Aboriginal Sunday
July 4, 2004

Eucharistic liturgy celebrated at St Francis' Church, Melbourne

NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal Islander Day of Observance Committee NAIDOC week is the outcome of a long history. Since 1924 many Aboriginal groups have challenged governments, citizens and churches. They have asked for Aboriginal representation in parliament, a national department of native affairs and state advisory councils for Aboriginal affairs, a Day of Mourning to be held on Australia Day (January 26). In 1940 the Sunday preceding January 26 became the first "Day of Mourning" Aboriginal Sunday. In 1955 Aborigines Day was transferred to the first Sunday in July and the NADOC (National Aborigines Day of Observance Committee) was formed. In 1991, it was known as NAIDOC to include the Torres Strait Islanders. For 60 years Aboriginal Sunday has been celebrated. It is time for all Australians to recognize the unique position of Indigenous people as the original owners and custodians of this land and pray for them. Each year the NAIDOC Committee has a theme - the 2004 theme is Self Determination, Our Community, Our Future, Our Responsibility The liturgy at St Francis' this year, presided over by Fr Patrick Negri SSS, began with the Didgeridoo leading the procession of ministers. The Book of the Gospels was brought forward, preceded by the Message Stick. The message stick of any size or shape is used to relay messages to neighbouring groups, to extend invitations, to gather for initiation ceremonies, feasts, funerals, or to settle disputes. The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry uses this symbol for the Good News of the Gospel. There then followed a Smoking Ritual. For Aboriginal people of today the essence of the Dreaming is still vital to our very being. Throughout the ages we have emphasized the NOW - the present moment. It is true that we cannot walk the past in the same way as our ancestors did - we must walk in the present. Herein lies the paradox. The Creator of all things never changes, but creation is forever changing - through the Birth - Life - Death cycle, therefore cultures too must be part of the changing process. Now is the time of the NEW DREAMING - a rebirth and a new springtime. All the ancient Dreaming tracks have been leading us to this present moment. So it is with the sharing of these thoughts that the ancient ritual of smoking begins. Aboriginal life has always been closely associated with the seasons and with waiting - waiting for the various signs in nature, the sun and the rain bring forth various types of berries, nuts, seeds and herbs. The Coolamon, crafted from wood, bark, or grasses, is used for carrying food, water of very small babies. It is an integral part of daily life. It is used by the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry especially in Advent as a symbol of waiting, as Mary waits for Jesus the promised Spirit Child, who will become our Life Giving Spiritual Food in the 'Eucharist'. Prior to the presentation of the gifts of bread and wine for the Eucharist, the Australian Province of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation presented a plaque to a representative of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry acknowledging the prior custodianship of the land on which St Francis Church now stands. The plaque reads: We, the Blessed Sacrament Congregation of the Australian Province, acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation as the first people of this country and the original custodians of the land on which this church is built. We commit ourselves to praying and working for reconciliation in the future. For the Wurundjeri People, the Yarra River is an important part of their Creation stories. The early settlers called them the people of the Yarra Valley. Their totems are the eaglehawk and the crow.