On Monday August 4, an open air Liturgy was celebrated at the Columban Mission Centre at Essendon, Melbourne, to give thanks to God for the presence of Aboriginal people in the Melbourne area and right across Australia for tens of thousands of years up to the present time.
In particular the Wurundjeri people were acknowledged as the Traditional Owners of the land of the greater Melbourne area. During this Liturgy an acknowledgement plaque was unveiled by the Columban Fathers' Regional Director in Australia and New Zealand, Fr Gary Walker and the Columban Superior General, Fr Kevin O'Neill.
Sherry Balcombe, the Secretary of the Victorian Aboriginal Catholic Council, represented Aboriginal people at the Liturgy. She opened the ceremony with an Acknowledgement of Country. This was followed by special prayers from the participants giving thanks to God for the many millenniums of living presence of Wurundjeri and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia, for their gifts, knowledge and friendship.
Prayers were also offered asking forgiveness for injustices, the discrimination and dispossession they have suffered and continue to suffer.
Nine members of the Social Justice Group from St Vincent de Paul Primary School, Strathmore, and four Grade 4 students studying Aboriginal Culture, attended the Liturgy and participated in the prayers. They were accompanied by the School Principal, Mr John Grant, and Religious Education Coordinator, Mrs Anne-Maree Milne.
A large number of Columban priests and staff members from the Columban Mission Centre participated in the Liturgy, which was followed by an enjoyable morning tea.
Read more from The Far East, September 2014