Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sydney (Agenzia Fides) - “The level of Indigenous health is still appalling” Josephite Sr Katrina Brill said in a Social Justice Sunday call to Australian nuns to join forces on Indigenous issues. Sr Brill, a Sister of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart RSJ, welcomed the Bishops message for this year’s Social Justice Sunday, celebrated last 24 September The Heart of our Country: dignity and justice for our Indigenous brothers and sisters”. The day is marked with public awareness raising campaigns and events as well as special.
The plight of Indigenous Australians is still the most pressing justice issue in Australia today and “considerable challenge still faces us as a Church - and as a nation”. Speaking on behalf of Josephite leaders and over 12000 Josephite Sisters nationally, Sr Brill said that all people of good will must work together to face these problems and their deep underlying cause. She says nuns, in particular, have been in close contact with people in Indigenous communities for many years and have been advocating “for a better life for Indigenous Australian”. “What is needed now, she added “is for all Catholic nuns to unite on this issue.
She said two significant anniversaries will help focus public attention on Indigenous issues in the months ahead: the 20th anniversary of John Paul II’s address in Alice Springs in November this year and the 40th anniversary in May next year of the 1967 referendum which saw more than 90 percent of eligible Australians acknowledged Indigenous Australians as citizens.
The Sisters of St Joseph live and work in Aboriginal communities in Kimberly, Coober Pedy, central western New South Wales and among communities in most capital cities .
Of Scottish origin Mother Mary MacKillop, co-foundress of the order in 1866, is the first Australian Saint. She died on 8th August 1909 and was Beatified: 19th January 1995. The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart are present in Oceania, Latin America, Africa, Asia. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2006 righe 30 parole 307)
