Welcome dear friends to the winter 2025 edition of The Record. When the daylight hours are shorter, and the temperatures drop, my daily thoughts close in on those 122,500 Australian men, women and children who endure the harsh realities of homelessness on any one given night.

June is the month when many supporters of the Society have participated in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, our major fundraising event of the year. Much-needed funds are raised to provide tangible support to those who do not have a place to call home.

Like many others around the world, I was deeply saddened on the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on 21 April this year.

Pope Francis was a voice for the poor who overcame fierce resistance to reshape the Catholic Church. His emphasis on synodality, or “walking together,” in the Catholic Church was to foster greater participation, listening, and shared responsibility among all members of the Church, from laity to clergy. This approach, seen as a “spirituality of walking together,” encouraged a more inclusive and dynamic Church, better equipped to address contemporary challenges.

A few days after Pope Francis’ burial, a relatively young and unknown Pope Leo XIV was elected Bishop of Rome by the 133 Cardinals present at the conclave in the Vatican City.

Pope Leo XIV was born in Detroit in the US, the first Pope elected from the US. He took his papal name in honour of Pope Leo XIII, who developed modern Catholic Social Teaching amid the second industrial revolution. On behalf of the Society in Australia I wish Pope Leo XIV all the very best and look forward to his upcoming visit to Australia.

In the autumn edition of The Record, I noted National Council has been tasked with opportunities to explore what it means for the Society to be a lay Catholic organisation and the centrality of Catholic Social Teaching in how we interact in the contemporary world.

This process culminated in the development of The Vincentian Way. In the last two months, along with Toby oConnor and Warwick Fulton, I have had the opportunity to present The Vincentian Way to New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania Councils, corporate body directors and members of the executive leadership teams.

I would like to thank these three jurisdictions for their warm reception and expressed commitment to expectations and recommendations of The Vincentian Way. I look forward to visiting and presenting to the remaining State and Territory Councils in the coming weeks.

The federal election has seen the Australian Labor Party, under the leadership of PM Anthony Albanese, re-elected with a clear majority to implement Labor’s policy announcements. The Society welcomes the Labor Party’s response to our Justice & Compassion policies, saying it is “committed to a strong and sustainable safety net that provides support to those most in need.”

A good place to start for the 1.3 million Australians living below the poverty line would be to review and increase income support payments, notably JobSeeker.

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the National President of Fiji, Br Mikaele Mitaka on 12 May 2025. Mika, as he was known to all his friends and family, was a faithful and wonderful servant to the Society in Fiji over a long time and my thoughts and prayers are extended to his family and friends.

I would like to pay tribute to Frank Brassil who, on 9 June 2025, retired from his role with the Society as International Territory Vice President (ITVP) for the Oceania region, a role he has undertaken with diligence and commitment to assisting National Councils across the Pacific for over six years. I have personally valued

Frank’s support and wisdom and wish him well in his retirement.

Following Frank’s advising of his stepping down from the ITVP position, expressions of interest were called for his replacement. I am pleased and excited to announce that Paul Trezise has been appointed to the position by the International President General. I congratulate Paul and look forward to working with him over the coming years.

Finally, it is my pleasure to thank Robin Osborne, the principal member of the Editorial Committee for The Record, and a Vincentian himself, for his outstanding commitment to producing such an important and high-quality publication. Robin has made the decision to retire, and I wish him and his good wife Grainne all the very best as they commence the next chapter of their lives together. R