Jesus teaches us to become servants, not dictators, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has said.
Speaking on the occasion of Aboriginal Sunday for the Perth Archdiocese at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sunday 20 October, Bishop Sproxton was joined for the occasion by Embleton Parish Priest Fr Patrick Toohey.
More than 500 people gathered for the Mass which coincided with the weekly 5pm Sunday Mass.
Bishop Sproxton commenced his homily by saying a lot of work has been undertaken in recent years to understand the ancient rituals and symbols of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples.
“This has led to the taking of some of them for use in our Christian celebrations, because of the common understandings and meaning they have and for what they communicate about our relationship with our Father, the people and the earth,” Bishop Sproxton explained.
“We are a Catholic community brought together by our faith in Jesus Christ. We are brothers and sisters because of our faith,” he said.
Typically celebrated on the first Sunday of July, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday is a time when the whole church comes together to celebrate and acknowledge the gifts of Australia’s First Peoples.
According to the 2016 census, Western Australia is home to nearly 20,000 Indigenous Catholics. The highest percentage of Catholics is in Broome where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders make up 61 per cent of all Catholics. Geraldton comes in second where 13 per cent of Catholics are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Prior to the commencement of the Mass, those present where invited to participate in a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by Wadjuk Noongar Elder Robyn Collard, with indigenous youth Thairon Jansen and Tryce Rioli playing the didgeridoo.
Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Pastoral Assistant Donna Ryder acted as MC for the occasion, and a display of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags were placed on the sanctuary together with a small liturgical display including a candle, native leaves and wooden tray.
Bishop Sproxton highlighted that Jesus does not use words alone to teach.
“He shows us how to be servants and He offers us the power or grace for us to have a change of heart,” Bishop Don said.
“Even more remarkably, Jesus continues to be our servant even after His triumph over death.
“He serves us from His place of glory by being with us and providing what we really need to grow as persons and as disciples.”
In concluding his homily, Bishop Sproxton said we are called to imitate the model of servanthood of Jesus.
“This is the pathway to life that is full and meaningful,” Bishop Sproxton said.
“But we need to remember is this is life-long learning of loving, forgiving, reconciling and noticing the needs of others.
“Being a disciple is learning how to listen to the events in our lives and growing through reflecting on each of these,” he said.
Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Director, Donella Brown, herself a Yawuru Country (Broome) woman, reflected on the words of Pope Francis on the occasion.
“As Pope Francis reminds us, we are called to be a Church that goes forth, embracing all cultures and peoples,” Ms Brown said.
“Let us open our hearts to the wisdom and spirituality of our First Nations Peoples, recognising the presence of Christ in our stories and traditions.
“May this celebration be a moment of grace, healing, and transformation for all of us,” she concluded.