This Sunday, we gather in faith as a people shaped by the Gospel, culture, and our shared journeys, in the presence of God who walks with us and calls us into unity as one people.

This year’s celebration also marks two significant milestones: 40 years since St Pope John Paul II addressed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Alice Springs, and 50 years of NAIDOC Week. These anniversaries invite us to reflect on the journey travelled together, giving thanks for the faith, resilience, and witness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while recognising the challenges that remain and our shared call to walk together in Christ.

The Church in Australia continues to be enriched by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, spirituality, connection to Country, and deep sense of community. As St Pope John Paul II reminded us, the Church is enriched by the cultures it embraces—a truth we are called not only to recognise, but to live out in our parish communities.

This Sunday’s celebration also encourages us to reflect with our head, heart, and hands: to know the story, history, and truth; to open our hearts through lament, hope, and conversion; and to put our faith into action by continuing to walk together in Christ.

NAIDOC Week

For the next week (5th July – 12th July) we join communities across Australia in observing NAIDOC Week, an annual opportunity to recognise and celebrate the history, cultures, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme, “50 Years of Deadly,” marks fifty years of honouring the strength, resilience, leadership, and cultural richness of First Nations peoples. It also acknowledges the Elders, communities, and generations whose witness has shaped this journey and continues to inspire hope for the future.

As Catholics, we are called to walk together in the spirit of respect, justice, and reconciliation. NAIDOC Week invites us to listen with humility, to value the gifts of the world’s oldest living cultures, and to pray for deeper understanding and unity within our communities.

Join us in prayer for NAIDOC Week:

We give thanks for the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, the oldest living cultures in the world.

We honour the wisdom of Elders, past and present, and the strength of communities who continue to walk with courage and hope.

As we mark 50 Years of Deadly, help us to listen deeply, to learn with humility, and to walk gently alongside one another.

Guide our hearts to value truth, respect, and justice.

May we celebrate culture, support community,

and work together toward healing and unity.

Bless the next generation, that they may grow strong in identity, culture, and pride.

And may we all walk forward together, honouring the past and building a future grounded in love and respect.

Amen.