Call for parishes to celebrate Aboriginal and Islander Sunday on July 1

Catholic parishes have been challenged to celebrate Aboriginal and Islander Sunday with fresh vigour and energy on July 1 this year, under the theme ‘Love one another as I love you’.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) has prepared liturgical material to assist parishes to celebrate the day in the best possible way.

Chairman of the Bishops Commission for Relations with Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, Archbishop Barry Hickey, urged parishes to make use of the material in their Sunday Masses and to involve indigenous peoples in the celebrations.

“There may be such people in your area who would be happy to speak about Indigenous issues, particularly those relating to the faith and the Church,” he wrote in a covering letter to the resource kit.

“May this commemoration help our Catholic communities grow in awareness of the unity in love that should exist among all the sons and daughters of God.”

NATSICC Chairperson Elise Heiss said that Aboriginal and Islander Sunday was a time to celebrate together and to keep reconciliation alive.

“During this wonderful time of reflection and celebration, we must always stand strong in our faith in Jesus Christ, and remember his words, ‘love your neighbour as you love yourself’. We are united in God’s words of love,” she said.

“Reconciliation is about building a new relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and the wider community. One that heals the pain of the past and ensures we all share fairly and equally in our National Citizenship”.

Mrs Heiss said National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday held special significance this year, coming shortly after the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum on the vote for Aboriginal people to be counted in the census, not classified as flora and fauna.

“The Aboriginal people were given the right to vote in 1967 after the overwhelming vote of ‘Yes’ in the Referendum. May marks the 40th Anniversary of the Referendum and is a time to reflect on the steps ahead of Aboriginal people,” she said.

“May we walk gently and be guided by our conscience.”

To download the parish and school resource kit click on the pdf icon in the upper right of this page or go to  www.natsicc.org.au.