Late last year the DVD: Challenge, Change and Faith was launched to help young & old Catholics remember and appreciate the work of Vatican II. Check the Challenge, Change and Faith website. It is well worth a look and includes a trailer from the DVD plus access to Teachers' Notes. It complements our own Vatican II material.

What does it mean to lead a Catholic School in the 21st Century? A Day for Primary School Pricipals and Leadership Teams. Dr Leoni Degenhardt, June 21st, CQ Functions, Queen St Melbourne. Register before May 29 on CEVN.

Fair Trade fortnight: from 2 -17 May, highlighting the ethical considerations that should underlie commerce, followed by Reconciliation Week which runs from 27 May - 3 June.

Is Paul a Catholic? Fr Brendan Byrne presents the Annual Knox Lecture in the Knox lecture theatre CTC 278 Victoria Pde. East Melbourne, May 13 at 7.30. Email ctc@ctc.edu.au or phone 9412 3314 by Friday 8 May 2009.

Four aspects of Carmelite Spirituality: Tuesdays of May 2009, 7.00pm to 9.00pm. Presenters are Adrian Jones, Fr Ken Petersen O.Carm, Sr Maria Hughes and Fr Hugh Brown O.Carm.

The recent arrival of several boatloads of refugees and the disaster on one of the boats has led to the issue of Australia's response to refugees reigniting.  Prime Minister Rudd has focused on people smuggling but the sad truth is that the desperation of people seeking freedom and security is what really drives this illegal trade.

Have you seen Why go to Church? the book by English Dominican Timothy Radcliffe which was chosen by the Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams as his Lenten reflection for 2009.  Despite its slightly 'clunky' title this is a tremendously accessible and appealing book and well worth more than a glance.

Keeping the Easter spirit alive in the classroom could be helped by one or two of the many suggestions made on the Faith at Home site or the 50 Days of Easter site. Easter culminates in Pentecost which has origins in the Jewish feast of Shavuot.

If the controversy over the Pope's comments on the use of condoms has come up in class, you may be especially interested in two articles online. One by Fr Michael Czerny and another by Fr Andrew Hamilton. A further article by Harvard public health expert Edward Green also casts some new light on the agonising situation in Africa.

The film Slumdog Millionaire has triggered interest in the difficulties of the sub continent. This article queries popular suppositions about international outsourcing.

Protests against  Gunn's, the Tasmanian timber company, have been in the news this month as the company plans major developments in Tasmania which they claim will employ over 2500 and be a major boost to the State's economy.  The Wilderness Society is leading the opposition.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced extra troops will be sent to play a training role in the Afghanistan War. Security is deteriorating there while other wars in the Middle East grind on but are extra troops the best answer?