In the latter part of June, Our Lady’s school community at Longreach assembled in their beautiful Bush Chapel for a very special event. Their numbers were swelled by the presence of family and Godparents. They came to participate in a service where Fr. Terry who was relieving in Longreach, baptised eight of the students aged between Prep and Year 6, together with a preschool sibling.   

Baptism is always a special occasion for families, a day for extended family, friends and neighbours to come together, to reflect and celebrate. Early in July, Fr. Raj travelled from Emerald to a property out of Alpha for Kolt’s special day. In the little outdoor chapel prepared for this special event, adults and children – some from hundreds of kilometres away, participated in the ceremony. Fr. Raj shared with us the fact that he comes from a farming family in India and so feels a sense of identity with those on the land. About six weeks before this, Fr. Jayanthi had driven from Blackall to a property some 65 kilometres south-east of Alpha for John’s baptism. This was another occasion to remember. At such times when I am present at a baptism - or a burial which is another such sacred time - somewhere in these rural and remote places of our “wide brown land” I recall someone speaking of sanctifying the land. I am also reminded of Jesus’ words, “I came to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it were already kindled” (Luke, 12:49). I think of these events as lighting a spot fire, so to speak!