Page 6 - Unity Edn 43

Our Visit to Daly River

Other items,
including Childrens’
“God speaks to His
Children” booklets,
and Rosary Bead
packs were left
with Fr Peter for he,
Kellie and Leonore
to share with the
community. It was a
most joyful occasion
n Sunday, 21st June, Father Ched, three to meet with these
members of the Order of Malta and two delightful people.
Orepresentatives of St Vincent De Paul Society
drove 230kms south from Darwin to Nauiyu Later, after dinner
community west of Katherine on the Daly River. The at the Daly River
area was previously a source of copper mining. After Tavern, we arrived in
stopping briefly at Adelaide River, we turned off the Darwin at 10.30pm.
Stuart highway and continued 70kms to the Nauiyu
community on the large and picturesque Daly River. This day was a grace-filled and a wonderful
experience for all concerned, and we thank Our Lord,
The population of Nauiyu is around 450 people - Fr. Peter, Fr. Ched and the people of Nauiyu for a
86 per cent Aboriginal, most speaking English, and most memorable day.
largely Catholic. There are 10 different language
groups but the traditional owners of the land are the
Malak Malak people of whom their now three Elders
are ladies in their 70’s. A few kilometres away, the
Nauiyu community township consists of residential
housing, a store, school, health clinic and a police
station. There are difficulties in having 10 tribal
families living closely in Country.
By 4.50pm the convoy arrived at the Presbytery -
originally part of a Jesuit Mission. The Presbytery
has wonderful views of the river complete with a 2-
metre crocodile on a tidal sandbank.
St Francis Xavier Catholic School has an enrolment of
55 children ranging from years 1-10. This school is
an Indigenous Catholic Community School with nine
teaching staff drawn from all over Australia together
with local Indigenous teaching staff. Maria Randazzo & Francis Booth
Order of Malta
Mass with Fr Peter was celebrated in the beautiful little Australia
St Francis Xavier church. Following Mass, blankets,
and very popular children’s pillows, donated by the
Order of Malta, and clothing, donated by St. Vincent
de Paul, were gifted to Indigenous Mass attenders.

6 Catholic Community of the Northern Territory, Diocese of Darwin