"Many people throughout Australia are disturbed by the punitive and harsh policies and conditions to which people seeking asylum in Australia are being subjected," said CRA President, Sr Annette Cunliffe.
"The recent incident on Manus Island and the death of one person and the injury of many highlights the lack of care and dignity in the policies of both the Government and the Opposition and the absence of awareness of their legal and moral responsibilities," she said.
The National Lament will be carried out in two parts. The first of which will be engaging in prayer, penance and action for asylum seekers in Australia throughout the period of Lent until the day of Jesus' ascension.
Part 2 of the campaign will be a Week of Prayer and Prophetic Presence during Ascension to Pentecost, from the 1st to the 8th of June 2014.
The campaign also encourages participants to express their lament to local MPs and Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.
"We are seeking to make a Christian response to these people, rather than treating them as a problem to be solved," CRA wrote about the campaign.
The "National Lament" campaign is inspired by the words of Pope Francis during his visit to Lampedusa: "We are a society which has forgotten how to weep."
For more information or to participate, visit www.catholicreligiousaustralia.org
The Catholic Religious Australia is the peak body for leaders of Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life resident in Australia. Their membership comprises more than 180 congregations of over 8,000 Sisters, Brothers and Religious Priests living and working in all states and territories.