History was made in the Broome Diocese on the weekend as the new Kimberley Aboriginal Catholic Pastoral Council was formed.
Meeting at Notre Dame University Australia’s Broome campus, people travelled from all corners of the diocese to celebrate the commissioning of the new pastoral council.
The council has members representing Balgo and desert communities, Wyndham/Kununurra in the East Kimberley, the Dampier Peninsula and Western Australia’s largest Aboriginal community, Bidyadanga. Members were also drawn from the towns of Broome and Derby.
At the 2024 Pentecost celebration in the East Kimberley, representatives from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Commission presented models of ministry that would give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics a voice.
Building on this, a group of Aboriginal Church leaders developed terms of Reference. From this, with the endorsement of Broome Bishop Tim Norton SVD, the council was formed.
Shirley Quaresimin, deputy chair of NATSICC, is the chair of the Kimberley Aboriginal Catholic Pastoral Council.
“Today is a milestone for us in the Catholic church in the Kimberley,” Ms Quaresimin said. This has long been a dream for our people. It is a way that we can strengthen our faith and share culturally our place in the Catholic Church.”
Bishop Norton celebrated Mass with the council using the Missa Terra Spiritus Sancti, a liturgy that was born in Bidyadanga and is widely used in the Kimberley.
During this Mass, the councillors were commissioned to be witnesses to the Gospel, to nurture and serve all, and to encourage people to strengthen their relationships with God and each other.
“I’m delighted that this body has come to fruition, and I look forward to working together in the Diocese,” Bishop Norton said.
“I thank them for sharing their wisdom and spirituality and will seek their guidance as we work to build the Reign of God in the Kimberley.”
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A New Voice for the Kimberley Church (Broome Diocese)
