STORY - "Indigenous Spirituality Sacred to World Youth Day"

“Listen and see if we can hear the beating of our existence with a rhythm that brought us together…as one in humanity…” Louise Campbell, from the Hearts Dreaming DVD (2006) produced for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Alice Springs.

Well-known local Indigenous woman, Ms Louise Campbell, is busily planning and preparing for many key Indigenous elements in Maitland-Newcastle’s Days in the Diocese and World Youth Day Week in Sydney this month. Louise is a member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee for World Youth Day, chaired by Bishop Christopher Saunders of the Diocese of Broome.

She is very pleased to be collaborating with a group of 50 young Indigenous people from this diocese who also have a significant role in both local and Sydney World Youth Day events.

Their first major public involvement occurs towards the end of “Corroboree”, the major diocesan celebration on 12 July at Newcastle’s Foreshore Park. “As darkness begins to fall, they will perform a dance, with footage from the Hearts Dreaming DVD as the backdrop,” Louise explains. “I’ll tell a story about the struggle for Indigenous acceptance within the Australian church.

“I hope that Days in the Diocese will provide opportunities for conversation with people from across the world; that it will be a chance for the young people to share their cultural stories.”

Louise is hoping that there will also be opportunities for a couple of small groups of overseas pilgrims to experience a sacred journey to Aboriginal sites around the diocese, camping overnight at Wollombi with local young Indigenous Australians.

“All the young people will come together, tell stories and dance. I hope that some of our Indigenous young people will camp at Kilaben Bay with the overseas visitors too, so that they will be part of the excitement in this diocese, and travel with the pilgrims on their spiritual and faith journey.”

The group will then travel to Randwick, and will stay at Randwick High School, before participating in the Opening Mass where they will perform a special welcome and gathering ritual. They will also be performing at the Youth Festival, the Stations of the Cross and at the Papal Mass at Randwick on Sunday 20 July.

Louise will form part of a Papal Guard of Honour, made up of elders and people who have played a significant part in Aboriginal spirituality and the Catholic Church.

She is also looking forward to narrating one of the Stations of the Cross (Simon of Cyrene carries the Cross), and has enjoyed helping to plan its Aboriginal component.

“What’s most important to me is the fact that Aboriginal spirituality has been included in World Youth Day – it is not an add-on, not separate events but part of the family; everyone is included.”

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