By Marietta Russo
Energising and hope filled, A Morning Encounter with Hugh Mackay, a satellite event of the 2021 Mission: One Heart Many Voices Conference, co-hosted by Catholic Mission and Catholic Outreach on 2 September for Parish Pastoral workers, inspired guests and affirmed their commitment to care and compassion. Photo: Supplied.
Energising and hope filled, A Morning Encounter with Hugh Mackay, a satellite event of the 2021 Mission: One Heart Many Voices Conference, co-hosted by Catholic Mission and Catholic Outreach on 2 September for Parish Pastoral workers, inspired guests and affirmed their commitment to care and compassion.
Attendees, who included Catholic Outreach Parish Program Coordinators, members of the Council of Catholic Women and Aboriginal Catholic Ministry staff, were taken on a thought-provoking journey of reflection and information accompanied by their fellow participants both present in the room and scattered across the country.
The day was structured around Hugh Mackay’s presentation on what he has labelled the Kindness Revolution during which he observed that people show one another great compassion during crises and are willing to make sacrifices for others before pointing out that, “We don’t need each other just in a crisis; we just need each other.”
Recognising that humans are hard-wired to be kind particularly during difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Mackay posed, Will there be a culture shift at having lived through this pandemic? Dare we dream of a kinder society? and Could we be renowned as a loving country not just a lucky country?”
He suggests that a kindness revolution is the answer where kindness becomes the criterion against which everything is assessed and we all make a commitment daily to having kindness characterise our way of being in the world.
Contemplating this proposal, Sr Veronica Martin, Pastoral Worker for the Willetton Parish, commented, “What was so significant for me was how Hugh’s comments reflected so much of what Pope Francis has written in his latest book Let Us Dream.”
Having Mackay highlight the importance of neighbourhoods and connectedness resonated well with the attendees particularly Catholic Outreach Parish Pastoral Program Coordinators who, together with their Programs’ Volunteers, already are regularly performing acts of kindness at a grass-roots level such as making a meal or helping with gardening when someone is ill or providing transport for someone recovering from surgery.
During a virtual workshop and masterclass on the sociology of kindness, participants felt a great sense of connection with fellow Australians from all around the country and a real sense of hope for progressing the kindness revolution.
Prison Chaplain and Mother Teresa Care Coordinator in Baldivis, Sandra, found the workshop very moving and recognises that kindness is both teachable and contagious.
“I really think it (the kindness revolution) is something you can speak to everyone about irrespective of faith, of what we believe in,” Sandra said.
Br Francis Mary Cledwyn, Superior General of The Franciscans of the Cross Charity, shared with fellow participants an analogy highlighting what he called the “mystery” of kindness.
“There are two bags, one bag is of oneself and the other bag is the other person. When I fill up the other bag with kindness, my own bag fills up equally to it. The same measure is given back.”
Interspersed among the live-streamed presentations were reflections and discussion where participants shared tales of thoughtfulness.
Stories shared of kindness encounters were many and varied with anecdotes of local, national and international experiences, of both small and large acts, all notable for having made an impression and suggesting that already there are vast numbers of kindness revolutionaries among us.
If you would like to view Hugh Mackay’s presentation, please text Francis on 0419 958 140.
Marietta Russo is Director of Catholic Outreach.