issue 04july/august 2009 - catholic diocese of...

Published by the DIOCESE OF BROOMEPO Box 76, Broome, Western Australia 6725Tel: (08) 9192 1060 Fax: (08) 9192 2136E-mail: [email protected]

www.broomediocese.org

ISSUE 04 JULY/AUGUST 2009 Multi-award winning magazine for the Kimberley • Building our future together

FREE

2 KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY PROFILE JULY/AUGUST 2009

KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY PROFILE

is a publication of theRoman Catholic Dioceseof Broome, publishedeight times a year bythe Bishop of Broome.Articles to do with the

Kimberley are welcome to besubmitted for publication.

ENQUIRIESDiocese of Broome,

PO Box 76, Broome WA 6725Tel: 08 9192 1060 Fax: 08 9192 2136

Email: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription Rate $25.00pa

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily

those of the Bishop of Broome.

www.broomediocese.org

Editorial

Report to COAG reveals on-goingAboriginal disadvantage

Key moments in the life of Jesus I THE ANGRY CRITIC

The recent meeting ofCOAG held in Darwin receiveda report from the ProductivityCommission regarding thematter of Aboriginaldisadvantage. The reportrevealed that the gap based onthe differences shown in socialindicators, as applied toAboriginal and non-Aboriginalpeople, had not closed at allsince the time of the NationalApology last year. In fact, insome instances the gap hadwidened. There is nothingmonumental about this newsnor is it at all surprising toanyone involved indevelopmental work inIndigenous Australia. What isamazing is the evident surpriseshown by the politicians andpublic servants at the findingsof the report. It is astounding tothink that Governments whichare largely responsible for theterrible state of Indigenousstandards of education, socialwell-being, health, employmentand housing should besurprised that a situation twocenturies in the making shouldbe rectified or even markedlychanged within such a briefperiod of time.

One of the on-going errorsin the application of governmentpolicy is the notion that change

can be accomplished within thelife of a parliament or aparticular government. Takehousing, for instance. The out-station movement thatburgeoned in the eightiesenabled displaced Aboriginals toleave the outskirts of countrytowns and return to ’country’.This move back to traditionallands, a strategy assisted withthe promise of schools, financialresources and the provision ofutilities, eased the burdens ontowns, lessened the socialdisadvantage of those living asfringe-dwellers and, with theassistance of employmentprograms such as CDEP,diminished the social impact of‘Sit-down’ money upon thoseremote communities. The latestpolicies being implemented bygovernment are poised to cutessential funding to the remotecommunities, abolish CDEP,reduce remote housingprogrammes, and therebyencourage a drift of refugees tothe fringes of regional centres.This is the new “normalization”at work! We have come fullcircle without achieving anygreat advances at all. To add saltto the wounds of Indigenouspeople in remote Australia, thelaw enforcement policy ofbuilding large police complexes

with lock-ups is the only area ofmassive expenditure increases inrecent years, and this has furthercomplicated the lives of thosewho thought they had movedaway from the strictures of townliving.

The only way forward isincluded as a useful criticism inthe report of the ProductivityCommission to COAG. We haveto include Aboriginal people,that is those for whom servicesare delivered and policies areconstructed, in the decisionmaking process. The idea ofself-determination practised byIndigenous people does notappeal to bureaucrats andapparently now not topoliticians either. But unlessIndigenous Australians areconsulted, their views canvassedand their cooperation activelysought, we can only expect thatthe on-going bumbling that hasdefined the last thirty years inAboriginal affairs will continue.An effective developmentalpolicy will be that policy whichgrows out of consultation withIndigenous people, that will beconsistently implemented overthe long-term by people who arecommitted to real progressbeyond the life of particularparliaments and politicians.

One of the significant moments in Jesus’ ministry was when he confronted those who weredespoiling the sacredness of the Temple of Jerusalem, and in doing so offended the religiousauthorities of his day.

And he entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and those who werebuying in the temple and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of thosewho sold doves… ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made ita den of robbers.’Mark 11:15 [So You’re Working for the Catholic Church – by Fr Tony Doherty.]

“…the eyes of theLord are turned

toward the virtuous.”1 Peter 3:12

Icon of Our Lady Queen of Peace,for the Broome Cathedral, by

Ukranian artist of sacred works,Professor Roman Vasylyk, Sunday

7th June 2009.

John Purnell ordained Deacon

The Cissy Djiagween story

CARITAS - Humanity on the edge

INSIDEThis Issue

COAG: The Council of Australian Governments is the peak intergovernmental forum in Australia. It iscomprised of the Prime Minister, State Premiers and Chief Ministers as well as the President of the LocalGovernment Associations.

ALBERT PUERMORA and his wife, Margaret, have gone for fourweeks training in Perth on dialysis machine operation. Whencomplete Albert can go back to his home at Kalumburu as apatient and Margaret will be his chief machine operator. This willend their stay in Broome of several years away from their country.

Photo: CAS

Briefly Speaking

SR ANNE PORTER RSJ hasjoined the Josephite communityin the east Kimberley, after athree month immersion anddiscernment experience inKununurra. Sr Anne comesfrom the Victorian Provincewhere her ministry was ineducation. Her role at StJoseph's School Kununurra isStudent Wellbeing. She bringsto this role, and the region, herexperience in the classroom, inadministration and morerecently as Student WellbeingCoordinator at St Peter ChanelPrimary School Deer Park, Vic.Sr Anne says she hopes to usethis invaluable experience inher ministry in Kununurra.

Photo: A Cabassi rsj

FR MARTIN WILSON MSC, apriest of the Missionaries of theSacred Heart from Kensingtonin Sydney, recently took up theposition of Acting Administratorof Kununurra and Wyndhamparishes for a period of threemonths. Fr Martin, who is alsoan anthropologist, brings manyyears of experience to the EastKimberley, having worked in anumber of locations in bothAustralia and Papua NewGuinea. He founded andproduced the periodical, NelenYubu, which various peopleworking in the Kimberley havecontributed to.

Photo: F Birrell

Photo: T Stephan

JOHN AND DI MCMAHON, from Goolwa, SA, are recentlyarrived in Mirrilingki Spirituality Centre, Warmun, where theyassist in the day to day running of the Centre. John and Di firstcame to hear of the volunteer program through past volunteers,Kevin and Marie Luke, also residents of Goolwa.

EMMA AND ERNEST KURZ of Halls Head, south of Perth, wererecently in Broome. Ernest was keen to visit the Cathedral of OurLady Queen of Peace for which he, along with two youngapprentices, cut the timber. Ernest remembers well those days,

40 years ago, of workingin Perth for Stan Costellowho had the contract tobuild the presentCathedral. The timberwas cut in Perth andtransported to Broomewhere it was puttogether by volunteerworkers. Ernest visitedBroome, many yearsafter the building wascompleted, to extend theparquetry flooring of theSanctuary area of theCathedral.Photo: J Grimson

KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY PROFILE JULY/AUGUST 2009 3


Office of Justice, Ecology and Peace

By Dr David Brennan, Editing and Publications Officerof the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council

July is a significant monthfor Indigenous Australians. The5th is Aboriginal and IslanderSunday and marks thecommencement of NAIDOCweek.

So this month it’s worthreflecting on Australia’srelations with its Indigenouscitizens. An important book hasjust been published that shines apiercing light on part of thathistory: Back on the Block: BillSimon’s Story.

On a winter’s morning in1957, three men entered theSimon house and put ten-year-old Bill Simon and his threeyounger brothers in acar. As they weretaken away, writesBill, ‘My mother ranout into the road, fellon her knees andbelted her fists intothe bitumen as shescreamed’.

The Simon boyswere charged as‘neglected children’ and taken tothe notorious home at Kinchela,NSW. For eight years Billendured horrific physical andmental brutality. Boys weregiven numbers and neveraddressed by name. At the endof that time, Bill was spat outinto the world, sent to a job andleft to cope with no skills ortraining and no experience of thesociety he found himself in. Ashe left, the supervisor atKinchela said: ‘Remember,thirty-three, black people are thescum of the earth.’

The inevitable followed: avortex of booze, violence, drugs,prison and destroyedrelationships. Bill’s story is oneof redemption: faith led him

towards a new life working tohelp his own people. Others heloved weren’t so lucky. Hisfather died in an accident as heran home because a prankstertold him his boys were back; hisheroic cousin hanged himself;his brother died from injuries ina fight.

How can our society havegot things so wrong and done somuch to ruin the lives of peoplelike Bill? Catholic socialteaching tells us about thepastoral cycle, the three stageson the road to justice: see, judgeand act. We see something,judge where the injustice is and

act to remedy it.Australia, it seems,failed in all these tasksbecause it failed thefirst: it didn’t see whatit was doing. It claimedthat its actions were forthe benefit of thesechildren, but it made theclassic mistake: it askedthe administrators, the

police, the supervisors, thepeople who were doing thesethings, and never asked thepeople to whom they were beingdone. In order to see, you haveto look, and look in the rightplace.

As we think about thequestion Australia forgot to askat that time, we might think alsoof the words of the review intothe Northern TerritoryIntervention: that it failed ‘toengage constructively with theAboriginal people it wasintended to help’. TheIntervention may not beresponsible for horrors likeKinchela, but Australia seemsnot to have learned all it couldfrom recent history.

Road to justice

Back on the Block: Bill Simon’s Story, by Bill Simon, Des Montgomerieand Jo Tuscano, is published by Aboriginal Studies Press. [David Brennan is Editing and Publications Officer for the AustralianCatholic Social Justice Council.]

WHILE INROME BishopChristopherSaunders (L)paid a visit to thePontificalCouncil for theLaity where hemet CardinalRylko, head ofthe Council.

PETERSABATINO(R) ANDSASCHACOSTIGAN,Coordinatorand Officerrespectivelyfor CaritasAustralia’sIndigenousProgram,were inBroome andDerby brieflyto monitorthe Kids Future Club, a community initiative supported by CaritasAustralia and run at the Jalaris Aboriginal Corporation as aresource for the local Indigenous community in Derby.

Briefly Speaking

This month it’s

worth reflecting

on Australia’s

relations with

its Indigenous

citizens.

Photo: S Di Maria

Garnduwa competitionwell attendedBy Leah Thorpe

Garnduwa helda basketballcompetition, forthose15 years andunder, in Kununurraon Friday 26 June.Over 60 studentsfrom Frog Hollow,Warmun, HallsCreek andKununurracompeted. TheGrand Finalwinners of thecompetition were Halls Creek who defeated Warmun Eagles by just onegoal. The Grand Final for the girls was also very close with theChampion team Warmun Girl Power winning by just one point overHalls Creek Girls.

The winners and runner up players received shirts sponsored byGelganyem Trust and trophies and medals sponsored by KGT. It wasterrific to see so many fantastic players. Keiran Turner from Warmunreceived the overall Best and Fairest player for the boys on the day.

The Grand Final - Warmun Eagles and Halls Creek.Photo: L Thorpe


ViewpointBy Bishop Christopher Saunders DD

A vocation as a priest: chosen to serveMy work in parishes,

communities and remotesettlements in the Kimberley haspassed its thirty-fourth year. Icame here to Broome as aDeacon to take up my firstappointment in 1975. It has beena marvellous experience, aprivileged one, a life that hasbeen lived in joy, without burdenand always in happy expectation,filled with hope. Certainly it hasnot been without its challengesand demands. There have beensad times too. The loss of lifeamong the young still takes itstoll and when it is by their ownhand I am sometimesoverwhelmed with a deepanguish. The optimism in my lifeis momentarily stalled but alwaysmy faith intervenes to lift me up,to support, and to continue thejourney. Happily, with SaintPaul, I am convinced that‘nothing can separate us from thelove of God.’

I am grateful for thisconviction. Grateful to God.Grateful for his gift of the call toserve Him. I am especiallygrateful for the vocation, the call,to serve Him in ministry. I amgrateful to parents, priests,teachers, religious, and otherswho nurtured that vocation. Andgrateful every day to be toilingtowards a perfectly obedient loveof God whose love for me isboundless perfection itself.

Just as all of us are baptizedinto the priesthood of the faithfulso all of us are called to holiness,to that perfection that sometimeseludes us and that sometimesalso embraces us. At times I amsorrowful at how poorly I servemy Lord and my neighbour.With Grace, such realizationbrings me to my knees in humbleremorse. And then at times Isurprise myself at just how noblein word and deed I can be. I amsure this is the same for anybodywho earnestly seeks to live theirlife in faith, on a higher plane of

consciousness, in activecommunion with God andhumanity. We live our life andthen review it, judging our well-being not by the standards ofthose around us but by theperson of Christ, our companionand our perfect model ofholiness.

It is difficult today to be apriest, especially in modern dayAustralia. Our secular andshallow society is based onpopular culture, shaped bymediocrity and baseness. Whilethere are good qualities amongpeople that aren’t typical of post-modern Australia, we have stillto realize as a society that thecommon good and higher goodare best served by uncommonaspirations of altruism andselflessness. There is seriousneed among us for prophets anda prophetic voice.

As articulators of prayer andworship priests live to connectthe Community with the Divine.In that sense they must beprepared to be counter-cultural.Unfortunately this is sometimesinterpreted as withdrawing fromthe world as though the world isin some way intrinsically eviland not a creature of God. Someof the newer ecclesialmovements may all too oftenreflect this prejudice. In fact theopposite is true. While beingcounter cultural, people of faith,and especially priests, must seekto engage the world and assistsociety to face its banality - tosearch out the sacred in the firmbelief that it is in thisengagement and in blessedcommunion with the Divine thathumanity may be saved.

Now, as much as ever before,the world is in need of priestsand the goodness for which theirvocations stand. Theeffectiveness of the priesthood isenhanced by the fact that it iscomposed of ordinary men whothrough their witness, their work

and their prayerful offeringsshare with the world anextraordinary message of GoodNews. As ordinary as they are,by word and deed andsacramental action, theydemonstrate most clearly thatGod is reaching out to hispeople, to his creation, to Graceus and to assist us to becomemore fully human, morehumanely authentic.

We have begun the Year ofthe Priest, so proclaimed by TheHoly Father on the Feast of theSacred Heart, 19 June. On thatday I was in Rome and Iordained eight men from theBeda College as Deacons, in theBasilica of St Paul, the Apostle’sburial place and therefore asacred space of resoundingsignificance. I recalled thetireless efforts of this great

missionary to the Gentiles and Iwondered in my prayer at what amodel for priests he continues tobe. This year then is anopportune time for all thebaptized to be thankful for thepriesthood they share throughtheir baptism and to give thanksfor the ordained priests whominister to them. It is a goodtime for priests to be deeplygrateful for their vocation, theirspecial calling, to thank God fortheir ordination to a position ofholy privilege born not out ofpower but out of service to God’sworld and His people.

May the God of hope bring yousuch joy and peace in your faiththat the power of the Holy Spiritwill remove all bounds to hope.[Rom 15:13]

Daily Prayer for Priests

Almighty and Eternal Godlook with mercy upon Your priests,sharing Your Fatherhood in Holy Church.Your Son, the Lord Jesus, has made thempriests and victims with Himself:day by day may they offer the worshipof His Mystical Bodyin the Eucharist Sacrifice,with their own homageof heart, mind and body.By the Holy Spirit, make them zealousin their priestly ministry;keep them devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary,obedient to the Pope and their own Bishop,and through them inspire young mento serve You in the Priesthood.To You, O Holy Trinity,be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen

Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy


St JohnVianney, Priest PPaattrroonn ooff PPrriieessttss Feast day: August 4 Universally known as the ‘Cure of Ars’

St John Mary Vianney was ordained a priest in 1815.Three years later he was made parish priest of Ars, a remoteFrench hamlet, where his reputation as a confessor anddirector of souls made him known throughout the Christianworld. His life was one of extreme mortification.

Accustomed to the most severe austerities, this greatmystic manifested an imperturbable patience. He was awonder-worker loved by the crowds, but he retained achildlike simplicity, and he remains to this day the livingimage of the priest after the heart of Christ.

He heard confessions of people from all over the world forsixteen hours each day. His life was filled with works ofcharity and love. It is recorded that even the staunchest ofsinners was converted at his mere word. He died August 4,1859, and was canonized May 31, 1925. He is the Patron forthis Year of the Priest as proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI on19 June 2009.

Saint News

Family support throughschool leadership

Recently SrAlma Cabassi rsjDiocesan FamilySupport Worker,relieved as ActingPrincipal at JohnPujajangka-PiyirnSchool in Mulan,East Kimberley.While theleadership of theschool involved avariety of duties thebeauty of theenvironment in such an isolated Community left a deep impression.The desert setting with the expansive Lake Gregory and flood plainenabled refreshing outings for leisure time on Sundays. The support and

care of the staff,community andneighbouring schoolswere encouraging,making the time oneof learning as wellas service.

From left, Veronica Lulu, Jasmin Smith in front with SrAlma Cabassi rsj holding Matthius, Jacinta Lulu and KarenLulu holding Kiriarcus.

Sr Alma Cabassi rsj withTerrazita, Deswyn, Zionand Janice and theiraward for regularattendance and goodwork.

Benedict XVI linked the Year of St Paulwith the Year for Priests by offering theApostle of the Gentiles as a role model forpriests.

Before praying the Angelus togetherwith the crowds gathered in St Peter'sSquare, the Pope reflected on the Year of StPaul, which marked the 2,000th anniversaryof the Apostle's birth.

The Holy Father closed the Pauline Year in the evening with thecelebration of first vespers for the solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul at theBasilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. Papal representativessent to preside at celebrations in the Holy Land, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey,Greece, Syria and Lebanon also brought the Year to a close.

"It has truly been a time of grace," the Holy Father said, recallingthe numerous initiatives that put the Apostle of the Gentiles at theforefront of Church life for the last year. "His vibrant message hasrevived everywhere, in Christian communities, a passion for Christ andthe Gospel."

Benedict XVI thanked God for the jubilee year, "and for all thespiritual gifts that it has brought to us."

Pointing to the recently launched jubilee year for priests, whichmarks the 150th anniversary of the death of St John Mary Vianney,known as the Curé d'Ars, the Pontiff noted that St Paul "constitutes asplendid model to imitate."

"St Paul is an example of a priest who was completely identifiedwith his ministry," the Pope said, "conscious of possessing a pricelesstreasure, that is, the message of salvation, but in an 'earthen vessel'."

"He is at the same time strong and humble, intimately persuadedthat everything is God’s doing, everything is grace," the Holy Fatheradded.

"The priest," Benedict XVI concluded, "must belong totally toChrist and totally to the Church; to the latter he is called to dedicatehimself with an undivided love, like a faithful husband to his bride."

St Paul a model priestPPOOPPEE:: RReefflleeccttss oonn ffrruuiittss ooff PPaauulliinnee YYeeaarrVATICAN CITY (Zenit.org)

Vatican Dossier

A work of prayerBishop Christopher Saunders was overcome with joy at the

prayerful work of iconographer Roman Vasylyk who produced the Iconfor the new Cathedral, Our Lady Queen of Peace. The Icon is of abeautiful young Mary whose hand points to the Christ-child indicatingthat salvation comes through Him.


John Purnell ordained Deacon in Rome19th June 2009

The Basilica of St Paul’s Outside theWalls in Rome is the burial place of thegreat apostle after whom it is named. Onthe Feast of the Sacred Heart (19 June), thebeautiful basilica was bustling with crowdsof pilgrims and tourists as it always is. Anorchestra tuned their instruments inreadiness for a rehearsal in honour of theYear of St Paul which was set to close on29 June 2009, and in welcome of the Yearof the Priest, so proclaimed by the HolyFather, Benedict XVI, for the benefit of theuniversal Church.

At approximately 10am, eight menfrom the Beda College made their waythrough the magnificent building to theSacristy in preparation for their ordinationas Deacons. They ranged in ages from their

early forties to their late sixties, having come from a variety ofbackgrounds and personal circumstances. Some candidates had grownchildren of their own, who were in attendance this day, and fittinglythey prayed during the ritual to the memory of their deceased wives.Those to be ordained were representative of five continents – twoEnglishmen, two Australians, an American, a citizen from Zimbabwe,one from Malaysia and a candidate for a monastery in Mexico.

John Purnell was the candidate from the Diocese of Broome andhas now completed three years at the Beda College. After hisordination he will have one year of studies to finish, in Rome, inpreparation for priesthood.

John, who once studied for Ministry in the Anglican Church, hailsfrom Newcastle in NSW, is the only son of Jacqueline and the lateHerbert Purnell. Having experienced a number of different jobs Johnpresented as a volunteer at Balgo where he worked with Father MattDigges. During his preparation for ministry, John has also spent timein Derby Parish in addition to accompanying the Cross and Iconthrough the Diocese in preparation for World Youth Day last year.Rev Deacon Purnell made a major contribution to the administrationof the WYD pilgrimage when he showed outstanding leadership of theone hundred and twenty pilgrims from the Kimberley who attendedthe festival in Sydney in July 2008.

Bishop Saunders of Broome Diocese ordained the eight candidatesto the Diaconate having travelled to Rome for the occasion. Also fromthe Kimberley in attendance were Father Matt Digges, Administratorof the Broome Cathedral and two teachers from Balgo, MargaretEnglish and Karen Prevett.

Many thanks are due to Jacqueline, John’s mother, who was inRome for the ordination. She has been wonderfully supportive ofJohn’s vocation and generous in her gift of a son to the Church.Thanks are also due to Monsignor Rod Strange, the Rector of the BedaCollege, and his staff, who are responsible for John’s formation. Theirhospitality towards the visiting Australian contingent was outstanding

and greatly appreciated.It was a special occasion, long to live in the memory of those

present at the famous basilica that day. For the Rev John Purnell itwas a huge step forward in his quest to serve his Lord and God. He isnow a Minister of the Word and the Altar and of special service. He isbelonging to the first of the Orders in the Church – Deacon, Priest andBishop – and is incardinated in the Diocese of Broome.

We wish Rev Deacon John every blessing and success in his futureministry and in his studies

The ordination, inside St Paul’s Basilica. Photo: G Thomas

John Purnell (L), his mother Jacqueline and Bishop Christopher Saunders.

Rev Deacon John (L) with Fr Matthew Digges.


SicilianCassata (Cassatadi ricotta siciliana)Stefania Di Maria, from Sicily insouthern Italy, is the bright andcheerful assistant at the front deskof the Bishop’s office in Broome.Stefania enjoys cooking andenjoys good food. This cassata isa real specialty!

Method

Note: This cassata must be made the day before to allow it to setproperly.Place sultanas in Marsala and soak overnight. Line a spring formcake tin (sides and bottom) with the savoiardi biscuits, beginningwith the sides and finishing with the base, filling in any gaps withsmall pieces of biscuits. Combine the liqueur and coffee and use tobrush generously over the biscuits until all used up. Fillling

In a mixing bowl, mix the ricotta, coffee liqueur and icing sugar andbeat until smooth. Fold in the soaked sultanas and the remainder ofthe ingredients combining well. Spoon mixture into biscuit mould.Cover and refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, release thecake tin and remove, place on a serving plate, dust with icing sugarand cocoa powder or decorate with whipped cream and extrachopped nuts, candied orange peel and chocolate. Serve with a goodcup of espresso coffee!

Kimberley Kitchen

Ingredients

500g packet plain savoiardi - sponge

fingers biscuits2/3 cup marsala or coffee liqueur 1/2 cup black espresso (unsweetened)

Filling 1/2 cup sultanas soaked in 1/4 cup Marsala750g ricotta cheese1/4 cup coffee liqueur1 cup icing sugar

200g dark cooking chocolate (chopped)

1 cup toasted almonds (roughly chopped)

1 cup toasted hazelnuts (roughly chopped)1/4 cup candied orange peel (chopped)1/4 cinnamon stick (finely chopped)

Stefania Di Maria.

Kimberley Volunteers

Helping hands atMirrilingki

Mirrilingki SpiritualityCentre in Warmun has someextra ‘helping hands’ - awelcome addition to ourvolunteer team for the coolerpart of the dry period whendiverse groups come toconduct programs, retreats etc.John (right) and Di McMahoncame a long way from SouthAustralia and were thrownstraight into the ‘whirl ofwork’.

John whips up a damper for morning tea. Photo: T Stephan

People Stories

Cissy DjiagweenBy Stefania Di Maria

When many years ago CycloneJohn bore down on Broome, CeciliaDjiagween was living in an old,wooden house with her family. Thekids, watching news on the TV, askedher what to do. So she said: “we haveto pray now”. Then they sat togetherand prayed the Rosary until they heardCyclone John had changed its course,and hit Bidyadanga!

Cissy, as she is known, firmlybelieves in the power of prayer.

Cissy was born in Beagle Bay 75years ago. Her father, Bandak Bernard, was a member of the Juguntribe and her mother, Senanus, of the Yawuru people. During herchildhood in Beagle Bay Cissy attended the kindergarten run by thenuns, and has vivid memories of midnight Masses organised by them.

The family had been based in Beagle Bay where Bandak workedas a stockman, and then they moved to Broome after the SecondWorld War when Cissy was 9 or 10 years old. Her father’s father haddied and, according to custom, the family returned to his country.They lived at Kennedy’s station. Her father did yard work andloading for Jim Kennedy at his store. Cissy remembers helping in thevegetable garden, while her mum worked in the laundry.

On significant dates such as Christmas and Easter the eldersinsisted on family pilgrimages back to Beagle Bay to receive thesacraments. Cissy recalls with fondness the work involved inassembling money to hire a truck to transport the whole extendedfamily on the long, slow journey to Beagle Bay.

A strong relationship exists between Cissy and the Sisters of StJohn of God. She attended school at St Mary’s Primary School whenit was run by them and, for many years during and after herschooling, she worked at the Old Convent in the laundry. Life inthose years was blessed with the gift of common prayer and faith.Cissy recalls praying everyday after school at the Old Convent,attending the Eucharistic Adoration conducted three evenings perweek and going to prayer meetings at Beagle Bay. She says that shecould feel “the Grace” strengthening souls.

Cissy recounts feeling a similar grace when, in 1986 at AliceSprings, Pope John Paul II met the people and held her hand. Shewill also never forget going to Rome for the Jubilee Year with BishopSaunders and, whilst walking through the catacombs, seeing thestatue of St Cecilia, her patron saint. Cissy says that she remembersRome in a positive light, even if Father Anscar did “lose” his walletin the bus!

As an elder of Broome’s Aboriginal Community, Cissy isentrusted to undertake traditional cleansing ceremonies based uponthe use of smoke and water. The smoking ceremony is a custom usedfor a variety of purposes, including strengthening newborn babies.The smoke heals and purifies; the heat makes the baby’s jointsstrong. In this and other ways Cissy seeks to maintain a specialrelationship with the young Aboriginal people of Broome. She isproud of the fact that they often come to her seeking advice.

Cissy believes that more families and teachers should encourageyoung people to come to Church, to discover together the importanceof Sundays as holy days dedicated to God. Young mothers andfathers should go back to Church as a central place of the family life.Or perhaps, as she did with her children at the time of Cyclone John,we should all be able to sit down and pray together.

Photo: S Di Maria


Caritas KimberleyStefania Di Maria, Diocesan Director

The humanitariansituation in Sri Lankais “simply diabolical”said Caritas AustraliaCEO Jack de Groot ashe launched the SriLanka Humanitariancrisis appeal. Joiningthe 280,000 peopledisplaced and injuredhave been severalCaritas staff and medicalpersonnel. The Directorof Caritas Vanni, FrVasanthaseelan, had a leg amputated after being badly injured in abombing of St Anthony’s Church and a driver for Caritas, known as Raj,was killed in a further bombing.

Caritas Sri Lanka Director Fr Damian Fernando says that the extentof the human suffering in the country is unbearable. “The civilians faceterrible suffering. Displacement is taking its toll on the civilians, nownumbering more than one quarter of a million. Access to medical helpfor the wounded is severely lacking and people in the camps aresuffering a lack of clean water and horrendous hygiene conditions.”

Caritas has launched a major appeal to respond to the needs of thehundreds of thousands of people affected by the conflict in the north andeast of the country.

“It is the civilians, particularly women and children who are mostvulnerable and have the least,” said Mr de Groot. Mr de Groot estimatesthat it is costing Caritas $48,000 per day to deliver basic nutrition, cleanwater, fundamental medical assistance and temporary shelter to morethan 48,000 people. “The international community has failed the peopleof Sri Lanka and particularly the ones caught up in this conflict. Wehave failed to deliver the political will and leadership to bring thisconflict to a conclusion and now we have a moral responsibility to assistthem,” said Mr de Groot.

Caritas Australia is providing emergency assistance to those whohave been made homeless by the fighting, to returnees and war affectedfamilies, especially women and children, delivering food, clean water,basic medicine and trauma counseling. “The generosity of the Australiancommunity is unparalleled as we have seen through the tsunami andmore recently in the bushfires. The emergency in Sri Lanka is of a scalethat is difficult to comprehend and at least as comparable as either ofthese other disasters,” said Mr de Groot.

“The response from Government is heartening and we are calling onall State and Territory Governments to join forces with us to alleviatethis immense suffering. We are also again pleading to the Australiancommunity to support us and help us to unlock our enormous capacityin Sri Lanka and assist in getting the people of northern Sri Lanka backon their feet,” concluded Mr de Groot.

Contact Stefania Di Maria, Diocesan Director Caritas Kimberley 13 Barker Street (PO Box 76) Broome, WA 6725Ph: 08 9192 1060 Email: [email protected]

www.caritas.org.au

Caritas Australia is delivering assistance to morethan 48.000 people in the North of Sri Lanka. Morethan 200,000 more victims of the brutal conflictthere still require assistance. Photo: Courtesy Caritas Australia

Sri Lanka: humanity onthe edge

Shoes of the Fischer ManBy Bill Worth

Tim Fischer is atall man whosepresence is enhancedby a black Akubradrover’s hat – adistinguishing featureamong the crowd indowntown Roma,Italy. Mr Fischer isAustralia’s firstexclusive Ambassadorto the Holy See, a position considered by the Australian Governmentbefore but rejected in favour of twinning the Vatican and Irelandappointments. This new post raises Australia’s profile in theinternational diplomatic stakes and enhances our nation’s standing. Forinstance, our ability as a country to participate in interfaith dialoguebetween Christians and Muslims is assured in the company of theVatican which is most actively engaged in such regular exchanges.

Given the demographic mix of Christians and Muslims in Australiatoday, and in the future, and given Australia’s geographic proximity tothe world’s largest Muslim country, Indonesia, it makes a lot of sense tomix with the right crowd and be where the dialogue action takes place.

Tim Fischer is enjoying his work but misses his family. They haveremained in Australia to maintain good care for the eldest son Harrisonwho suffers from autism. This defines his sacrifice for this posting asoverwhelmingly generous.

Tim clearly is a quick learner. He not only already knows his wayaround an Italian menu, but already he walks the streets like a veteran,obviously adept at weaving a safe path through the aggressive Romantraffic which hurtles forth in a manner, it would seem, to threaten theexistence of any unsuspecting pedestrians. In any conversation hespeaks determinedly about his work and has begun to develop anetwork of people to further the interests of international peace andunderstanding delivered no doubt in a conciliatory Australian context.

Recently, the new Ambassador hosted a lunch for Bishop Saundersof the Kimberley WA and Rev Mons Roderick Strange of the RomanBeda College, where he outlined some of his aspirations for this newAustralian mission. Reaching out to Australians visiting Rome, such asthose there for ordinations to the Diaconate at the Beda recently, is apart of his portfolio that Tim most certainly enjoys and does well.

The Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, has made a wise choice for thepost. Fischer’s enthusiasm for his task is obvious and his keenness tomake it work draws in all who listen. He has the capacity to developrelations between Australia and the Vatican which canonly be good for global well-being. Who willreplace Mr Fischer in a few years timeis not yet aconsideration. Butwhoever itis, theywill need to besomeone specialto fill the shoesof TimFischer.

“I must say, I like your hat!”

Tim Fischer (L) with Bishop Christopher Saunders.


Catholic Mission has justlaunched its Church appeal for2009 with the theme “OurSalvation is Bound Together: It’sOur Mission, Play your Part.”

Catholic Mission works withcommunities all around the worldin 160 countries, including remotecommunities in Australia.

Sister Barbara Tippolay isworking and living in hercommunity on the Tiwi Islands, justnorth of Darwin. After many yearsserving others in Papua NewGuinea, Sister Barbara now brings healing to those in her community.

As a child, Sister Barbara was raised at Garden Point Missionon Melville Island. As she grew through her teenage years she wasresponsible for looking after the smaller children at the mission.

Sister lived and worked as a teacher in Papua New Guinea formany years and was promoted to Superior General of hercongregation, The Handmaids of Our Lord. Sister Barbara nowworks to empower women on the Tiwi Islands, North of Darwin.

She oversees the Women’s Centre and encourages the localwomen to share their creative talents.

They work together on textiles projects and share stories offamily life, hurt and hope. The women share openly with SisterBarbara the stories of their history as they know she too is boundwith them in their grief and can bring healing.

Catholic Mission supports Sister Barbara and her work throughthe Home Mission Fund in Australia. Approximately one-third ofthe money raised through our work with Communities contributesto the Home Mission Fund to help missionaries working in remotedioceses such as in the Kimberley WA.

Church appeal launched:Our salvation is bound together

www.catholicmission.org.au

To support Catholic Mission’s Church Appeal, phone

1800 257 296 or visit www.catholicmission.org.au

and donate online. For more information phone

Catholic Mission’s Media Officer on (02) 9411 4611.

Sister Barbara Tippolay. Photo: Catholic Mission

Loreto Sisters celebrate400 years

The Mary Wardbackpack travelled the redsands of WA to arrive inBroome, at St Mary’sCollege, on June 11 2009.Sr Anna Gaha, a LoretoSister, happened to be inBroome at the time of thebackpack’s arrival,working with a ReadingRecovery Project beingsponsored by the LoretoSisters, at St Mary’sCollege. The backpackcontained a journal and apiece of silk and travelledaround Australia visitingplaces where Loreto Sistershave had a presence.Groups drew, wrote orpainted a message in thejournal. Loreto Sisters first arrived in the Kimberley in 1970 wherethey spent 25 years working in schools.

Volunteer to Serve Kimberley, Western Australia

The Catholic DIOCESE OF BROOME is in need of volunteers toundertake various positions throughout the Diocese. We are lookingfor people prepared to be hands-on with practical help for places in

need: experience in shop work, cooking, housekeeping, generalhandyman skills, building, vehicle and/or grounds maintenance to

name just a few. In return for being part of the team we offeraccommodation, living expenses and an allowance. To find out more please contact Vicki Baudry

Ph: 08 9192 1060 or Email: [email protected]

Catholic Mission Historic perpetualprofession a first in thePacific

On Saturday, 23 May, GoodSamaritan Sisters, family,friends, colleagues and otherreligious packed the SacredHeart cathedral on SouthTarawa, Kiribati’s most populousisland, to witness an historic andmoving ritual – the firstperpetual profession of an I-Kiribati woman as a Sister ofthe Good Samaritan of the Orderof St Benedict. It was, as far ashistory recalls, the firstcelebration of the Benedictineperpetual profession rite in thePacific.

Appropriately, the presiderfor the profession ceremony wasBishop Paul Mea MSC, thebishop whose persistentinvitation to the Good Samaritans some 20 years earlier had brought the“Good Sams” to Kiribati to teach in the Kiribati Pastoral Institute (KPI).

“You have journeyed and continue to journey like a canoe acrossthe oceans and the waters,” Sister Clare Condon, congregational leaderof the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, said to Sister Ameria Etuareduring the ritual marking her perpetual profession in Kiribati

The Republic of Kiribati is a series of low lying coral atolls on theequator, where canoe travel is common.

Sister Ameria Etuare.Photo: Courtesy Good Samaritan Sisters

Sr Anna and students at St Mary’s College PrimaryCampus look through the journal.Photo: S Di Maria


...IN BROOMEThe Feast of the Body

and Blood of Christ, 13June, was an appropriateday for 27 young people toreceive the Sacrament ofthe Eucharist for the firsttime. Our Lady Queen ofPeace Cathedral in Broomewas filled to overflowingfor the occasion. FollowingMass celebrated by FrErnesto Cerutti, staff andstudents of St Mary’sCollege, family and friendsenjoyed the FirstCommunion feast in the FrNicholas Emo Centre.

Above: Candy Ishiguchi was presented with hercertificate by Fr Ernesto. Photo: M Martin

...IN BEAGLE BAYBy Martin Jones

Eight young members of Sacred Heart Parish, Beagle Bayreceived First Holy Communion at a Mass celebrated on the Feast ofthe Sacred Heart, 19 June 2009. Father Daniel Kilala celebrated theMass and was assisted by Father Dan O’Donovan.

The Mass, a spiritual and prayerful occasion, was well attended byfellow students from Sacred Heart School and family and friends fromthe local community, many of whom joined the communion candidatesin a celebratory morning tea at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Congratulations are due to Fidalas Augustine, Shurayne BinMaarus, Zyrak Smith, Anna Howard, Mikey Cox, Isaiah Cox,Makayla Shadforth and Jarman Carpio. These young people workeddiligently in preparation for the Sacrament and are a credit to both thecommunity and the school.

Fr Daniel Kilala with those who received First Communion and teacher, MartinJones. Photo: S Jones

The photograph must be taken in theKimberley of a place, an animal, aperson or a group of persons. Thephotograph should be either digital,and sent by email [email protected], at fullsize, not compressed, and at thehighest resolution possible, OR, thephotograph may be a print notsmaller than postcard size.

Preferably the photo will be in colour.

Please include: Photographer’s name,address, name of school if applicable and subject.

Competition

First Communion

Below: First Communicants process into Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral Broome. Photo: M Martin

WIN$200 Voucher for

electrical goods

OR $200 Voucher

for Music CDs OR

$200 Cash

Subject: A photograph for the frontpage of the KimberleyCommunity Profile. Must be portrait shape i.e. longways.

Competition closes: 31 August 2009

The standard is high. Front page of Issue 02, 2009 as

supplied by Mr Aidan Mitchell of St Mary’s College.

By Tomasz Stephan

It’s not all work at Mirrilingki. During a recent program, from left,Brian Duncan Jr, Dallas Purdie, Cecil Mosquito and Brian Duncan,enjoyed a day out in the bush. This was a wonderful way for volunteersand organizers to learn more about Aboriginal ways, traditions andstories.

Mirrilingki News

Photo: T Stephan


Notre Dame KimberleyBy Cathy Borthwick, Lecturer in Education

Opportunities andpossibilities

As a long term Broome resident involved in the education sector, Ihave known of the University of Notre Dame Australia and its role in theKimberley since the very beginning, back in 1994. The University strivednot only to establish a Kimberley based university but was alsocommitted to offering educational opportunities for a diverse range ofpeople; to help them to consider, challenge and explore the manypossibilities presented throughout one’s life. At the heart of thiscommitment to the Kimberley, the University’s Broome campus hasembraced Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal reconciliation throughout itswork over the past 15 years.

From my observations and experiences, it would seem thisKimberley based university continues to strive to fulfill these aims. Myinvolvement with Notre Dame has enabled me to view the campus fromthe point of view of both student and lecturer.

During 1994/95 I was employed as a lecturer working withIndigenous VET Business students. Students came from near and far toblock release study weeks where they learnt new knowledge and skillsthat helped them in their administrative jobs back in their communities.These were early days for the campus, where flexible ways of studyingwere initiated. For example, some students had their small children withthem in class and, as is often the case in Indigenous communities, thesechildren were an integral part of the whole learning situation. My role inthese classes not only included teaching but also saw me holding babiesand amusing toddlers so their mothers could focus on their studies. Thisholistic environment offered advantages to all of us – not just thestudents, as the children and I shared many pleasurable moments. To methis was an act of reconciliation, a way to provide an appropriate learningenvironment to suit the goals and needs of the students.

By 1998 I was looking to challenge and explore my own educationand career opportunities. However, my desire to study creative writingcould only be fulfilled by moving to the city (or interstate) but financesand lifestyle choices meant this wasn’t possible. I looked to what wasbeing offered by a university right here in Broome and found myselfenrolled, full-time, in an inter-disciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree. Forthe next three years my role changed from teaching in a classroom tobeing a student where my goals were shaped by what I was learning. Asa student I interacted with Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australiansfrom around the country, as well as people from other lands such asKenya, Israel, Timor, Ireland and America. Whatever their goals androles, these people converged on and engaged with the Broome campus,taking their experiences with them as they continued on life’s journey.

My own journey led me full circle, back to my role as an educator,where, since 2007, I have been working on the Broome campus as aVET lecturer with the Certificate III in Teacher Assistant (Indigenous)course. Hundreds of teacher assistants from Catholic, Government andIndependent schools, from around the state, have gained from thistraining since the University first began in the Kimberley, enabling thesestudents to pass on their skills and knowledge back to their communities.

Along with providing educational opportunities, Notre Damecontinues to offer possibilities for reconciliation, throughinterconnections made between Indigenous and non-Indigenous studentsand the many people who become involved with their training.

Catholic Education Office

ATAs gather for seminarBy Erica Bernard

Aboriginal Teaching Assistants (ATAs) from Balgo, Halls Creek,Warmun, Kununurra and Wyndham gathered at the MirrilingkiSpirituality Centre in Turkey Creek for the East Kimberley ATASeminar in early June.

On the first day of the ATA Seminar, ATAs were in-serviced on thePATHS Program, which they found very interesting and useful,followed by asession onAcceleratedLiteracy. Atlunch timeeveryone was‘Welcomed toCountry’ by theKija women in a‘SmokingCeremony’.BishopSaunders was inthe area andjoined the ATAsfor lunch. It was a great opportunity to have Bishop Saunders present acertificate to Ms Eileen Bray for her ‘30 Years of Service’ to CatholicEducation. What better place for the presentation to take place thanbefore her peers and the ATAs, where she would be considered asignificant role model for them.

Day two was spent with Margaret Maassen from the Perth CEO onLoss and Grief and with Norman Brahim presenting AboriginalStudies.

The third day concluded with Religious Education and a visit toNgalangangpum School, Warmun, where the Principal and staffprovided lunch. Warmun ATAs took us on a tour of the classrooms andstudents presented the visitors with special ‘Welcome Cards’, a taste ofsome beautiful cookies made by the Year 2s and little hens that theKindy students made. The ATAs also visited the Warmun Art Centre,which was a great opportunity to see the secondary girls working ontheir art pieces for a project.

It was an information-packed three days and many people workedhard including the team from the CEO and from Mirrilingki as well asthe ATAs.

St John of God Sisters, Winifred, Therese, Francis and Madeleine with Bishop John Jobst SAC and children at Old Balgo Mission. Circa 1961

Yesteryear Images from our past

Eileen Bray with Bishop Christopher Saunders.


Parish News

Kalumburu

Youth camps: to learn...Recently, the boys and girls of Kalumburu, in the far north

Kimberley, left behind the noise of the community and withdrew tocountry with Francis Kerongo and local elders led by BernadetteWaina and Agnes Charles. At the boys’ camp held on the weekendof 22/24 May the boys headed for Matilda Rock, Pago. “It was agreat time and we look forward to something like this again,” saidCameron Djanghara, one of the campers.

The girls’ camp, held on the weekend of 12/14 June, was evenmore filled with fun. At Sanz Crossing, Drysdale River, there was alot of activity, fishing, cooking and swimming. The girls wereexcited by their venture. “It was as though God planned a feast forus. We caught pone (turtle) and plenty of fish,” said MaggieCaptain. According to Danielle and Kima, it was cold but fun. “Wewant more camps,” they said.

According to Francis, these camps are aimed at giving theyoung people a chance to listen and learn from country. “So farthe experiences have been good for the young people and theirfamilies; however, we still have to find ways of acquiringequipment so that we are not obliged to limit the numbers of theyoung people,” said Francis.

Holy Spirit DancersThese young dancers participated in the Pentecost Vigil Mass

at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Kalumburu. GemmaUnghangho,back, preparedthe girls for theoccasion -MontanaBundamurra,Tabitha Evans,GladysManglomara,Bella Charles,VictoriaKaradada andLucy Unghango.

Photo: M Scanlon

Great catch girls! Standing in the waters of the Drysdale River are, from left at back,Maggie, Anna, Florentina and Mariah, and in front Whitney with Justin Tataya.Photo: F Kerongo

Six children baptizedBy Dean Savoia

In St Mary’s Church Halls Creek, 13 June, supply priest, FrManoel Borges, celebrated Mass and baptized six children intoGod’s Family — Aleisha, Ashley, Kaheisha, Zionel and AmberleeClaire, children of Maureen Deegan and Peter Claire, and DaemonSavoia, son of Michelle and Dean Savoia. Fr Manoel reminded thecongregation of the need to perform the duties andresponsibilities that being members of a family entails. He saidthat God calls us to serve Him and to serve each other.

Halls Creek

‘Best Boy’ on the Peninsula

Djuan Maher is not only 'best boy' for One Arm Point Schoolathletics but he also took out that title for the Peninsula Sportsheld between One Arm Point State School, Christ the KingDjarindjin Lombadina Catholic School and Sacred Heart BeagleBay Catholic School. Well done Djuan!

One Arm Point

Baby Daemon with his parents, Dean and Michelle Savoia, and Fr Manoel Borges.Photo: L Groch

Photo: CAS


Parish News

John the Baptist Feast DayThe Feast of St John the Baptist in La Grange-Bidyadanga was

the occasion for the baptism of thirteen babies and young peoplefrom the Parish. Parish Priest, Fr Bernard Amah CSSpadministered the Sacrament in front of a large crowd. (260609)

La Grange - Bidyadanga

NewarrivalJames DonaldMitchell wasborn on 1 July.Proud parents,Rose and Aidan,and big sister,Amelia, areparishioners ofthe BroomeCathedralParish.

Chloe Jadal is baptized supported by her Godparents, Cecilia Brolga and WimingDjamai. Photo: L Short

Rosie Munro prepares damper for the celebration lunch which followed Mass.Photo: L Short

Broome

Monsignor Paul Boyers (second from right), Parish Priest ofDerby, and his seminary classmates will celebrate 30 years ofordination to the priesthood later this year. Four of those

classmates, from left, Fathers Paul O’Donoghue, Robert Fuller,Tom Carrol and Peter Blayney, all of Sydney, spent time inBroome and Derby during June. While in Broome theyconcelebrated Mass in Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral andlater viewed the recently completed Icon of Our Lady Queen ofPeace destined for the new Cathedral.

Classmates reunite

Sisters rally time

Sr Catherine Warner pbvm (L) and Sr Kathleen McSweeney rsjare foundation members of the Kununurra Explorers Club, alongwith Wyndham Catholic School Principal Ms Clare Gray. It’s notthat they like back-tracking along the Gibb River Road for the sakeof it, it’s just that they haven't completed their navigation units yet.

Kununurra

Photo: J Grimson

Photo: CAS


Hip Hop in BillilunaBy Lena Puckey

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre in Billiluna, EastKimberley, had a great week when the Indigenous Hip Hop projectcame to school recently. Mike, Re-Arna, Mjyka, Sette and Dallaswere absolutely fantastic with the students, teaching them HipHop and so much more. It was great to see the students learningto respectthemselves andeach other andgaining lots of selfconfidence duringthe week. Wepainted lots ofposters aboutrespect, listening,no shame, HipHop, having funand no swearing orfighting. The HipHop crew and thesenior studentsmade all our greatposters into afabulous back dropfor our concert onthe Friday night.The students hadgreat funperforming thedances they had been practising all week and the families proudlyenjoyed the night.

Billiluna - Kururrungku

Open Day for kindiesAn Open Day was held at St Mary’s College Kindergarten in

Broome on 26 June. Parents went along to enroll new studentsfor 2010 and it was also an opportunity for parents and children tosee the Kindergarten staff and students at work.

Beagle BayBalgo

School News

Celebrating far from homeDe La Salle volunteer Ben O’Brien recently celebrated his

birthday at Balgo, a long way from his home in the suburbs ofSydney, with Kion Patrick and De La Salle Brother and PrincipalRick Gaffney of Luurnpa Catholic School.

Our Secondary Bush Café By Katelyn McKenzie, Year 8

Our Secondary class at Sacred Heart School Beagle Bay hasopened a café two days a week - Thursdays and Fridays from10.30am to 12.30pm. We are selling coffee, tea, scones anddamper to the community and tourists.

The first thing we had to do was a business plan. We had tolook up a business and work out how to start. Then we had to dosigns on what time the café was going to open and where it was tobe. We made tablecloths for the tables and thought aboutdecorations and serves.

Our first day of business was very good. We were a littlescared and we had lots of community members and visitors come.We made lots of money and had a great day.

We will expand our business with a bigger menu, playingmusic, selling art and other things.

Broome

Photo: CAS

Mjyka breakin’ it down in Billiluna. Photo: N Smith

Eve, seen here with her mum Jane, had fun with the play dough at the Open Day.Photo: J Cambridge

Patrons enjoy their morning tea in the lovely setting of Sacred Heart School BeagleBay. Photo: T Sarah


School News

Lombadina - Djarindjin

Great bush tucker inLombadinaWritten by students in Years 8 to 11.

The Secondary students at Lombadina Djarindjin CatholicSchool have been very busy nurturing bush tucker trees at theirschool. The bush tucker garden is a recent addition to the veggiegarden which was created and sponsored by The EON Foundationlast year. Along with our teacher, we gathered rocks from the

quarrie to construct paths through gubinge and fig trees. We alsoplanted candle nut, bananas, mulberry and fluggea trees to add tothe zucchini, corn, carrots, lettuce, tomato, orcha and pumpkinpatches. A community open day to inspect our garden is plannedalong with a talk about how best to grow tomatoes.

We invite students at other schools to tell us about how theirgardens are progressing.

Red team takes outFaction Sports 2009By Janice O’Keefe

On Friday 29 May,students at LombadinaDjarindjin CatholicSchool donned theirteam colours for theFaction Sports Carnival.The three factions,yellow, black and red,were all keen to dotheir best and take outthe shield for the day.A fun day was had byall with a verycompetitive spirit seenin relay races, tunnel ball, sack races and of course runningraces. Black faction was hoping to take out the trophy for thefourth year running, but they came in second this year with Redtaking out the honours.

There was keen competition in the Relay. Photo: C Howie

Red Hill

Warlawurru hosts EastKimberley teachers By Dean Savoia

Teaching staff from the five desert schools of the EastKimberley gathered in Halls Creek for a half-day reflectionopportunity on 2 June. The event was held at Warlawurru (Red

Hill) CatholicSchool HallsCreek and wasbased around thetheme “One InThe Spirit”.Activitiesincluded Gospelreflections,consideration ofquotes aboutbelief, a LectioDivina reading ofa Gospel text, thecreation of asand sculptureand a time offaith-sharing.The afternoon

began with a prayer focussing on the gifts we bring as individualsto the tasks we share as educators in our communities. In theevening Bishop Saunders celebrated Mass for us at St Mary’sChurch. The gathering was an opportunity to make good use ofsome time together, and to allow some nurturing of spirit.

Learning to cook healthyBy Sabina Maskell

Every other Fridaystudents at JohnPujajangka Piyirn School inMulan get to do cookingwith Miss Jo, theNutritionist from Balgo.The students learn allabout healthy, and not sohealthy, foods and whatthey do to our bodies. Thebest part about Miss Jocoming to our school isthat students actually get toput what they have learnedinto practice by cooking ahealthy meal forthemselves and eating itwith their classmates. Thistime it was spaghettibolognese.Keanu stirs the sauce. Photo: S Maskell

Mulan

Dean Savoia of Red Hill in discussion with Lena Puckey ofBilliluna. Photos: E Slaughter


School News

Ringer Soak hops fromthe hip

HIP HOP, the action song and dance group from Melbourne,hit the Kimberley visiting remote schools and centres, stunningpeople with their energy and creative dance steps. Many studentsbecame confident with a number of dance moves and struttedtheir stuff before the entire school and community.

Ringer Soak Warmun

Hospital visitedThe Year 5 students, at St Joseph’s School Kununurra, spent

an hour at the local hospital visiting the Aged Care Unit recently.They sang a few songs to the dozen or so patients before breakinginto small groups and reading from Big Books to patients whoappreciated the closer contact with the kids. Perhaps the

highlight of the visit was an impromptu singing of ‘Happy Birthday’to a lady who was celebrating her 101st birthday the next day.

A wonderful time was had by all with the children putting intopractice Christian service and the patients loved the break fromthe normal routine.

Kununurra Lions EyeFoundationvisit

The Lions EyeFoundation visited WarmunCommunity to test for visionand for trichoma. The visitwas organised by Gija TotalHealth and hosted atNgalangangpum CatholicSchool.

Fidling with musicChildren at Ngalangangpum Catholic School in Warmun have

been developing their music skills with the assistance ofvolunteer, Judy Hill. These two young ladies, Julie andCassandra, try their hand at the violin.

Photo: L Hodge

Reading with patients are Braden, Tom and Matthew. Photo: T Fyfe

Photo: CAS

Willo keeps an eye on the proceedings. Photo: L Hodge


Clockwise starting from top left:

■ Flag bearers, from left, Natalie Dean, Philomena Lands, Eeron BevanWoodley and Keely May at the 2009 Kullarri National Aboriginal and IslanderDay of Commemoration (NAIDOC) opening ceremony held outside the BroomeShire Chambers. The celebrations began on 3 July and continued through to12 July. The theme this year is ‘Honouring our elders, nurturing our youth’.Photo: S Di Maria

■ Bishop John Jobst SAC (L), Bishop Emeritus of Broome and the Kimberley,recently celebrated his Golden Jubilee as a Bishop. In honour of the occasionBishop Saunders (R), the present Bishop of Broome, visited Bishop Jobsttogether with Fr Matthew Digges, the Administrator of the Cathedral Parish.

■ The children at Yaruman (Ringer Soak) Catholic School are a happy lot,content in their beautiful bush community south east of Halls Creek. Photo: CAS

■ Guess who’s on the road and might just drop by? Ngalangangpum HighSchool girls, Jacinta Clifton and Courtney Turner, hold captive a cane toadfound in Warmun recently. The toad was found at the roadhouse havinghitched a ride on a truck from Darwin. Photo: L Hodge

■ A movie set of the Roebuck Bay Hotel of old was constructed from theremains of a disused pearling shed on Hamersley Street, Broome, for thefilming of the movie of the Jimmy Chi musical, Bran Nue Dae, to be releasedat the Melbourne Film Festival on 8 August 2009. Some people said theRoebuck never looked so good! Photo: CAS


Clockwise starting from top left:

■ Ronald Mosquito (L) with Michael Galova and ClintonGimme make music at St Theresa’s Church in Balgo, writingand singing original hymns. Photo: CAS

■ Bishop Christopher Saunders recently met up with an oldfriend, “The Bush Tucker Man” Les Hiddens who paid a visitto the Kimberley on one of his outback journeys. The Bishoporiginally met Les when he was working with the Armydrawing bush tucker maps. Photo: S Di Maria

■ Trinity Unghango (L) with Cynthia and children, Curtis andGregory, shop together as a family with help from CatholicVolunteers Sue Lloyd (R) and her husband Brian (rear) at theMission General Store, Kalumburu. Photo: CAS

■ A happy little Spiderman, James Mudgedell-Stretch, atLuurnpa Catholic School, Balgo, lines up at assembly timeready to spring into class, go to his computer and get on theweb. Photo: CAS

■ 104! Happy birthday! Happy BIG birthday! Granny MayHoward is 104. She is the matriarch of five generations andone of Broome’s best known identities. Seen here with herson, country singer, Jimmy Howard, and great greatgranddaughter, Josepha with her child, the next generation,Saadiah. Photo: CAS

DE

SIG

N

BY

RE

D L

OG

IC D

ES

IGN

, B

RO

OM

E

W.A

. 67

25

issue 04july/august 2009 - catholic diocese of...

Documents