Jesus, nailed to the cross of the Tree of Man, Tangaza College, Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: CAS

‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’. Luke 23:46

Issue 1, April 2011, Highlights:

Easter Message

New Youth Service opens in Broome

Office of Justice, Ecology and Peace - Work should be for everybody

National Award - Michael Keane

Flood waters invade small community - Warmun

Sisters celebrate feast day

To Live in Peace

St Joseph the Worker

Justice Matters - Detained promises - Hope Springs Eternal

Safari Njema

NDA - Nillir Irbanjin to Indiana USA

Perfect Pets - Household Hens

New Caring for the Homeless facility

Obituary - Ivan John Gogler RIP

St Mary's College - New Science Facilities

School News - Mulan

World Youth Day - Madrid 16-21 August 2011 (PDF)

Ten Steps towards being a Peacemaker - 1 (PDF)

KCP Magazine

To Live in Peace

By Sr Jackie Ford RSJ

I have been asked to share with you something of my experience of bringing pastoral care to the asylum seekers in Curtin. Having returned to Sydney last year after working with economically poor women and families in Chile and Peru, South America, I was looking for somewhere I could serve those in need. An invitation came from Father Sacha of the Jesuit Refugee Service to work at Curtin Detention Centre. When my Congregational leader mentioned helping asylum seekers or refugees, I thought I would probably be working with families on Christmas Island.

My experience with the Afghanistan asylum seekers has taught me that we human beings are all searching for the same thing, a chance to live our lives in peace and look after our families without the constant threat of death and war. They have left their wives and children behind believing that they would be able to bring them to Australia once they obtained visas here.

Recently I came across this reminder: “For Christians the source and example of love of God and neighbour is the love of Christ for His Father, for humanity and for each person” reads the first of the 15 points of the declaration. “Love of neighbour cannot be separated from love of God, because it is an expression of our love of God . . . Grounded in Christ’s sacrificial love, Christian love is forgiving and excludes no-one; it therefore also includes one’s enemies.” A Common Word Declaration, Vatican November 2008

The United Nations has condemned the detention of asylum seekers as is practiced in Australia as a violation of their Human Rights. The response from the Australian Prime Minister is that this is the way it is done in Australia and it will continue to be done in this way.

As we know there is always ‘hope’. Recently, Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome came to Curtin to visit the asylum seekers. Bishop Saunders was very moved by the respect and reverence of the clients. Men, Muslim Afghans, were sitting on the ground under the trees waiting for him to arrive. Then with the aid of an interpreter they made known to him their difficulties through two clients chosen to represent them. Bishop Saunders was very receptive of their communication, understanding and gentle in his words of reply and he has promised to put their concerns before those in high places.

Photo Captions:

Top: Sr Dorothy Bayliss, a Sister of Charity, who has just completed two months at the Curtin Detention Centre.

Bottom: Sr Jackie Ford RSJ (L) has provided pastoral care at the Centre on two occasions now and Sr Anne McDonald RSM has also spent a number of weeks there.

Photos: J Grimson