St Joseph’s Cathedral, Rockhampton

On Tuesday 14 July, Bishop Michael celebrated the 2020 NAIDOC Week Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Rockhampton. Bishop Michael was joined by Fr Bryan Hanifin, Vicar General, priests from throughout the diocese, along with representatives from the Catholic Education Office and the four Catholic Colleges of the Rockhampton Region – Emmaus College, The Cathedral College, St Brendan’s College and St Ursula’s College.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, numbers were unfortunately limited as traditionally, the mass attracts a much larger audience, with Catholic primary schools gathering, along with Elders and members of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. A similar mass is held in Mackay each year but unfortunately had to be cancelled this year.

Despite the fewer numbers at St Joseph’s Cathedral, the mass was able to reach a much larger audience than previous years. Parishioners from across the diocese and beyond, along with schools and colleges, were able to participate in the mass via live stream.

At Holy Spirit, Mackay

With official national NAIDOC Week events being postponed until later this year, many schools, workplaces and communities are still choosing to celebrate the week at its usual time. NAIDOC Week is historically a week for all of Australia to celebrate and acknowledge the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is celebrated not only in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but by all Australians from all walks of life.

The 2020 NAIDOC Week theme is “Always Was, Always Will Be” and serves as a reminder that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this country for over 60,000 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will always be spiritually and culturally connected to this country.

In welcoming all to the mass, Brad Jarro, Indigenous Education Coordinator, said it was pleasing that more and more non-Indigenous Australians are joining in NAIDOC Week celebrations each year and recognising and respecting the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and spiritualities. He commended the many schools and colleges throughout the diocese on their efforts to educate all students about these and encouraged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students to continue to show pride in being part of one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures.

Marist College, Emerald

The Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton remains committed to bringing about reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples of Australia. The NAIDOC Week masses in Rockhampton and Mackay are wonderful celebrations of this each year and we all look forward to gathering once again in 2021.