ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE RELEASE
A touch of Africa comes to Melton
Wednesday 13 March 2013
Words Bill Lucas
Pictures Fr Michael Moody
MELTON and surrounding districts are becoming home to an ever increasing number of families from South Sudan. Helping these new arrivals understand and become part of the Australian way of life is a big job facing the municipal and religious authorities. Not only is finding suitable housing a headache for the Melton Council but finding work and other socialising activities for both men and women, who often have few or no English skills, is certainly no easy task.
One of the ways of helping newcomers integrate and find friends is for them to become involved in social activities which bring them into contact with the locals. The surrounding Churches have rallied to provide fellowship for all new arrivals by holding regular special church services in the various languages of South Sudan and incorporating the colourful songs and dances of that country.
We are especially lucky at St Dominic’s in Melton to have the services of one of the new deacons recently ordained in the Melbourne Archdiocese. George Piech Meat is a South Sudanese father of six who, although based in Dandenong, comes every two weeks to serve alongside Fr Michael Moody to minister to the growing number of South Sudanese in the parish. On Sunday the 13th of January St Dominic’s hosted our first Mass for this community and taking charge of proceedings was Deacon George. Starting at 1:30PM, or thereabouts, the Church was packed with smiling South Sudanese of all ages and the mood was set with the strains of the entrance hymn provided by the Sunshine South Sudanese choir. Drums, tambourines and rhythmic singing had everyone joining in; even the few non Africans that came. One has to get used to the constant buzz of family activity that permeates the atmosphere of an African Mass but everyone participates in the prayers and singing.
Because the South Sudanese community comprises people from different tribes the ceremony was conducted in English and simple African Arabic which served to unite the congregation. Arabic and Dinka hymns were sung. Deacon George gave the homily in both Arabic and English and concentrated on exhorting everyone to become involved in the parish life.
After Mass we were treated to a traditional South Sudanese barbecue in Fr Michael’s house where there was a plentiful supply of meat and special Sudanese delicacies. Probably, many people went unrecognised because one of the barbecues was set up inside the enclosed pergola. After a half hour or so most people were outside leaving the smoke to itself. The spirit of fellowship was very enjoyable and everyone had a good time.
This mass will take place once a month on the second Sunday and Sudanese people from all the surrounding areas are invited to attend. As well as presiding at this monthly Mass, Deacon George comes to Melton every second Tuesday when he helps the local people with their problems and actively gets involved in promoting the participation of boys and girls in the various sporting groups in the parish. Of course basketball and soccer are very popular among the boys.
What we want to see now is an increase in the number of South Sudanese who regularly come to Mass on Sunday. Breaking down the barriers of language and the feeling of not fitting in will certainly go a long way to help our Sudanese friends join in all of the parish activities and hopefully take leadership roles.
Words Bill Lucas
Pictures Fr Michael Moody
MELTON and surrounding districts are becoming home to an ever increasing number of families from South Sudan. Helping these new arrivals understand and become part of the Australian way of life is a big job facing the municipal and religious authorities. Not only is finding suitable housing a headache for the Melton Council but finding work and other socialising activities for both men and women, who often have few or no English skills, is certainly no easy task.One of the ways of helping newcomers integrate and find friends is for them to become involved in social activities which bring them into contact with the locals. The surrounding Churches have rallied to provide fellowship for all new arrivals by holding regular special church services in the various languages of South Sudan and incorporating the colourful songs and dances of that country.
We are especially lucky at St Dominic’s in Melton to have the services of one of the new deacons recently ordained in the Melbourne Archdiocese. George Piech Meat is a South Sudanese father of six who, although based in Dandenong, comes every two weeks to serve alongside Fr Michael Moody to minister to the growing number of South Sudanese in the parish. On Sunday the 13th of January St Dominic’s hosted our first Mass for this community and taking charge of proceedings was Deacon George. Starting at 1:30PM, or thereabouts, the Church was packed with smiling South Sudanese of all ages and the mood was set with the strains of the entrance hymn provided by the Sunshine South Sudanese choir. Drums, tambourines and rhythmic singing had everyone joining in; even the few non Africans that came. One has to get used to the constant buzz of family activity that permeates the atmosphere of an African Mass but everyone participates in the prayers and singing.
Because the South Sudanese community comprises people from different tribes the ceremony was conducted in English and simple African Arabic which served to unite the congregation. Arabic and Dinka hymns were sung. Deacon George gave the homily in both Arabic and English and concentrated on exhorting everyone to become involved in the parish life.After Mass we were treated to a traditional South Sudanese barbecue in Fr Michael’s house where there was a plentiful supply of meat and special Sudanese delicacies. Probably, many people went unrecognised because one of the barbecues was set up inside the enclosed pergola. After a half hour or so most people were outside leaving the smoke to itself. The spirit of fellowship was very enjoyable and everyone had a good time.
This mass will take place once a month on the second Sunday and Sudanese people from all the surrounding areas are invited to attend. As well as presiding at this monthly Mass, Deacon George comes to Melton every second Tuesday when he helps the local people with their problems and actively gets involved in promoting the participation of boys and girls in the various sporting groups in the parish. Of course basketball and soccer are very popular among the boys.
What we want to see now is an increase in the number of South Sudanese who regularly come to Mass on Sunday. Breaking down the barriers of language and the feeling of not fitting in will certainly go a long way to help our Sudanese friends join in all of the parish activities and hopefully take leadership roles.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
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