Each new beginning...

The energy and hope that comes with the dawning of a new year, can bring with it a spirit of adventure, delight and even courage because we trust the promise of another new beginning. Normally this is true of me at the commencement of a new year but for weeks on end we lived with an unease and a foreboding, as unprecedented and even apocalyptic bushfire scenes confronted us each morning. Our nation devastated, frightened and overwhelmed and the world not only watching us from afar but leaning-in and engaging with our crisis. In part in the form of shock with what unfolded before them and in part with serious criticism of our politicians and our policies.

Our communities rallied and our national heroes and heroines emerged! The goodness and generosity of hundreds of people made us proud. We felt drawn to each other, even if we personally had not been threatened by fire because it was our country that was burning and Australia belongs to all of us!

Compare this to the menacing coronavirus and our treatment of the Chinese but particularly the Chinese oversee students studying in Australia. Stories about disrespectful questioning and mistreatment of students who got caught in the air while travel bans were introduced, caused Universities to seek an apology from our Government. The most disturbing story came out of Melbourne this week when a Chinese mother was refused entry into Australia, due to the coronavirus travel ban. Her son was on life support after a serious car accident. It was only until pressure came to bear that she was allowed access to her dying son. Talk back radio demonstrated a side to Australia that was not in keeping with the best version of ourselves witnessed during the bushfires! Shocking and appalling comments about Chinese people who were in fact among the first migrants to this country, poignantly illustrates how quickly we can make another person, a race, a group of people, ‘the other’. How easily we can succumb to prejudice, arrogance and ignorance and marginalise and victimise people, who have for generations contributed positively, effectively and successfully.

We have a dream in Kildare Ministries! We dream that all who are touched by our work and all who embrace the Living Justice Charter, will have the conviction and the courage to speak and act against such cries against humanity! Our Charter challenges us to be the hands, feet, eyes, heart and voice of Jesus, which we cannot do if we ignore the discourse in the public arena or giving way to feelings of helplessness or even fear.

Our call is not one of spiritual contemplation (though it has that) but one where injustice is confronted. Joan Chittister reminds us that “the holy life, if Jesus is any model at all, understands that a spiritual life without a pious life is bogus”, and then she says, “it is the relationship between power and justice that makes all the difference between seeking the kingdom of God and seeking spiritual self-satisfaction”. If our inner selves remain quiet and still rather than being awaken into stirring action, then the Living Justice Charter will remain a dream rather than an avenue to make the needs of the vulnerable paramount.

We welcome you all to 2020 – our year of Justice at the centre! Our conference, our seminars, our network meetings and our workshops will focus on bringing to life the Living Justice Charter. Our goal is to ensure that the world will be all the better for our combined work and efforts this year.

May the year bring much hope, promise and expectation in all that we do.

Erica Pegorer

Executive Director

Kildare Ministries

Afghan Fundraising Dinner for Wellsprings for Women