her vision.
It represents the sense of being trapped in a dark cave that is often experienced by those who are in a domestic violence situation. The small cross symbolises our Baptism into God’s family and, as we move towards freedom, the cross increases in size and the light of Christ shines more brightly in our hearts. Finally the larger cross with rays of light, portrays feelings of light, joy and love as they are released from the darkness of the violent situation and into the light of new life.
The style of the artwork is not perfectly neat as it reflects the ‘messiness’ and ‘turmoil’ of a violent relationship and the wounds that can leave marks as they heal over even with love, care and support.
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