From our Mission Leader
Staff Integral Ecology Retreat
Staff from across our ministries joined us for the Integral Ecology Retreat at Saltbush, Balnarring Beach. During the retreat, Presentation Sister Joan Power returned to her home of 20 years at Saltbush to share the Presentation Sisters’ history on the land, including their Directional Statementwhich arose from the Sisters' 1999 Chapter.
Joan explained that the Directional Statement led to the Sisters decision to commit to regenerating all the land of Saltbush. Staff responded to this with a strong sense of responsibility, as part of Kildare Ministries, to share this story with their ministries, and strengthen their understanding, commitment and involvement to regenerating Saltbush.
It was wonderful to welcome Saltbush CEO Keeley Reade and the Saltbush staff to join us for a Walking Ritual through the property with Joan. The experience beautifully reflected our shared commitment to “responding to the cry of the Earth”, “the cry of the poor” and fostering “eco-spirituality”, three key goals of Laudato Si', and provided a meaningful opportunity to deepen our connection through the land itself. The program led us into the perspective of creation’s very long cosmic story through a Cosmic Walk around the new fire pit at Saltbush, and staff identified how they were going to bring a more Integrated Ecological perspective of our world back to their communities.
Staff were invited to journal throughout the retreat, and form their key insights into a traditional Malaysian poetic format known as a Pantoum. They have generously shared them with us:
God is all knowing and good: have faith
God works through people
Respond Respond Respond
Follow the right path (like Buddha)
God works through People
Experience shows that beyond difficulty, goodness emerges
Follow the right path
Process of restoration is not fast but slow
Experience shows that beyond difficulty goodness emerges
Persist – do not accept injustice in any form
Restoration is not fast but slow
Understand in the value and power of community
Maree Edwards, Killester College
Strive for fairness and justice for all life
One Earth, one human family
Do what's right regardless of popular opinion and ego
Prioritise simplicity
One Earth, one human family
It all starts with me
Prioritise simplicity
Humans have incredible brains, capable of solving great problems
It all starts with me
Love, Love, Love
Humans have incredible brains, capable of solving great problems
Facta non verba
Jo Walker, Star of the Sea
First Nations Immersion: Learning from Country, Learning from each other
On this First Nations Immersion trip, students from Kildare Ministries schools all across Australia, spent three days in Anglesea, learning and immersing themselves within the world’s oldest continuous culture and history. Learning through experience, conversation and activities, students were able to broaden their horizons and experience a new and different opportunity.
On our first day we all met at in Geelong, at one of the schools Clonard, there we were greeted with a warm welcome, of badge making followed by a tour of the school grounds, where we were shown many different art works, sculptures, spaces and stories that speak to Clonard’s First Nations’ story. We then were welcomed with a beautiful, traditional Welcome to Country by elders connected to Clonard through a smoking ceremony, and they spoke specifically about the origin and significance of this practice. Later in the day, at the camp site, we gathered around the campfire, where we each shared our story of connection to Country and where we come from. We were lucky enough to hear from elders, Aunty Sue, Aunty Lisa and Aunty May, who shared their own stories, and experiences of growing up as proud First Nations women. We concluded the night by making traditional Damper over the fire and enjoying some marshmallows too.
On our second day, we were up bright and early, as we made our first off-site adventure to Wathaurong Cultural Centre Booln Booln, where we gathered and were welcomed by Kristy. Kristy welcomed us to Wathaurong Country that we gathered on, and led us in an open discussion of about Country, culture and how the first peoples on this land lived, as well as how nature around us is and was part of their everyday life. We explored Booln Booln, learning to throw boomerangs, and meeting beautiful wildlife across the grounds, including emus, kangaroos, and a wallaby. We left Booln Booln to share lunch at Angelsea foreshore, and walked across the sand where we learnt about Saltberry Bush and how it has been used for thousands of years by First Nations people for flavouring food, healing skin wounds and even dying clothes! In the evening we again gathered around the fire, hearing how young First Nations adults are navigating culture, and yarning while we learnt how to weave traditional bracelets.
On our final day, one of our group led us in a Four Directions full body prayer, where we were able to ground ourselves and enjoy a calm peaceful start to our morning. Afterwards we were joined by proud Wagiman man Nathan Patterson, the father of one of our Clonard students on the Immersion. Nathan taught us about the symbols used to tell stories in First Nations paintings, and the variations across different parts of Australia. We then attempted our own traditional paintings, taking inspiration from the AFL First Nations guernseys he’d designed over the years. We were encouraged to use traditional symbols and add our own personal creativity to our painting. Upon finishing, we gathered around Nathan and the painting he was creating while we all worked about his time spent with us.
With the backdrop of the bright sun that had shone all through the morning, Nathan painted the protector eagle Bungil in the centre of the painting, and we were thrilled when he pointed out the wedge tail eagle – Bungil – flying overhead while we all painted! Nathan included symbols that represented his daughter, son and himself, as well as leaves of smoking ceremony and the land of the Wathaurong Country. As Nathan finished his painting, we gathered around meditatively watching him paint, and we used the opportunity to express our gratitude for what we most valued on the Immersion.
Overall this experience was purely wonderful and I will forever remember it and be grateful for the opportunity I was given to be part of something like this. I asked students from other schools how they found the Immersion, and everyone said they had such an amazing time getting to know students from other Kildare Ministries’ schools, and especially learning about the significance of Country from First Nations students our own age, as well as the beautiful Elders who joined us during the program. We all value what we have learnt from the experience of immersing ourselves in such a beautiful culture. I’ll never forget what a special opportunity it is to welcoming someone into your space – for First Nations people, to welcome us all to Country. I have been given so much through this experience and will honour and remember what I have learnt.
Hayley Zeev, Star of the Sea
Jane Collopy
Mission Leader