Diocesan News
The aim of National Families Week is to celebrate the vital role that families play in Australian society.
CatholicCare Family Week – May 11 – 17, 2026 – Family Week is a great time to reflect on the vital role of all families, in whatever form they take. It is a time to celebrate and strengthen family relationships.
Families Australia – May 13 – 19, 2026 – Led by Families Australia, National Families Week recognises the vital role families play in our lives and our community. It’s a time to celebrate with your family, connect with your extended family and friends and share in the enjoyment of family activities within the wider community.
Family Week aligns with the UN International Day of Families on May 15 to celebrate the vital role families play in the community.
Read stories from around the diocese:
Noeline Hogan – Birchip
National families Week is a timely reminder to stop and acknowledge what our families mean to us. I have a children’s book called “The Family Book” by Todd Parr. It mentions many different types of families in society today; big, small, mixed coloured, blended, fostered, single parents and so on. Parr points out that all families, regardless of subtleties, can have many things in common. For example; the love they have for one another, they are sad when they lose someone they love, they like to celebrate special occasions together and importantly many families help each other to be strong. It’s a simple pre-schooler book that says it’s ok if your family is different, you are not alone or unusual.
I have been married to Leon for 31 years. He’s a Mallee sheep and cropping farmer from between Birchip and Watchem and we have four children together. Emma, an ICU nurse; Sean is in construction management; Ben is an electrician and part time farmer and Patrick is an auto electrician. We represent the typical nuclear family!
It’s hectic when we come together, we do all the normal things together; laugh, argue, and annoy each other. We can’t wait to see each other, and sometimes we can’t wait to leave! We are tolerant and patient and sometimes we’re not….but most importantly we love and support each other.
