Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday

This Sunday is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday.  It coincides with the Gospel of Mark which talks about the rejection of Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth.  In many ways this has been the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia.  This is true for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in general but also for Aboriginal Catholics.   The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) website has a wealth of resources available this Sunday for us to reflect on the contribution of Aboriginal Catholics and their hopes for the future. 

This year the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council have adopted the NAIDOC theme for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday – Heal Country.  In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis has called us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction.

Today is a day to listen and to act.  You can listen to voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders on the environment and their reflections on Laudato Si’ and Querida Amazonia.  You can gain insights from some of their voices on Indigenous Voice to Parliament or read about reflections on our emerging as  Better Nation after COVID.

Across our own parishes and schools there are a number of ways that we acknowledge the traditional owners of our lands and the way in which Aboriginal Catholic’s have contributed to the Catholic faith.  In the previous weeks as our young parishioners celebrated First Communion they carried forth the message stick as the gospel was read.  The message stick is a traditional symbol, carried, to add to the solemnity of a message that was about to be delivered.  When used in our liturgy it is a reminder to us that together with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters, we are listening to a profound and life changing message.   The message stick is used in many parishes now.

Our schools are also commissioned as fire carrier schools.  Aboriginal Catholic Ministry describes the fire carrier initiative like this:

The story of FIRE Carriers began with a dream to bring Aboriginal culture, history and spirituality into the forefront of education in Catholic schools. It was important to teach the stories of the oldest living culture to our youngest generations to ensure the living truth, the dreams and hopes of our Indigenous people were heard. This would be a genuine pathway to reconciliation.

The fire spread and the initiative of the FIRE Carriers grew throughout Melbourne and parts of Victoria.

These initiatives help our school children to grow in understanding of the past.  They also enrich their own understanding and appreciation of the Catholic faith, when symbols such as the message stick lead to a deeper listening to the gospel.

The journey of reconciliation is ongoing and there are some very positive signs that the next generation of Australian Catholics will be as much Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics as any other Catholic.  This may just help to lead to the healing of relationships and the environment in this country, the great south land of the Holy Spirit.

Fr Brendan Reed