Conversations about the shared journey towards reconciliation and healing took centre stage at a recent colloquium co-ordinated by several agencies and organisations from the Archdiocese of Perth and government bodies.
The evening colloquium, entitled Coming Home Together, took place at the Redemptorist Retreat House in North Perth last Wednesday, 21 October and was attended by more than 110 people working with and for Indigenous people across the Archdiocese.
Organised by Catholic Mission, in partnership with Reconciliation WA, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, the Redemptorist community, Catholic Education WA and Catholic Religious WA, the colloquium also looked at working towards action that draws on the important and on-going relationship Indigenous people and communities have with the Catholic Church.
Director of Catholic Mission Perth Office, Francis Leong, said the purpose of the colloquium was also to strengthen and expand networks and forge new partnerships.
“With 11 Catholic schools, 12 religious congregations and 14 Catholic agencies and organisations represented, it was indeed a gathering that reinforced the strength and diversity of the network around our relationship with Indigenous people,” Mr Leong said.
“The event also demonstrated a strong inter-generational representation, with Indigenous student leaders from Clontarf and Mercedes notable for their presence and engagement at the table,” he said.
Mr Leong went on to explain that keynote speakers Sr Veronica Willaway OSB and the Hon Fred Chaney OA were given the special task of inspiring those present.
Sr Veronica spoke about her Yuat Noongar roots and their influence on her 57 years as a Missionary Benedictine Sister of Tutzing, currently serving in the Norfolk Priory in Nebraska, USA.
As one of only a handful of Australian Indigenous religious sisters serving overseas, Sr Veronica shared her experience and knowledge around the issue of reconciliation and healing with pastoral wisdom and insight.
Sr Veronica’s speech was then followed by a presentation from the Hon Fred Chaney AO, former Senator of Western Australia and head of Reconciliation Australia, who spoke about the challenges for the Church in engaging more with Indigenous people, noting the absence of their voice in parish communities.
The Hon Chaney AO is recognised nationally for his long and distinguished involvement with Indigenous issues and reconciliation, notably as founder of Reconciliation Australia.
He went on to affirm the tremendous relationship that many religious have had and continue to have with Indigenous people over many generations, noting Perth Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey as a pastoral champion of the cause.
At the conclusion of the colloquium, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, who is also a member of the Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Relations with Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, gave the gathering a final blessing.
Mr Leong said the colloquium is the beginning of many more that will follow in the months to come, particularly in the lead-up to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday in July next year.
“As we work towards integrating the particular narrative and sense of the Sacred of our Indigenous brothers and sisters, we remember the need for us to be a Church and People of God that is together,” Mr Leong said.
“As the title of this inaugural gathering suggests, it’s all about us ‘coming home together’,” he said.
For more information on the next “Coming Home Together” colloquium, contact Francis Leong at Catholic Mission on 08 9422 7933 or via director.cm@perthcatholic.org.au.