A program to provide formation for indigenous catechists from the Arrernte and Walpiri people of Central Australia to hand on the faith in their culture is under way in Alice Springs, with the local parish embracing the opportunity.

Speaking at the Mission: One heart, many voices (MOHMV) conference in Sydney this month, Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish in Alice Springs, Fr Prakash Menezes SVD and two parishioners, Dolores Furber and Paula Turner explained through words and art, how the program is unfolding.

The Alice Springs community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the opening of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart church and 90 years of Catholic sacramental life in Central Australia recently with the unveiling of a new stained glass window depicting Jesus and Mary in Aboriginal art.

The huge window, based on the painting of local Arrernte woman Kathleen Wallace, was unveiled during a special ceremony on Saturday, October 12. The jubilee celebrations continued on Sunday, with a Mass celebrated by Bishop of Darwin Charles Gauci.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Alice Springs has been finding new common ground through regular sharing of the Eucharist among members of the Arrernte indigenous community and the broader parish.

Historically, the Arrernte Catholic community, or Ngkarte Mikwekenhe community, has celebrated Mass at South Terrace Community Centre, across town from the main parish church. But since Holy Week last year, the two communities have been sharing the Eucharist together once a month.

The Australian Indigenous celebration of NAIDOC Week this year was especially meaningful to me because of its theme, which was: “Our Languages Matter”. Perhaps it struck an extra chord with me because of our SVD parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Alice Springs being involved with the launch of the Arrernte Language Short Bible during NAIDOC Week, which, after 30 years in translation, was a wonderful achievement.

But further than that, it spoke to a truth that we, as Divine Word Missionaries give great priority to, and that is, that all languages certainly do matter to those people who speak them and they should matter to all who wish to engage with people of another culture.

A significant milestone for the people of Central Australia will be celebrated this Sunday with the launch of the Bible translated into the local Arrernte language – a project which has taken more than 30 years to come to fruition.

The ‘Angkentye Mwerre’ Eastern and Central Arrernte Shorter Bible will be launched by the local Aboriginal people of Santa Teresa and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Alice Springs, in a special Mass on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday in NAIDOC Week.