Fr Asaeli Raass SVD has returned to the Northern Territory to take up a new ministry as Head of Catholic Mission and Faith Formation in the schools of the Darwin Diocese – a challenging role, but one he says he is excited about.
Fr Raass is no stranger to the Territory, having worked in Central Australia from 2003 to 2008 amongst 17 Aboriginal Catholic communities, as a chaplain to the Eastern and Central Arrernte people.
“Bishop Eugene Hurley has given me this new role in the Diocese of Darwin, which is about supporting the teachers in their role working in Catholic schools, especially in the teaching of Religious Education,” Fr Raass says.
“A big part of the role will be to offer retreats and spirituality days for the teachers, as well as serve as spiritual director, because it can be hard for people up here in the Top End to get access to spiritual direction.”
Fr Raass says his new role will involve a lot of travelling to some very remote places in the Territory, as well as to the Tiwi Islands and it will include a special focus on supporting indigenous teachers.
“We have good numbers of indigenous teachers and assistant teachers in Catholic schools up here,” he says.
“My role will be mentoring these teachers and accompanying them. We know that some of them are dealing with cultural and social issues, such as the effects of the Stolen Generation or domestic violence in communities, so they are carrying a big burden when they go into the classroom.
“I will be sensitive to that and will be there to listen to their stories and to work with them so that they are free of those burdens and can go on to become good teachers.”
Fr Raass says he is keen to visit the teachers and their families and spend time with them, connecting school life to family life.
“I know it’s going to be a very demanding role, but I’m looking forward to working with the vision and the mission of Bishop Eugene who has said that he doesn’t just want Catholic schools, but he wants good Catholic schools.
“Teachers work very hard and up here they often work in very different environments. For example, on Bathurst Island the dynamics amongst the staff are very different from those at a city school, simply because of the environment. It can be very challenging for teachers.
“So I’ll be listening to the human needs of the indigenous teachers, and all of the teachers, and attending to their human needs.”
Fr Raass says his new role reflects the priorities of the Divine Word Missionaries in the AUS Province.
“This is a priority for us. At our last General Chapter it was agreed that every confrere commit themselves to the plight of the indigenous peoples of the world. This is mission. It is God’s mission,” he says.
“It is good to move beyond the mainstream to see who is on the margins of society to attend to their needs. So I am pleased to be filling this need in Darwin Diocese. I’m excited about it.”
PHOTO: Fr Raass, pictured visiting a Torres Strait Islander family.
