Page 8 - Unity Edn 44

Catholic Identity Day at Daly River

Our Community, Our Stories

After lunch, we set out
on a bus trip to see
where some of our
elders were born out
on country. Along the
way we saw different
trees and discussed
their uses as well as
that of the abundant
bush tucker beginning
to appear, coming into
the Wet season. We
also saw some burial
sites, discovered men's
and women's areas
and even spied some
grazing buffalo near a
billabong.

It was a day to reflect
on our past, present
and future both
personally, through
the Examen, as well as
listening to the stories
Staff spirituality of our elders. It was a
day to reflect, share
n Monday 31 August, the staff of St memories, lessons and experiences and to
Francis Xavier, Daly River, held their learn about the importance of, and connection
OCatholic Identity Day with the focus on to, country.
"Our Community, Our Stories."
We began with the story of St Francis Xavier
and St Ignatius Loyola and how they started a
new order of priests called the Society of Jesus
or the Jesuits.These stories are important to
our school as Fr Donald MacKillop SJ (Saint
Mary MacKillop's brother) spent some time at
Daly River.

Mosaic

Jesuit Altar
We prayed an Ignatian Examen down at an
old Jesuit altar, set amongst the backdrop of
the bush with only a soft chorus of bush birds
breaking the silence of the still morning.

As the morning began to warm up, we
returned to the comfort of air conditioning
for storytelling, which began with a movie
called "Daly River Story." Then some of our
elders shared local stories, stories from their Cross Storytelling prayer space
experiences at St Francis Xavier as students
and stories explaining some of the beliefs that Leahnore Wright - Religious Education Coordinator
local people have relating to different aspects and Year 4/5/6/ teacher
of life and the environment.
8 Catholic Community of the Northern Territory, Diocese of Darwin