A spirit of hope, healing and shared purpose will fill the Hunter Valley next week, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics from across Australia gather on Wonnarua Country for the 2025 NATSICC National Assembly. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Held from September 29 to October 3, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council Assembly invites First Nations peoples, Church leaders, clergy and non-Indigenous Catholics to come together under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”, as an expression of faith, culture and unity where listening, learning and reconciliation take centre stage.
As the only national event led by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics, the NATSICC Assembly brings together a growing community of over 135,000 faithful. It offers spiritual formation, deep fellowship and connection – elements that are central to First Nations spirituality and to the wider Catholic tradition.
This year’s assembly also aligns with the Church’s Jubilee Year, a global call to renewal and mercy. The assembly becomes not just a conference, but a pilgrimage of healing — honouring culture, spirituality, and the enduring strength of Elders and older people who carry the stories of both Church and Country.
At the heart of the assembly is a focus on elders, who are the wisdom-keepers, teachers and spiritual anchors of their communities. Their role in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures mirrors the reverence that Catholics hold for elders in faith: as guides, leaders, and bearers of sacred tradition.
The conference is sponsored by Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT), ACU and the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese.
Details: NATSICC National Assembly.
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Hope to be a focus of this year’s NATSICC assembly (The Catholic Weekly)
