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ACMRO News September 2024
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In this edition:
| 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees: Sunday, September 29
| Pope Francis' visit to PNG: Fraternity and Synodality with the Church of the Periphery
| Archdiocese of Melbourne’s inaugural Migrant Youth Festival
| Official Song WDMR 2024 Australia: "O God Who Walks With Us"
| Archdiocese of Brisbane’s Multicultural Mass 2024
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Every year, during the last Sunday of September, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) invites Catholics worldwide to remember and express concern for different vulnerable people on the move. The WDMR this year will be celebrated on Sunday, 29 September.
Since 1914, the Church has celebrated the WDMR. It is an opportune time to pray for them, show concern for them as they face many challenges, and raise awareness of the opportunities that migration presents. The Holy Father has selected “God walks with His people” as the theme for this year’s celebration.
The ACMRO published a web page with resources to mark this occasion. It includes the official song, liturgy resources for primary and secondary schools, homily notes, prayers of intercession, and parish bulletin notices.
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If there was ever a time in my lifetime that I experienced a sense of great joy and anticipation for a national event, it was during the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Papua New Guinea. It was like a vigil. That is how I can describe the weeks and days leading up to the arrival of the Pope. People took pilgrimages by road and by sea from the Highlands and along the coastal provinces to arrive either in Port Moresby or Vanimo, the host dioceses of the Pope’s visit. When you read or watch on TV and social media the testimonies of these people it gives you a serene insight to the depth and connectedness of the Catholic faith across this country. It feels like everyone knows everyone and treats them as a brother. It was really one big happy family gathering of Catholic faithful and other brothers and sisters from other denominations and religions. For me it was a blessing to be able to witness it. It was both an historic moment and a moment of pride as a Catholic.
As the days were counting down to hours, what I observed was not stress and panic from those who were organising and coordinating, but a spirit of anticipation and hopefulness. Everyone was happy and joyful as they went about making the final arrangements and preparations for the arrival of the Pope. The positive and spirit-filled energy from the thousands of faithful lining up the streets of Port Moresby on 6 September 2024 waiting to catch a glimpse of the Pope, is comparable to no other great event that I have seen in my lifetime.
Peace and order are something that we always struggle with when it comes to big events. However, what we have experienced with the Pope’s visit was and will remain a benchmark for many years to come. The level of peace and order was exceptional. There was no recorded case of any law-and-order issue, medical emergency or missing persons. The atmosphere was so joyful and fraternal that you could not have time to ponder about doing something evil, but to be part of the joy, peace, love and just be in a moment as historic at this.
At the back of several significant natural disasters and ethnic clashes with increasing lawlessness throughout the country, the increasing cost of living and political uncertainties, the coming of the Pope to our country was a relief for everyone. A time we took to break from all the difficulties, pain and suffering that we have been going through as a country. The theme for the visit, "Pray," was fitting and it truly was experienced throughout the three days. When people pray, they become one with one another, they relieve themselves of the everyday things they face and focus on the experience that they will have from the Papal visit. The level of commitment and collaboration by the government in general from security, logistics, protocol etc was commendable. I was very involved during the final week at the Catholic Bishops Conference, and seeing the enthusiasm and ownership displayed by our security forces was touching. The Catholic elites and professionals in all sectors have truly risen to the occasion with pride and joy. It was truly an event that everyone has taken ownership of and sacrificed to make it a successful and memorable one. Everyone felt proud to contribute in whatever way they could.
The Pope’s visit truly set the pace for a well celebrated Independence Anniversary on 16 September, just a week later. I think that what people were looking for was a unifying event or figure who could bring us together to the table as one human family, despite our differences and challenges; and the Pope has brought that to our nation through his presence and messages. The messages resonated with most of the key issues that challenge our faith and our lives, as well as with all audiences, no matter what faith they follow. A message of Peace and Love and a direction for all of us to become Wantoks of Love[1].
Jason Siwat
Director, Migrants and Refugees Desk
Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands
[1] that is, if despite being different, you all learn to speak the language of Jesus. Break down divisions, do not close yourselves within your own group, go out to meet others and form friendships and then dream together, walk together, build together. You, young people, who desire new friendships and new encounters, you can do it. Be wantoks of love!
Source: Meeting with Young People
Sir John Guise Stadium
Address of the Holy Father
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The ethnic and migrant youth of Melbourne will gather at the inaugural Migrant Youth Festival to be held at ACU Melbourne this coming Sunday.
This is an initiative of the Migrant Catholic Chaplaincies. The festival is a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded young people while encountering Jesus and deepening their faith and relationship with God. The day will include a keynote address, a panel featuring Archbishop Peter Comensoli, group activities, and a mini-cultural concert. The youth will then join the broader Catholic community for the annual Migrant and Refugee Mass—or 'Mass for All Nations'—at St Patrick's Cathedral, which will close out the festival.
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Included in the ACMRO’s WDMR resources web page is a newly composed song whose lyrics took inspiration from Pope Francis’ message highlighting the “fundamental reality of the Exodus, of every exodus, is that God precedes and accompanies his people and all his children in every time and place.” From wandering and slavery, God called his people to be pilgrims on their way to his promised home for them.
The song also emphasises that Christ continues to provide the bread of his real body and the wine of his real blood to his people to nourish them in the pilgrimage and journey to our true home: heaven, where his love reigns.
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On Sunday, 25th August, we celebrated the Annual Multicultural Mass in the Archdiocese of Brisbane. This year we gathered at the brand new Queen of Vietnamese Martyrs Church in Inala. It was a joyful, vibrant, and colourful celebration with an amazing turnout of around 1,500 people. We had more than 20 different Catholic cultural communities participating in the liturgical celebration and the gathering after Mass, including nine choirs singing hymns and 14 altar servers representing their communities. Archbishop Mark presided over the celebration along with 19 multicultural chaplains, priests, and deacons.
After Mass, we enjoyed an amazing variety of traditional dishes and delicacies from around the world that the cultural communities shared in their stalls. We also had an extensive program of splendid performances showcasing the folklore and traditions of different ethnic groups and nationalities. There were also activities for the children, including face painting and a petting zoo.
The celebration was a delightful display of culture, diversity, and the richness of the expressions of faith of our Archdiocese. We are very grateful to the Vietnamese community for hosting us and for sharing their wonderful venue for the event. The day was beautiful; there was a festive atmosphere where children, youth, and the elderly felt welcome and happy to share their cultural heritage.
Liliana Ortiz
Multicultural Pastoral Care Project Officer - Inclusion
Evangelisation Brisbane
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