WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE

During Tricia’s and my recent holiday in Darwin I made contact with Deacon Tony Cunningham of the Darwin Diocese. Tony works as the Catholic Chaplain at the Royal Darwin Hospital having  migrated to Australia with his wife Marjorie 4 years ago after a long career in the wholesale hairdressing industry in the UK.

In response to my question of where we should we go to take part in a unique Mass he said without hesitation, “ St Martin de Porres Church, Casuarina”.

Well the 9.00am Sunday Mass with the aboriginal community of Darwin was just that. Unique, and  I was in for a surprise.

Led by a Missionary of God’s Love priest and with an emphasis on participation I found my conservative European nature challenged during the 90 minute service.

Involving the congregation in song was aided by a number of excellent electric guitars and a small choir of singers “who just loved to sing” to the extent that many of the congregation felt compelled to dance.

A roving microphone enabled all visitors to be interviewed and my comment that I was a  Deacon from Adelaide who had come encouraged to see for myself the energy and participation of aboriginal Catholics in their faith in Darwin led to energetic applause.

The congregation felt comfortable in moving about from time to time to stand under the eaves of what seemed to be the old original church or maybe classroom and even sit out under the trees adjacent to the chapel.

Now firmly convinced that you should never under-estimate people I Googled Malarndirri’s resume on return home to find that she is a Yanyuwa woman from Borroloola in the Northern Territory. She is Northern Territory born and bred. Born in Katherine in 1970, Malarndirri attended school in Borroloola, Alice Springs and St. Scholasticas in Glebe, Sydney, where she was School Captain in 1988.

She is a former ABC newsreader and journalist and has been the Member for Arnhem since 2005 and is currently chair for Statehood Steering Committee.

 The original purpose of this Community which began in 1988 was to encourage aboriginal people to restore their faith in God as well as develop their gifts and ministries. I found that to be an understatement.         

Deacon Daryl