Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Welcome to this special celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. On this day, we gather as one community to honour and celebrate the rich cultural heritage and contributions of our First Nations Peoples to our Australian Catholic Church.
This liturgy resource has been thoughtfully compiled to enrich your worship experience on this significant day.
The Gospel Reading for 7 July, from Mark 6:1-6, tells the story of Jesus returning to His hometown, only to be met with scepticism and disbelief. Despite His teachings and miracles, those who knew Him best failed to recognise His divine wisdom and power.
This passage resonates deeply with our own experiences as First Australians, as we can often find that our voices go unheard and our contributions not embraced.
The recent Voice referendum highlighted the ongoing journey toward recognition and reconciliation. While the outcome was not what many hoped for, it has strengthened our resolve and commitment to working together for a better Australia for everyone. Like Jesus, who persevered in His mission despite the obstacles, we too remain committed to our Culture, our Land, our Church, and our communities with unwavering hope and determination.
As we gather on this sacred land, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and honour our Elders past and present, and our young people. Our connection to the land, waters, and skies is deeply rooted in our identity and spirituality. We invite you to join us in respecting and cherishing this connection, as it is vital to our shared journey of faith.
Our prayer is that this resource will deepen your understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Through the prayers, reflections, and hymns included in this Liturgy, may we all be inspired to walk together in reconciliation, respect, and unity.
As Pope Francis reminds us, we are called to be a Church that goes forth, embracing all cultures and peoples. Let us open our hearts to the wisdom and spirituality of our First Nations Peoples, recognizing the presence of Christ in our stories and traditions. May this celebration be a moment of grace, healing, and transformation for all of us.
Thank you for joining us in this celebration. May the Holy Spirit guide and bless each of us as we journey together in faith, hope, and love.
Artwork
Pentecost painting by Magda Lee, Gracie Mosquito and Imelda Gugamen (Balgo Community)
The four circles in the corners of painting represent the four communities: Wirrimanu, Mulan, Kurrurungku and Ringer Soak. The leaders are represented through the horse shoes located around the circle. The different colours represent different people.
The stars represent the different flowers in our area. The dots represent people all over the world and the people coming together for Church. People are also represented through the horse shoes on the right of the painting.
Wirrimanu is located in the top left hand corner, Mulan in the top right hand corner, Ringer Soak in
the bottom right hand corner and Kurrurungku in the bottom left hand corner.
The Holy Spirit is located in the centre of the painting. It is the Spirit working in all of our communities.
Creating this painting helped to make us strong in the Spirit.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday Resource Booklet
The 24 page, full colour booklet for 2024 has been designed to help Schools, Parishes and organisations celebrate the gifts of First Australian Catholics.
The NATSICC Liturgy team has compiled prayers, Liturgy suggestions, homily notes and statistics that will enhance and enrich your celebration.
Additionally, there is a practical activity that calls for Catholics around Australia to knit / crochet blankets for the NATSICC Palliative Care package program.
Booklet download – Web Version | Print Ready
Poster
Click on the image (above) to download a high resolution version of the 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday Poster.
Click here to Read More…
