Welcome to the June edition of enews. Only a little over one month to go before World Youth Day! Accommodation for young people in Melbourne in the week before WYD is still needed. If you or your students can help, contact DID08 Melbourne Homestay. Prince Caspian has arrived in town. Check these resources.

Scholar Amy-Jill Levine is speaking at a Winter School during July organised by the Australian Centre For Jewish Civilisation. She is an excellent presenter with a warm appreciation and extensive knowledge of both Testaments. Her Thursday evening Short Course, Judaism, Jesus and Jewish Christian Relations would be of great value for teachers.  

Faith & Reason One Day Teachers' Conferences are taking place across Australia and New Zealand with Dr Peter Vardy of Heythrop College and Julie Arliss, one of the most experienced teacher educators in the area of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Melbourne's conference day will be held at De La Salle College Malvern on July 30th. Cost: $150. Ring De La Salle on 95093011 to register. Graham Lawler is the contact person.

The Creation stories of Genesis are crucial for the Christian understanding of human beings and their relationships. These inspired, multilayered stories, while sometimes miscontrued, will continue to stimulate and provoke our religious thinking into and beyond the 21st century.

The new St Patrick's Cathedral web site introduces you to the history, music, special features and daily routines of this wonderful building. Especially valuable for teachers preparing for excursions to St Patrick's, this is a colourful and informative introduction to the Cathedral.

St Mary's Press resource pages contain hundreds of articles, suggestions, exercises and ideas for class prayer and discussion. Use the search facility to navigate to the topics you are interested in. An interesting one is on Cinema Divina - Meeting Jesus at the Movies. 

Even if you are unable to visit the magnificent  Medieval Imagination exhibition, free at the State Library of Victoria until June 15, the interactive section of the website provides a fine introduction to the glorious illuminated books of the Middle Ages. The website includes short films, an audio tour and an image gallery. As well, a 32 page Teacher Resource would help you and your students get the most out of a visit if you can actually get there.

The publication of Dr Rodney Syme's book, 'A Good Death: an Argument for Voluntary Euthanasia' has put this difficult topic back 'in the news'. 

The Rudd government has moved to abolish the temporary visa scheme and refugees now have permanency and access to support and benefits. The plight of the young family in this story will be alleviated but how will we continue to supprt them and others in need?

Melbourne man Colin Ross hanged in 1924 for the rape and murder of a young girl has been exonerated leading to further reflection on the issue of the death penalty, a form of punishment for which one can never be compensated if a mistake is made.