Under the slogan of “listening, being, transforming—being co-creators in Christ”, each of the Good Samaritan Schools have been invited to be a prophetic voice to the broader community. Each school has been invited to discern, through dialogue, which of the conference’s topics to respond to. St Patrick’s College has focused on the topic of “Building Bridges—engaging with disenfranchised communities” with a particular concern for Aboriginal Spiritualities and Reconciliation.

Being a prophetic voice involves being able to read the signs of the times so as to respond to contemporary issues in the light of the Gospel and in the Spirit of Jesus. Four of our Year 11 students, Monique R, Millie E-D, Kaleena H and Charlotte T, have formed as a working group that will now represent the voice of their peers and the St Patrick’s community. Initial planning has given direction and shape to the dialogue this process will foster.

The working group’s starting point is:

-             Acknowledging the PAST

-             Taking up the Signs of Hope (the 1967 Referendum, Marbo, the 2008 Apology, the Uluru Statement from the Heart) in the PRESENT, and

-             Celebrating and embracing all that is Aboriginal into the FUTURE

The group is proposing to use the Archie Roach song “Beautiful Child” as a rallying cry as it captures many of the themes they wish to explore.

This Prophetic Voices Project seeks to encourage the already changing narrative which seems to be moving towards being a positive presentation of what is good and special about Aboriginality and Aboriginal Spiritualities. This is happening especially through song and dance.

As the St Patrick’s College community, we wish Monique, Millie, Kaleena, and Charlotte success in this valuable project in building bridges and bringing hope to our world.

Angelo Gattone - Mission Coordinator