By Anthony Barich
Twenty-three Neocatechumenal Way students from Redemptoris Mater seminaries in Perth and Sydney are undergoing intellectual formation in Aboriginal anthropology to enhance their future ministry as priests in Australia.
Ten students from Perth and 13 from Sydney, plus Perth Rector Fr Michael Moore are in Melbourne attending a January 19-29 seminar run by Auxiliary Bishop Hilton Deakin of Melbourne at Croydon’s Sacred Heart monastery parish.
Fr Moore told The Record that understanding anthropology is the key to helping seminarians in their future role of evangelisation as priests.
There are six priests of the Neocatechumenal Way currently ministering in Aboriginal areas around Australia in desert, rural and city missions.
Aboriginal spirituality is “difficult to define” as it differs from people to people, Fr Moore said, so a study of anthropology is essential for priests’ training.
“We all have a natural desire to know God,” he said. “It’s about bringing them to a personal meeting with Jesus Christ.”