Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
28 Sep 2012
The Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has established a community centre on Nauru to support the welfare of asylum seekers held in detention on the island.
The Parish priest of Nauru, Father Tatieru Ewenteang MSC along with the Island's three Sisters of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart together with a retired German priest have mobilised the local population to assist with acts of kindness to the 150 men currently held there, with a further 1300 men, women and children expected to arrive over the next few months.
"The refugees need to be welcomed and given care and assistance beyond 'the system,' and we can do this by supplying clothing, toys, food, medicine, the use of phones to call their families as well as opening our schools and social facilities for their use," says Father Fr Adrian Meaney, Director of the MSC Mission Office Australia.
Fr Meaney has spent considerable time on Nauru working alongside the three religious sisters and the Island's Parish priest.
"The people of Nauru are a warm and generous people," he says. "I was on the Island in 2002 when asylum seekers were first sent to Nauru. Most wore no shoes and I will never forget how the women of Nauru without any prompting, saw their bare feet and immediately took off the thongs they were wearing and gave them to the refugees," he says.
While many Australians argue the rights and wrongs of sending people who are already traumatised after escaping persecution and civil war to a remote Pacific island, Fr Adrian says the focus of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is on the welfare of the detainees.
"Acts of kindness can do far more than arguments over the right and wrongs and condemning governments and politicians. At the end of the day, it is kindness not who is right or wrong that matters," Fr Adrian says.
The Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Australia has already sent $10,000 to Nauru to be used to help support and improve day to day life for the detainees and plans to send more over the coming weeks.
Rather than shipping extras such clothing, food, toys or medicine or whatever else might be needed from Australia, Fr Adrian says it is better for the Island's economy that items are purchased locally on the Island. This also means there is no problem with storage at the Australian end and whatever is needed can be quickly delivered to the detainees rather than having to rely on infrequent flights in and out of Nauru.
While living on Nauru, detainees no matter what their faith, are given a warm welcome at Nauru's Catholic Church. Many enjoy the calm and quiet of Sunday worship at the local Catholic Church and also appreciate being able to use the parish phone to call their families after Mass.
While no children have so far been sent to Nauru from Christmas Island, the Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen insists minors will not be exempt.
When children and their families finally do arrive later this year, Fr Adrian says they will be welcome to attend Nauru's Catholic primary schools as well as the local Catholic high school.
Catholics account for 32% of Nauru's population of 9,000.
To donate funds to assist in the welfare of asylum seekers and refugees held on Nauru to be used to purchase clothing, toys for children, school books, food, medicine and the cost of overseas telephone calls, goto www.australia.mscmission.org/relief-work/naurumakeadifference.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
28 Sep 2012
Nauru's people are warm, generous and caring
The Parish priest of Nauru, Father Tatieru Ewenteang MSC along with the Island's three Sisters of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart together with a retired German priest have mobilised the local population to assist with acts of kindness to the 150 men currently held there, with a further 1300 men, women and children expected to arrive over the next few months.
"The refugees need to be welcomed and given care and assistance beyond 'the system,' and we can do this by supplying clothing, toys, food, medicine, the use of phones to call their families as well as opening our schools and social facilities for their use," says Father Fr Adrian Meaney, Director of the MSC Mission Office Australia.
Fr Adrian Meaney MSC
"The people of Nauru are a warm and generous people," he says. "I was on the Island in 2002 when asylum seekers were first sent to Nauru. Most wore no shoes and I will never forget how the women of Nauru without any prompting, saw their bare feet and immediately took off the thongs they were wearing and gave them to the refugees," he says.
While many Australians argue the rights and wrongs of sending people who are already traumatised after escaping persecution and civil war to a remote Pacific island, Fr Adrian says the focus of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is on the welfare of the detainees.
Asylum seeker children will be welcome at Nauru's Catholic primary school and high school
The Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Australia has already sent $10,000 to Nauru to be used to help support and improve day to day life for the detainees and plans to send more over the coming weeks.
Rather than shipping extras such clothing, food, toys or medicine or whatever else might be needed from Australia, Fr Adrian says it is better for the Island's economy that items are purchased locally on the Island. This also means there is no problem with storage at the Australian end and whatever is needed can be quickly delivered to the detainees rather than having to rely on infrequent flights in and out of Nauru.
Christ the King Catholic Church Nauru where asylum seekers are made welcome
While no children have so far been sent to Nauru from Christmas Island, the Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen insists minors will not be exempt.
When children and their families finally do arrive later this year, Fr Adrian says they will be welcome to attend Nauru's Catholic primary schools as well as the local Catholic high school.
Catholics account for 32% of Nauru's population of 9,000.
To donate funds to assist in the welfare of asylum seekers and refugees held on Nauru to be used to purchase clothing, toys for children, school books, food, medicine and the cost of overseas telephone calls, goto www.australia.mscmission.org/relief-work/naurumakeadifference.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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