Published by the DIOCESE OF BROOME PO Box 76, Broome, Western Australia 6725 Tel: (08) 9192 1060 Fax: (08) 9192 2136 E-mail: [email protected] FREE www.broomediocese.org ISSUE 01 MARCH 2008 Multi-award winning magazine for the Kimberley • Building our future together "Alleluia, alleluia! Christ the Lord has risen from the dead. Let us rejoice and be glad. Alleluia!" Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; he has risen. Luke 24:5-6 Easter Message The governments and Indigenous for Aboriginal people centering recent people, and healing the wounds largely on the Stolen National of a harsh history. Generations but by implication Apology on I found some remarkable including all Indigenous people behalf of the Australian similarities in the public in the quest for A Bran Nue Parliament to the Stolen discussions about this historical Dae, as the Kimberley musical Generations has given rise to a event and the wonder that we calls it. There are signs that this great deal of discussion about remember and celebrate each Nue Dae is now a possibility for reconciliation in our land. Easter. I am uplifted by the us as a nation. In the Among those who supported the bright promise of building a achievement of reconciliation historical moment there has just future heralded by hopeful with one another there is the The sun breaks through the clouds shedding its light over the land. been talk about making the past hearts since that moment in prospect of healing and peace A cross complete with the lance, right, acknowledging the Canberra. It was a healing, unknown in previous Balgo cemetery, East Kimberley. injustices enacted by the liberating experience. At the generations. Photo: CAS discriminatory laws, saying same time I see in the death and God’s promise, as revealed sorry for the hurt caused and resurrection of Jesus, a promise in scripture, of new beginnings “When they came making reparation for wrongful come true that gives substance with the human race is enabled to Jesus, they found acts. There has been much said to the hope for which all by Christ whose death and he was already dead, about the hope for a new humanity longs. resurrection seals in trust the and so one of the beginning in forging equitable For some years, certainly covenant between God and soldiers pierced his relationships between since the ‘Bringing Them humanity. To know Christ is to Indigenous and non-Indigenous Home’ report of 1997, there has know God and to know that his side with a lance and people, restoring trust between been the hope of reconciliation love is healing, unconditional immediately there and without bounds. To know came out blood and love Christ is to be united and water.” in love with God so as to find John 19:33-34 meaning in our existence, to appreciate the mystery of suffering in our midst, and to acknowledge the power of Kimberley God’s forgiving Grace. Community God calls us to holiness, to Profile change our selfish ways that burden us and others so readily. is a publication of the He invites us to renounce sin Roman Catholic Diocese and to forge a new relationship of Broome, published with Him made possible in eight times a year by the Christ. As an Easter people we Bishop of Broome. celebrate that it is God who Articles to do with the “brings us out of darkness into Kimberley are welcome his own wonderful light.” to be submitted for I wish you and your family publication. every blessing, every joy and every wonder that the feast of SUBSCRIPTIONS & Easter so generously offers our ENQUIRIES: world. Diocese of Broome, PO Box 76, Yours in Christ BROOME WA 6725 Tel: 08 9192 1060 Fax: 08 9192 2136 E-mail: [email protected] +Christopher Saunders www.broomediocese.org Bishop of Broome Subscription Rate $25.00pa The opinions expressed National Apology in this publication are not Obituary: Sister Scholastica necessarily those of the INSIDE Bishop of Broome. ThisIssue More on World Youth Day 2008 2 • Kimberley Community Profile • MARCH 2008 Briefly Speaking Photo: CAS. FR BILL CHRISTY is a priest of the Spiritans. He has provided Photo: J Grimson. assistance to Fr Mark Connolly in the Parish of Wyndham and in FR KEVIN MATTHEWS is the Photo: D Ponsford. Halls Creek. Fr Bill hails from Parish Priest of Cleve in the the USA where he has worked in Diocese of Port Pirie, South FR RAYMOND UGWU, a formation. One of his postings Australia. Among his other duties Spiritan priest, is assisting in the included working among the Fr Kevin works in the area of Dampier Peninsula Parish for the Photo: J Grimson. Masai people of East Africa. He Church marriage annulment and next few months having provided comes to the Kimberley with a while in the Kimberley he gave supply for that Parish while Fr PASQUALE PIZZOFERRO, is considerable and valuable several lectures on the process. Bernard Amah was on annual from Italy and a student for the missionary experience. He also conducted interviews of leave. Fr Raymond, from Nigeria, Priesthood at Redemptoris Mater those enquiring about the had previously been working in Seminary in Sydney. Pasquale possibility of marriage annulment. the Philippines. spent December and January doing pastoral work in Broome where he very generously gave of his time assisting Fr Daniel and Fr St John’s Students Richard in the Cathedral Parish. The plane to Darwin was late leaving Broome so these students bound for St. John’s College spent some time at the Bishop’s Office. At back, the Thomas boys and, in front, Liam Dean from La Grange-Bidyadanga with Reggie Tataya of Derby. Photo: M Doyle. Photo: C Brehaut. SR JENNIFER FARRELL, a MRS CAROL GEURTS has Good Samaritan Sister, has taken been appointed Regional Officer up a position at Notre Dame for the Catholic Education Office Broome Campus as a Nursing in Broome. Carol, previously Lecturer. Sr Jennifer had Principal of St Joseph’s School in previously worked as a Midwife Kununurra, is from Rockingham at St John of God Hospital in Photo: CAS. WA. Murdoch, WA. Kimberley Community Profile • MARCH 2008 3 CEO News Editorial A Stolen Generation National apology a reflection Gathered for prayer, staff of government policy relating to wonderful first step the Catholic Education Office, indigenous people in the past Much has already been and the Opposition have agreed to Broome, held a special service and the significance of the will continue to be written and tackle this major area of on 13 February 2008, following apology to her and her people. spoken about the national disadvantage as a first step. the apology to the Stolen Staff members, from left to apology to Indigenous Most importantly, they have Generation. The prayer right, back row are Chris Australians made by the Prime agreed to do this in collaboration service was arranged by Brehaut, Veronica Parker, Kelly Minister in February. It was and consultation with Aboriginal Veronica Parker, with Shirley Walsh, Paula Holt and Katrina indeed a great step forward in people themselves. Quaresimin sharing some Duncan and in front, Christine the achievement of a reconciled What might seem like self- touching stories about how her Hill, Shirley Quaresimin and nation, where the cultures of evident pre-requisites for family had been affected by the Carol Geurts. Aboriginal and Torres Strait successful intervention in this Islander peoples are respected area as in many others – and we can strive as one people consultation and collaboration – to build a united Australia. The further matter of have not always preceded action compensation has also been in the past when it comes to raised and it seems to be the working with Indigenous affairs. intention of the current The recent intervention in the Government to address this Northern Territory is a striking partially at least through some example. Hopefully we have form of reparation that involves learned from the mistakes of the attempting to right the wrongs of past. the past by lessening their impact We need to all move forward upon the current and future ‘with hope in our hearts’ that the generations of Indigenous apology has been a wonderful people. One such area that first step and that the continues to be a problem is that commitment to take Aboriginal Photo: CEO Broome. of housing. affairs out of the arena of There are a number of social political point scoring and issues that arise in our blaming will lead us into the communities that can be traced dawn of a ‘bran nu dae’; into a Centacare News back to the lack of adequate and time when not only the housing sufficient housing for our people, especially for Aboriginal people. but also the health, education and New Manager for Overcrowding and lack of basic employment opportunities are the shelter to keep out the elements, same for all Australians. and poor sanitary living Previous approaches have had Centacare Kimberley conditions can be the cause of a limited if any success. Let us at After an exploratory visit in November last year, Annette Barron number of other problems. The least give this new approach a (right) accepted the offer of Bishop Christopher Saunders to take up the Prime Minister and the Leader of fair go. Management position at Centacare in Broome. Annette has had extensive experience in the welfare emergency relief sector in various parts of Australia and has recently been associated in crisis situations with the work of Centacare in the Broken Bay Diocese. Her ability Centacare Kimberley provides emergency relief to and commitment are very welcome families and individuals in crisis situations and conducts at this time when the services of the Employment Support Program for long term Centacare are becoming unemployed persons.