Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB
Catholic Archbishop of Perth
Most Rev Donald Sproxton
Auxiliary Bishop of Perth
Chairman, LifeLink Executive
Welcome to my ‘2026 LifeLink Day for Catholic Schools’ initiative
Bishop Sproxton, Bishop Po and I are looking forward to welcoming representatives from our Archdiocesan Schools to the Primary Schools Launch and the Secondary Schools Forum for the celebration of LifeLink Day 2026.
The first ever LifeLink Day was held in 1999 – a joint initiative of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth (LifeLink) and Catholic Education WA(CEWA).
LifeLink Day is, and will remain, both an educational and fundraising initiative.
Through LifeLink Day, young people attending Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Perth are encouraged to learn more about the very real ‘need’ which exists in the community, and how our Church agencies, through LifeLink, respond to this need.
Schools and students are actively encouraged to demonstrate their support and compassion for our brothers and sisters in need by undertaking or participating in special fundraising events.
At the heart 
of Catholic Education, is Catholic Faith.
Our Archdiocesan Catholic Schools have donated almost $3.2 million to the social services of the Church as a direct result of LifeLink Day.
Most importantly, we have inspired a generation of young people to recognise that when we reach out with love to our brothers and sisters in need, we are expressing faith in action, and truly seeing reflected the face of Jesus.
I wish to sincerely thank and acknowledge the enduring and valued support of Catholic Education WA (CEWA), our Archdiocesan School Principals and teaching staff who have helped build the culture of LifeLink Day through their genuine and enthusiastic support.
Perhaps most importantly, a HUGE thank you to all the students who have participated in special projects and activities, taken the time to discover and learn out the work of the Church’s social service agencies, and generously donated a gold coin each and every year to help someone in need.
Let’s continue to work together to help make a difference in people’s lives.
I am delighted to announce that in 2025, our Archdiocesan schools raised a record amount through their LifeLink Day fundraising activities…
🎉 $146,967.20 🥳
A truly remarkable outcome.
Congratulations and thank you to all who gave so generously.
The annual launch date of LifeLink Day is traditionally the first Wednesday in June each year during the WA Week celebration and long weekend.
LifeLink Day 2026 will be officially launched on Wednesday, 10 June 2026.
Schools may choose to participate in LifeLink Day and conduct their special fundraising event at any time during the school year.
LifeLink Day provides a wonderful opportunity for students attending Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Perth to join together to show their support for the Church’s social service agencies – agencies which on behalf of us all, reach out to provide practical care and direct assistance to thousands of people in need each year.
Many thousands of Western Australian families and individuals each year depend on our LifeLink agencies being there for them at their time of need.
Pope Leo XIV proclaimed this a Special Year of St Francis.
St Francis of Assisi devoted his life to caring for the poor, preaching the Gospel, and encouraging us all to live like Jesus.
St Francis’s life of service to the poor and his commitment to strengthening his faith every day are expressed and celebrated through your active participation in LifeLink Day.
On LifeLink Day, I hope everyone at your school will follow the example of St Francis… and show love and compassion for our brothers and sisters in need.
Please, give generously. Our fundraising goal for this year is to raise a minimum of $130,000.
I wish you all every success and hope you enjoy LifeLink Day 2026.
Yours in Christ,
Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB
Catholic Archbishop of Perth
Archbishop’s Secondary Schools Forum
in support of LifeLink Day 2026
The Archbishop’s Forum for Secondary Schools in support of LifeLink Day 2026 will provide an opportunity for interactive engagement with students, whilst facilitating interschool relationship building and teamwork amongst students and schools.
Pope Leo XIV proclaimed this year the “Special Year of St Francis” to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The year began on January 10, 2026, and will conclude on January 10, 2027.
In announcing this special observance, the Holy Father reminded people that “peace with God, peace among people and peace with creation are inseparable dimensions of a single call to universal reconciliation”.
As we celebrate this Holy Year, may the example of St Francis inspire us to live with humility, joy and reverence for all God’s creation, fostering peace within our hearts.
The focus of this year’s Forum will be the celebration of St Francis Assisi and its theme will be…
“One in Christ, United in Mission”.
Archbishop Costelloe SDB will deliver his Address in three x 10-minute segments. At the end of each segment, students will be asked to discuss a question that His Grace will pose and provide their tables response/s via Mentimeter. The Archbishop will then respond to one specific response which they select to discuss further.
We know from previous Forum events that students really appreciate the open question time, where they can ask any question of the Bishops – personal, faith, political, whatever. So, we will make sure to allow more a time for this at the end of the 2026 Forum format.
The Archbishop has warmly invited secondary schools to nominate eight (8) representatives to attend this year’s Forum – six (6) student representative together with the school’s Principal and REC or their nominated representatives.
The date and location for “The Archbishop’s Forum for LifeLink Day” will be:
DATE: | Thursday, 21 May 2026 |
TIME: | Commencing at 9.15am (concludes at 1.00pm) |
LOCATION: | Aranmore Catholic College Gymnasium, 41 Franklin Street, Leederville |
DURATION: | 3 hours 45 minutes (including provisions for morning tea and luncheon) |
Morning tea and lunch will be provided for all guests.
To assist with catering and other arrangements for this special event, we would be grateful if schools would respond to the following requests by email to admin@lifelink.com.au.
- The names of your school’s representatives who will be attending the Forum. (Please identify Principal, Dir of Ministry, REC or other positions)
- Any special catering requests or requirements – allergies, vegan, vegetarian, coeliac, diabetic etc.
- Alternatively, please contact Miss Edith Huang at the LifeLink Office on telephone: 6104 3636.
NOTES: | Secondary schools are requested and invited to undertake some form of special fundraising activity during the school year to help raise funds in support of our LifeLink agencies. A video of the Forum will be provided on the LifeLink website as soon as possible after the event. |
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ● SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ● SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Archbishop’s Spirit Award
I am delighted to announce a Special Prize & Award will be presented to just one (1) primary school which Bishop Don, Bishop Nelson and I will select as having best achieved the goals of LifeLink Day this year.
The Prize:
Bishop Sproxton, Bishop Po and I will personally visit the winning school (together with a few other special guests) to present the award during November 2026… before the end of the school year.
The date will be discussed and confirmed with the winning school after the October 2026 deadline closes – see notes below.
Mercy College, Koondoola, joint recipient of the Archbishop’s Spirit Award 2025
The Award:
We will present the winning school with a magnificent ‘Spirit Award’ to be displayed proudly for visitors, teachers, parents and students at your school.
The newly designed award will acknowledge the school’s tremendous support for the educational and fundraising goals of LifeLink Day.
Following its introduction last year, this is now an annual award.
John XXIII College, Mt Claremont, joint recipient of the Archbishop’s Spirit Award 2025
A Special gift from the Archbishop and Bishop
for LifeLink Day 2026
Archbishop Costelloe SDB and Auxiliary Bishop Sproxton have provided a small gift for everyone participating in their 2026 LifeLink Day initiative. Schools in the archdiocese of Perth have received these Special Payer Cards which the Archbishop has requested be provided to every student and teacher.
The Prayer Card is double sided. On one side is the Prayer by St Francis of Assisi and on the other side is our LifeLink – Prayer for Charity.
His Grace said, “St Francis’s life of service to the poor and his commitment to strengthening his faith every day “mirror” the fundamental goals of my LifeLink Day initiative.
His witness of humility, mercy and love for the poor continues to inspire the Church to live the Gospel with joy and courage today”.
Photos: Phil Bayne/Archdiocese of Perth
Each prayer card comes with a personal blessing by Bishop Don. As Chairman of the LifeLink Executive since its establishment, Bishop Sproxton kindly made time to visit our printers, Scott Print, in East Perth.
Once the cards had been produced, and before they were transported away for collation and distribution to all our archdiocesan schools, Bishop Don offered this special blessing:
“Loving Father, We thank you for loving us so much that you gave your Son to be one of us.
Bless these Prayer Cards and let them be a sign of our love for others.
Help us to recognise the many gifts and talents You have given to each of us
and teach us to use them for your honour and for the good of all people.
Father, We praise you Through Jesus Christ our Lord, In the love of your Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.
Amen.”
School Resources
Click to access each of the resource listed.
LifeLink Day 2026 School Posters
LifeLink Day 2026 and LifeLink Logos
LifeLink Agencies – Photos
Information for Principals and Teachers
