Reflection from Deacon Mark Kelly
Saint John Paul and Indigenous Australians
On Friday we celebrated the feast day of Pope Saint John Paul II who has a special place in the hearts of Aboriginal Catholics and indeed of Aboriginal Australians. His 1986 Alice Springs speech recognising their unique culture, contribution to the Catholic Church and their long history of survival despite discrimination was a proud, pivotal moment for Aboriginal peoples and remains a stark wake up to the rest of us.
Saint John Paul’s profound address showed great understanding and empathy, laying bare the pain of dispossession, transportation from homelands, break-up of families, splitting apart of tribes, orphaned children and “people forced to live like exiles in a foreign country.” At the same time he celebrated and honoured their “Dreaming,” their songs and stories, paintings and languages with deep respect, dignity and affection. Finally: understanding! (Address of Pope John Paul II to the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, Alice Springs 29th Nov 1986) The Pope’s words were a balm to Aboriginal ears, akin to Jeremiah’s words to the people of Israel in our first reading this week, “They had left in tears, I will comfort them as I lead them back”. (Jer 31:9)
All these years later the Plenary Council is discerning how our Australian Church might be newly open to Indigenous ways of being Catholic in spirituality, theology, liturgy, and missionary discipleship. Vigorous support is being expressed for Church efforts to “bridge the gap” with First Nations people, not least of which is endorsement of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Indigenous Catholic and Plenary Council delegate Ms Toni Janke, feels a real sense of hope in the Council, reminding us that indigenous Australians “have a beautiful rich culture that is in excess of 60,000 years old and a lot to teach not just the Church but the community at large.” (Catholic Leader 5th Oct 2021).
Deacon Mark Kelly
