The
Catholic Weekly
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12 October 2003
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Role
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Role for the didjeridoo
Members of the Catholic Apostolate of Armidale (from left) - Back: Fr PJ O’Neill Walgett); Bette Panton (Narrabri), Rosemary Breen (Inverell), Shirley Saunders (Moree), Sr Marie (Moree), Fr Ron Perrett (Werris Creek); Front: Sr Annette (Tamworth), Barbara Ahoy (Armidale), Sr Betty Kennedy (Gunnedah), Ellen Saunders (Gunnedah), Sr Eleanor (Gunnedah Emmanuel Centre). Absent: Julie Ahoy (Armidale)
Aboriginal people in country areas of NSW are using traditional Aboriginal
practices as part of preparation for Catholic sacraments such as Baptism.
The Aboriginal people involved see this as the burgeoning of traditional culture and its complementing the practice of Catholic faith.
In Moree, Aboriginal pastoral volunteers help parents prepare for Baptism by visiting their homes and conducting sessions at the parish centre.
A special feature of this practice is the use of ‘message sticks’ for each child, emphasising the community aspect of the sacrament and Aboriginal culture.
Each family then prepares a baptismal candle decorated with Aboriginal art and traditional Christian symbols.
These matters were raised recently at an Armidale diocesan Aboriginal Apostolate meeting at the Emmanuel Centre, Gunnedah, involving Aboriginal people from Moree, Walgett, Gunnedah, Tamworth, Narrabri, Armidale, Inverell and Werris Creek.
In another flowering of Aboriginal culture it was said that at Aboriginal funerals in Walgett a special role is played by the elders, both in preparation and celebration, and the didjeridoo is often played.
In Aboriginal pastoral care at Walgett, a special emphasis is being given to Aboriginal spirituality, which incorporates contemplative prayer.
A sample of books on this topic was made available at the diocesan meeting, as was an article entitled Dadirri, by Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, an Aboriginal Catholic community leader from the Northern Territory.
In the article Miriam writes: “Perhaps the greatest gift we Aboriginals can give to our fellow-Australians is this quality called ‘dadirri’, which is inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness.
“It is something like what you call ‘contemplation’. We wait for the ripening of bush foods, we wait for the right time for our ceremonies.
“We wait on God, too.
“His time is the right time. I am beginning to feel the great need we have of Jesus - to protect and strengthen our identity, and to make us feel whole and new again.”
A number of people from the diocese have travelled to Adelaide this month for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council.
Moree, Tamworth, Armidale and Werris Creek were all represented.
In preparation for this meeting, the diocesan group discussed the theme of the council conference, taken from the words of Pope John Paul II to Aboriginal people at Alice Springs some years ago: “The time for rebirth is now.”
Some of the signs of rebirth of culture and faith in the region are seen in the development of Aboriginal volunteer pastoral workers, especially in Moree and Walgett, and the study and revival of Aboriginal languages, particularly in Walgett, where a dictionary of the local language has just been published.
Ursuline Sr Rita Steptoe, who died recently in Brisbane (Treasured memories, CW 28/9), is being honoured for her many years of pastoral work in the Armidale Aboriginal community (1962-87) with Aboriginal ceremonies at two school memorials - at St.Mary’s Catholic Primary school at 10.30am on Monday, October 20, and at Minimbah Aboriginal School, Armidale, at 1pm on Friday, October 24.
The next meeting of the diocesan Aboriginal Catholic Apostolate will be at the Catholic Parish Centre in Armidale on Tuesday, November 18, from 10.30-3pm.
For further information , please contact Shirley Saunders (Moree) 7652 7278, Gloria Leigh (Tamworth) 6761-5877 or Barbara Ahoy (Armidale) 6771-3675.