Page 18 - Unity Edn 43

A Pastoral Experience in the Northern Territory

rriving in Alice Springs paintings at the spirituality centre work to do. With the men’s shed,
close to Christmas meant which displayed the deepest men are kept busy working and
Athat end-of-year lunches aspects of Aboriginal culture. I interacting among themselves.
and tea breaks were the was taught the meanings of sacred
common gatherings. The first images they painted, and these 5. Another interesting experience
of such Christmas gatherings showed the strong connection was at the ‘youth space,’ a facility
that I enjoyed was taking part of the people with country and fitted with computers for social
in organising ‘Elders Christmas the land. I felt through the activities for boys and girls. There
Lunch’ which took place in explanations given by the women was also table tennis and other
the OLSH School behind the that all elements of the land have games to help the youth to play,
presbytery. This was a wonderful their own spiritual link with the socialise and to get support from
time of welcome for me, as Hai and people. Working with the women their peers. I was happy to meet
I joined some religious present to was such an amazing learning these beautiful young people who
sing some Christmas carols. It experience of the Aboriginal were willing to chat about some
was wonderful serving food and culture. One woman said to me, interesting discoveries of the day.
drinks and sharing with Aboriginal “We, the trees, and the mountains, The youth were always friendly,
elders. Over these first few days, we live together.” We have the and waved at me as this was
Hai and I accompanied Fr Olivier sacred sites for the women on the common norm in the whole
to celebrate the Eucharist in some the right of the mountain and the community.
Aboriginal camps including Harts men sacred sites on the left. No
Range and Burt Creek. I was strangers or visitors are allowed to 6. I am grateful to all the confreres
particularly inspired joining the visit the men or the women sacred in the Northern Territory for their
people to sing for the mass. But sites". Neither do Aboriginal men warm hospitality, Sr Liz, Bill and
the heat during the first few days visit the women's sacred sites and all the beautiful families who made
was a great challenge as it made vice versa. my time in the Northern Territory
me very tired. a great experience.
3. Water is so precious, and in
Santa Teresa a semi-desert place like Santa
1. There was a great feeling of Teresa people often speak about
welcome as I arrived in Santa rain, as there has been a long
Teresa to the spectacular view period of drought. When I visited
of the cross on top of the hill some families I was asked that I
and the beautiful church at the pray for rain. Praying for rain
centre of the town. It is very clear was asking God to bless the land
from the strategic location of that the integrity of the created
the church at Santa Teresa that, environment would be maintained
the town, mainly of Aboriginal because, rain from the sky
people, is well settled around the connects with the land to give
Catholic Church. The Aboriginal life to everything, it makes the Edward with some of the Santa Teresa crosses
hospitality of this community was creeks flow and grass grow for the
so amazing, having been warmly animals. My summer ministry in the
welcomed by Fr Prakash and the Northern Territory gave me
rest of the community. In no time a deeper encounter with the
I was joining the local women to Aboriginal people and a good
sing in the church. In a couple of understanding of the pastoral
days, I was well adjusted to the ministry in this area. I had a
community melody and so I could moving spiritual experience while
sing beautifully at the Eucharist. touring Uluru, Kata Juta and Kings
The gesture of joining the choir Canyon. This experience for me
was an avenue for me to listen, was like going to the ‘Holy Land’
to observe and to learn. Santa where the stories of the past are
Teresa is a unique place with a brought to life. The Aboriginal
great presence of the religious: ancestors are indeed actively
the Marist Brothers, a Good Edward at the Men's Shed present with the people in the
Samaritan Sister and our Svd 4. The Men’s Shed where many land, the mountains, and trees
brothers serving the community men in the community do creative and in the animals.
in a particularly well composed work was a place I had another
and organised way. The practice ministry for several weeks. Men Edward Teye
of the two religious and the would come to the shed to create
presbytery taking turns to host various art works from wood or Seminarian
the morning prayers was a very metal and then sell them to people
touching experience for me. They in the community. While working
support each other in ministry on their art, these men have the
and anytime one of the religious opportunity to interact with each
houses becomes empty because other. Working with the men
of travel, the other houses take in the shed was an interesting
care of their garden and pets. experience for me. After some
2. My pastoral ministry with the time of ministry at the men’s
women in the Spirituality Centre shed, I got to understand that it
was a most inspirational one. The is a government funded project to
give the men of the community
deep learning for me was from the
18 Catholic Community of the Northern Territory, Diocese of Darwin