Life beyond our shores – all we need is each other

Our Sacristan, Ella Redman is currently studying at Australian Catholic University (ACU).  Late last year, ACU sent a group of students to the Solomon Islands to teach at a primary school.  Ella reflects on what a life changing opportunity this was for her and her fellow students.

Solomon Islands Immersion Program

In November, I went over with Australian Catholic University to volunteer to teach at one of the poorest primary schools in the Solomon Islands.  This was a life-changing immersion program where I got to experience life in Honiara and to see how much the community cares for each other. 

I left Melbourne on a plane with 16 other students from across Australia that I didn’t know.  It is safe to say that we are no longer strangers but are now empowered and fierce friends from the experiences we faced together. 

In my three and a half weeks there, I visited the Cathedral of Honiara for Sunday Mass every week.  The beautiful structure on the hill had an open view of the sea and hundreds of benches that were filled every service with hundreds of people.  What struck me most during these over an hour-and-a-half-long Eucharists, was how communal everything seemed.  There were many altar servers and helpers, greeting visitors and aiding in making the service feel like it came from the people.  To make the service more inclusive, two interpreters signed the entire Mass for the hearing impaired.  The singing was bright and joyful, making it difficult to not dance and smile wide the entire time. 

Image: Cathedral ‘The Holy Cross’ in Honiara

It made me realise how much people make the church.  In my studies at university, I learned that the word ‘church’ came from the Greek word from the bible in the New Testament. ‘Ekklesia’ is often translated as ‘church’, meaning the gathering of people. 

When watching not only the cathedral partake in communion, but also the primary school that had a bi-weekly Mass knew more about the importance of church than most churches here in Australia.  We do not need the lights, sound effects, power points, microphones, or grand presentations.  All we need is each other, being true brothers and sisters of Christ.  This means constantly deepening our compassion and inclusive nature as a group, welcoming and loving every person both outside and inside our church.  The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) team at Our Lady of Pentecost is a wonderful local example of this. 

After this trip, I am personally continuing my studies and learning sign language to hopefully provide a more inclusive environment both in my future classrooms and in my community.  It is difficult seeing the injustices people have to face, especially in this time of hope leading up to Easter.  But I believe that we can continue our efforts by supporting programs like Project Compassion to even the imbalances of our society. 

By Ella Redman

Main image: Ella in her ACU uniform, giving an end of year award to a Year 1 student that she taught.