Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders has been a growing movement over many years. It is a multifaceted challenge. Reconciliation Australia expressed the goal of the reconciliation movement as a just and equitable and reconciled country. This can only be achieved when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are able to equitably contribute to the daily life of the nation. John Paul II put the challenge similarly back in 1983 when he visited Alice Springs. In his address to the Aboriginal Communities of Alice Springs he said. “You are part of Australia and Australia is part of you. And the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others.”

Both Reconciliation Australia and John Paul II articulate the same challenge. Reconciliation will not occur unless the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is welcomed and joyfully received. Then Australia and the Church in Australia will be more fully what and who they are called to be.

Reconciliation Australia offers us twenty actions to assist us in achieving this goal. These include: calling out racism, remembering that the history of Australia includes the participation and presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, knowing the local history of the land in which we live, creating a culturally diverse safe place, supporting self-determination, promoting first nations culture, music, art and history, buying from first nation businesses and many more. You can access details for some of these twenty actions and more at Reconciliation Australia.

This coming Thursday, 27 May, marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, 2021. I will be joining the Boroondara Reconciliation Network for the multifaith prayer service under the Aboriginal Flag in front of the Camberwell Library at 8.30 am. This year’s theme is ‘More than a word’. We will reflect on the meaning of Reconciliation and of Country. We hope that this brief time of reflection will give us greater understanding, and encourage us to lead others to act to reconcile our communities with our Traditional Owners. Come and join us on Thursday morning.

In addition to the reconciliation service on Thursday we will acknowledge Reconciliation Week across our churches next weekend, 29 and 30 May, with the Acknowledgement of Country at the beginning of each Mass and the use of our message stick during the reading of the Gospel. These symbolic actions are crucial in bringing about real change and reconciliation.

By Brendan Reed