 witnessed four children confirmed into the church prior to Christmas, as the ministry also received donations as a result of Mary MacKillop Place’s inaugural Christmas lights event.){kind=link}
Four Aboriginal children were confirmed by Bishop Daniel Meagher at the Reconciliation Church in in La Perouse just before Christmas.
The four went through a unique sacramental program designed by the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM). While their preparation was similar to other programs across NSW, it included unique Indigenous cultural aspects.
This included teaching the “confirmandi” about respecting the authority of community elders, together with education about the hierarchy of the church and discussing how Christian symbols such as water, oil and bread hold significant meaning in Aboriginal spirituality.
Like many children engaged in sacramental preparation, the children made craft to support their learning. But they also completed dot and word paintings on river stones as part of the program.
According to ACM executive director Lisa Buxton, the children were elated.
“To have four children be confirmed during this festive season is a great thing to witness,” she said.
“It’s a great program to be a part of because it allows the children to not just engage with and complete the sacrament of confirmation, but it also allows their connection with their faith and their heritage to deepen and to grow.”
The work of the ACM was supported by donations from the inaugural Christmas Lights event at Mary Mackillop Place in North Sydney.
It was lit up for four nights with light displays with a nativity scene, angels, Christmas trees, and ornaments. It attracted hundreds of Sydneysiders.
Donation stations for the ACM and other Catholic ministries were set up across the lights display and baskets were available to leave food for the vulnerable.
Jemima Carroll, the community engagement events coordinator at Mary MacKillop Place, said the event is one of a few in the pipeline designed to bring a greater energy to the site and to assist ministries across Sydney.
“Events like the Christmas lights are about not just supporting our fellow Catholics across Sydney, particularly through the ACM, but also opening our doors up to everyone and allowing people from across Sydney to come and experience the joy of Christmas,” she said.