The theme of “Hope” took centre stage at Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB’s 2025 LifeLink Day launch for primary schools. Source: The Record.
The launch last month at Newman Catholic College in Churchlands, MCee-D by Melissa Trolio from Catholic Education WA, brought together more than 350 primary school students and their educators from across the Perth Archdiocese to celebrate this significant moment in community and faith-driven outreach.
Archbishop Costelloe was joined for the occasion by LifeLink Chair, Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, who welcomed all those present with an opening prayer and introduced an informational video about LifeLink’s work in pastoral, spiritual and practical care.
In his address, Archbishop Costelloe emphasised the theme of hope, central to the Jubilee Year of 2025, designated by Pope Francis as a special time for reflection and spreading hope globally.
Archbishop Costelloe elaborated on the Pope’s call to all Catholics to become “Pilgrims of Hope,” urging attendees to actively embody hope within their local communities and beyond.
Archbishop Costelloe also spoke passionately about the symbolic significance of the Jubilee Door at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is opened only once every 25 years as a powerful emblem of renewal, hospitality, and hope.
He recounted his personal experience of recently passing through this “Door of Hope,” inviting students to metaphorically open the doors of their own hearts to others.
“We all need to know that we’re welcome,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“We all need to know that we’re loved and cared for. We all need to know that who we are, as we are, is perfectly okay and acceptable.”
Archbishop Costelloe encouraged students to actively participate in LifeLink Day initiatives, illustrating his points with images and parables, including the biblical story of Jesus feeding 5000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish.
He drew parallels between this story and the collective effort students could achieve through small acts of generosity, reassuring them, “Even if you feel you can’t do much, God can turn your contributions into something extraordinary.”
The now-retired Catholic Education Western Australia executive director Wayne Bull challenged students to actively engage with their schools in fundraising activities to support LifeLink’s diverse charitable efforts.
“It might seem overwhelming when you think of all the good works that LifeLink supports, but you can make a difference, one shovel full at a time.”
FULL STORY
“We all need to know that we’re welcome,” Archbishop Costelloe tells students (By Jamie O’Brien, The Record)
