Welcome to my ‘2024 LifeLink Day for Catholic Schools’ initiative.
Bishop Sproxton and I are once again looking forward to welcoming representatives from our Archdiocesan Schools to the Primary Schools Launch, and the Secondary Schools Forum, for the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of LifeLink Day.
The first ever LifeLink Day for Catholic Schools Initiative was held in 1999 – a joint initiative between The Catholic Archdiocese of Perth (LifeLink) and Catholic Education WA (CEWA).
LifeLink Day is, and shall 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.
Remember, at the heart 
of Catholic Education, is Catholic Faith.
I am delighted to advise that our Archdiocesan Catholic Schools have donated just over $3 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 our faith in action, and truly seeing reflected the face of Jesus.
There is much to celebrate this LifeLink Day.
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.
It is truly remarkable that you have raised $3 million over the past 25 years. I congratulate you all. Thank you.
Let’s continue to work together to help make a difference in people’s lives.
Let me firstly acknowledge the tremendous support schools, teachers and students made to participate in my launch events last year, and the outstanding support schools demonstrated to undertake some form of fundraising for LifeLink Day.
I am delighted to announce that our Archdiocesan schools raised $108,799.00.
Congratulations and thank you to all who gave so generously.
So now we look forward to LifeLink Day 2024 which will be launched on Wednesday 5 June 2024.
A reminder that whilst the annual launch date of LifeLink Day is the first Wednesday in June each year, schools may choose to participate in the LifeLink Day programme and conduct special fundraising events 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.
On LifeLink Day, I am asking YOU and everyone at YOUR SCHOOL to help continue a ‘mission of care’ to our brothers and sisters who reach out to us for help.
Please, choose to be there for them in their time of need. Our fundraising goal for this year is to raise a minimum of $120,000.
I wish you all every success and hope you enjoy participating in LifeLink Day 2024.
Yours in Christ,
Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB
Catholic Archbishop of Perth
2024 Archbishop’s Special Project for Primary School Students
For LifeLink Day each year, the Archbishop invites primary schools and students to participate in a special project, one which builds greater understanding about the work of the LifeLink agencies, and how the Church responds to our brothers and sisters in need in the community.
These projects, we hope, will also provide an opportunity for you to show your creativity in a fun and imaginative way.
The task this year was for primary school students to Research the LifeLink Agencies via the website to learn more about the issues people in need face here in the Archdiocese of Perth, and how our LifeLink agencies respond to that need.
Then, in small groups, students were asked to discuss how we are joined together as God’s family, and that God loves everyone equally.
Students were then asked to create these “paper people”. Each boy and girl represents a different person supported by the LifeLink agency you researched.
On one paper person students are asked to write down the different needs that are supported by a specific LifeLink agency, the name of the agency and how it practically supports people in this Archdiocese. On the front of the other paper person, students are asked to write a prayer or special message of hope to someone in need.
We are delighted to be able to share some of wonderful creations the LifeLink Office has received from schools and students.
We’ve produced this 5-minute PowerPoint presentation to share with you just some of the many received so far.
On behalf of Archbishop Timothy, we congratulate the students on their outstanding efforts!
Remember, schools may submit their students artworks up to the end of the August 2024 via paperpeople@lifelink.com.au
Primary School Resources
We have pleasure in providing the following resources to help you and your school participate fully in LifeLink Day 2024.
