Walking Together with Solidarity

Walking Together with Solidarity

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

    he saved him out of all his troubles…

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

    he delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 34: 6, 17

We give thanks to God and to our advocates, especially those people in our community who cannot speak for themselves.  

There are many organisations and leaders who have been inspired by the teachings of the Gospels. 

As Christians we are called to be people of Reconciliation and part of Reconciliation is a journey of truth telling of Australia’s history of treatment of our First Peoples, the Aboriginal peoples. We must never forget the brutal history of this country and dispossession of its people. 

We, the Aboriginal people, have suffered and still to this day many have died in custody, lost their languages, and many are still searching for their families and homelands. 

In the words of Pope John Paul II, 

“The Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you [the Aboriginal peoples] have your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others.”

We as the Church, need to support our Brothers and Sisters in need.

National Reconciliation Prayer by Aunty Betty Pike

Creator Spirit,

All creation once declared your glory

Your laws were honoured and trusted,

Forgive us our neglect as our country approaches, the most critical moment of its history. 

Listen to our prayer as we turn to you. 

Hear the cry of Jesus, your Son on the Cross. 

Help us to replace your national shame, with true National pride by restoring the dignity of our First Peoples whose antiquity is unsurpassed. 

May our faith and trust in you increase.

Only then will our Nation grow strong and be a worthy place for all who wish to make their home in our LAND. 

Amen.

Take Action

Aunty Ravina Waldren is grounded in prayer, justice and advocacy. She has long been concerned about Aboriginal deaths in custody and the over representation of Aboriginal peoples in prison. Learn more about Aboriginal deaths in custody here.

Take advocacy action today by writing to the Minister for Corrections or Minister for Police in your state, encouraging them to take action to stop Aboriginal Deaths in custody. We have prepared a template letter for you to adjust and the details of your local Ministers to write to here.  

Aunty Ravina Waldren is a Gubbi Gubbi woman based in Brisbane and leads the Murri Catholic Ministry. She coordinates and takes part in numerous practical ministries including work in prisons and schools, providing food assistance, and coordinating funerals. She is also involved in advocacy for Aboriginal justice including Aboriginal deaths in custody. Aunty Ravina’s leadership in Brisbane and throughout Australia supports and encourages Aboriginal peoples, as well as educates non-Indigenous peoples.  Aunty Ravina also works ecumenically and coordinates combined church services for National Reconciliation Week and other nationally significant dates.