Northern Central Region Hospitaller: SeĂĄn Parnell OAM KMG and Maria Randazzo DMG
O
n Sunday 23 June 2019, seven of us joined Fr Ched as we drove from Darwin to the Nauiyu community west of Katherine on the Daly River and south of Darwin. The population is around 450 people and is 86 per cent Aboriginal – most of whom speak English and are largely Catholic. There are 10 different language groups. The traditional owners of the land are the Malak Malak people. The area was originally a source of copper mining. The community is now equipped with a store, school, health clinic and police station. After a two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Darwin and 230 kilometres later, we arrived at the Presbytery, originally part of a Jesuit Mission, and met up with the Principal of St Francis Xavier Catholic School, Frances
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Enilane. The school is an Indigenous Catholic community school with nine teaching staff drawn from all over Australia. Local Indigenous teaching assistants support the 55 students from years one to 10. Other students are educated in Darwin. Mass with Fr Ched was a highlight on this Sunday of Corpus Christie in the beautiful church. Dr Frances explained the purpose of our visit to some of the congregation elders, family members and teachers. She spoke of the history and charisma of the Order. A printed overview provided by the Order was handed to Frances. This overview will be helpful for those unable to attend the mass. Following Mass, several of the coats and blankets were distributed.
2019 Australian Hospitaller
