Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
15 Jul 2013
15 Jul 2013
Cardinal Pell has long championed the rights of Australia's first peoples and will lead the celebrations at St Mary's Cathedral on 9 August
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, leading Aboriginal elders from across Sydney and more than 1000 Indigenous students from Sydney's Catholic schools will attend an inaugural Mass at St Mary's Cathedral on Friday 9 August to celebrate the International Day of the world's Indigenous Peoples.
The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell who has long been a champion of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will lead the celebration in what will become an annual event.
Hosted by the Archdiocese of Sydney's Catholic Education Office, the Mass represents the first time Indigenous students from Sydney's Catholic systemic schools have gathered to celebrate this special day.
His Eminence has requested St Mary's Cathedral Choir be supported by professional Aboriginal artists and the repertoire for the Mass will include some sections sung in some of the many Aboriginal languages. In addition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students attending the Mass will be encouraged celebrate the day in prayer, song and dance.
"This will be the first time all Aboriginal and Indigenous students at our schools will gather together for Mass on this significant day," says Sue Sinko, Manager of Aboriginal Education for Kindergarten to Year 12 students at the city's 149 Catholic schools.
Beautifully illustrated prayer card by Lisa Buxton for the Indigenous Peoples Mass
Sue, who is helping to organise the Mass at St Mary's Cathedral to mark the occasion says one of the key aims will be to show respect to Australia's first people, celebrate their culture, history and the rich contribution they make to the Church of Australia, and to help build bridges between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians.
In recent years Sydney's Catholic schools have seen a surge in enrolments by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with 2013 hitting an all time high.
Not only are there just under 1000 Indigenous students currently enrolled at Catholic schools in Sydney but young Aboriginal teenagers are among the fastest growing demographic in the Catholic Church of Australia.
In addition to the Mass at St Mary's Cathedral on 9 August, all primary and secondary schools will simultaneously mark the day with their own prayer services in their local communities. This services will expand on the theme, "Holy Spirit in This Land" which is also the theme of the Cathedral's inaugural Mass.
Assistant Principal of St Andrew's Primary at Malabar, Marita Wells where one third of the youngsters are Indigenous
Sue Sinko says plans are underway so each of Sydney's 67,281 Catholic students will receive a Prayer Card featuring the original artwork of Lisa Buxton, Aboriginal Education Adviser with the Sydney Education Office.
In the past week students at St Andrew's Catholic College, Malabar have also participated in NAIDOC Week which ran from 7-14 July this year and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements.
Of the 393 children enrolled at St Andrews, one third are Aboriginal.
"We are very proud of our Indigenous links," says Louise O'Keeffe, St Andrew's Principal. "We have a long history of breaking down cultural barriers and one of the biggest weeks of the year for us is NAIDOC week which we celebrate not only with the school but with the local community."
Communities across the globe will celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on 9 August and for the first time, 1000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from Sydney's Catholic schools will mark this significant day with a Mass celebrated in their honour by His Eminence, Cardinal Pell at St Mary's Cathedral.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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