Basem Abdo (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This time of year, many Australians are observing seasons and festivals that hold deep spiritual significance. In my community in Calwell, this time of year is a significant one for faith communities.

For those of the Christian faith, we are in the season of Lent. Observed across many Christian traditions—East and West and across traditions—Lent is a 40-day period of reflection, prayer and renewal that leads towards the celebration of Easter. It is a season that calls people to slow down and step back from the distractions of daily life. Through prayer, fasting and acts of service, Lent encourages believers to examine their lives honestly, to reflect on their relationships, their values and their responsibilities to others.

It is a time that reminds people of the Christian faith that spiritual growth is not accidental. It requires discipline, it requires humility, and it requires a willingness to look inward and ask often-difficult questions about how we live and how we treat those around us. Lent is a deliberate pause in the rhythm of life, a time of spiritual nourishment that prepares the faithful for the hope and renewal symbolised by Easter. Lent also asks us to slow down and sit with silence. For the faithful, it asks them to face something many of us try to avoid: the fear of being alone. In doing so, it reminds us of a deeper truth: in community, we are never truly alone.

Perhaps that's why Lent still speaks powerfully to our times. The past few years have shaken the world. We lived through a pandemic that tested our resilience and our sense of solidarity. Today we see devastating wars unfolding, reminding us how fragile peace can be. Alongside these crises sits another challenge we cannot ignore: the threat posed by climate change and our shared responsibility to confront it. This conflict and instability and these environmental pressures are all testing our humanity. The late Salvadoran archbishop Oscar Romero once said:

… Lent should awaken a sense of social justice.

That reminder is as relevant now as ever. Lent is not only about private reflection; it is about asking ourselves what kind of society we are building and whether we are prepared to stand up for dignity, safety and the wellbeing of others in a troubled world. May those observing across my community have a blessed Lent.

At the same time, many Australians of Hindu and South-Asian heritage are celebrating the festival of Holi. Holi is one of the most joyful and vibrant festivals in the Hindu calendar. Often known as the festival of colours, it celebrates the triumph of good over evil, the renewal of friendships and the enduring power of forgiveness. Communities gather to celebrate with colour, music and shared meals, and the significance of Holi extends far beyond its joyful festivities. It marks the arrival of spring in many parts of the world and symbolises renewal, hope and new beginnings. It is a time when families and communities come together, when differences are set aside and when people reaffirm the bonds that connect them to one another.

Across my wonderfully diverse community, Holi has become a celebration embraced not only by Hindu communities but by Australians from many different backgrounds. It reflects something special about modern, multicultural Australia—a country where the traditions and cultures of people from every corner of the world enrich our shared national story.

While religious and cultural observances—whether it be Ramadan, Lent, Holi or many other sacred traditions—come from diverse backgrounds and expressions of faith, they share something deeply meaningful. They invite people to renew themselves. They call on people to reflect on their values. They remind us that our lives are not lived in isolation but in relationship with others. In different ways, traditions point us back to the same enduring ideals: compassion, forgiveness, renewal and the importance of community. In a world that can sometimes feel volatile, divided and uncertain, these messages matter. They remind us that faith lives in the values that shape how we live, how we support one another and how we grow together, and that is a message that resonates far beyond any one tradition. May this period of observance and celebration in our community be blessed.

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