INDIGENOUS Catholics will reconnect to the Church’s history with trips to Cherbourg and Stradbroke Island as part of the 2009 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) assembly.
Brisbane archdiocese’s Murri Ministry will host NATSICC’s seventh national assembly at the Bardon Conference Centre from today (September 20) to September 25.
It is about 20 years since a NATSICC assembly was held in Queensland.
More than 250 indigenous Catholics from as far away as Western Australia and Darwin are expected to attend.
“The Holy Spirit in this land” is the 2009 assembly theme.
Murri Ministry co-ordinator Ravina Wald-ren said the assembly would again provide the opportunity for indigenous Catholics to come together in “hope, faith and prayer”.
“We are welcoming all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ministries and Catholic councils, clergy, religious, community groups, Catholic Education, Aboriginal youth groups and everyone who has an interest in Aboriginal ministries,” Ms Waldren said.
“Together we want to keep the story and dream alive of the Aboriginal Catholic faith.”
Visits to Cherbourg and Stradbroke Island on September 24 will play a part in achieving these goals.
A Dreamworld excursion has been arranged for youth and volunteers.
“Those visiting Cherbourg will have the opportunity to view various historical exhibits at the recently refurbished ration shed, the children’s home and St Peter Claver’s Church,” Ms Waldren said.
“The Stradbroke Island tour will take in the lakes, the lookout, the cemetery and the local Catholic church as the history of the indigenous Catholic people there is told.”
The assembly will open with a Welcome to Country by a representative of the Turrbal people at Mass tonight.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane will concelebrate Mass assisted by Aboriginal deacons.
The archbishop will welcome all to the assembly tomorrow morning.
Keynote speakers with a broad experience of indigenous Catholic affairs include Vickie Clark, John Lachowiak and Graeme Mundine.
Other events include cross-cultural awareness workshops, discussion panels on topics including the role of youth and deacons in the Catholic Church, a healing Mass, and the commissioning of the new NATSICC council.
Ms Waldren said the assembly would build on the work of previous assemblies including the most recent, held at Alice Springs three years ago which was “amazing”.
“It was a great opportunity to celebrate and remember Pope John Paul’s visit there twenty years earlier,” she said.
“There was a real sense of spiritual renewal which made participants thirsty for more.”
For further information contact Ravina Waldren on 0408 707 101.
