Cathedral hosts prayer service for Bali victims - Media Releases 2005

Media Releases

2005

Monday 10th October 2005
Sacred Heart Cathedral hosts prayer service for Bali bombing victims
Over 1200 people gathered at the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle's Sacred Heart Cathedral on Thursday October 6 for a prayer service to remember all who were killed or injured by the October 1 suicide bombings in Bali.

The time of prayer and reflection remembered all people afflicted by the terrorist attacks but it was particularly focused on the needs of the nine Newcastle families who were holidaying in Bali and directly affected by the bombings.

Of the 23 people killed, three were from Newcastle, and of the 17 Australians injured, a significant number were from the Hunter.

“These families are known to many in the Maitland-Newcastle diocesan community through their active involvement in a number of Catholic parish and school communities,” said Teresa Brierley, Diocesan Vice Chancellor of Pastoral Ministries.

“As the people of Newcastle continue to grapple with the trauma of the bombings, we are realising how widespread the connections are within our community. School, work, social and faith communities are facing the distressing facts that some of their own have been lost, injured or traumatised.”

The prayer service provided people, many of them young, with an opportunity to publicly acknowledge and ritualise their grief, but also to express their support and solidarity for those who were suffering.

The entire congregation, including the 300 standing outside the Cathedral, was given the opportunity to come forward to the front of the church and place their hand in a fountain of flowing water. Water was used to symbolise its powerful healing, cleansing and strengthening qualities.

While the service exposed the rawness of a community in grief, the resilience, unity and faith of those gathered was tangible. Many of the families directly affected by the bombings attended.

20 year old Joseph Frost, who miraculously survived the bombing, while those sitting close by were seriously injured, spoke with great emotion during the service. “These are our darkest hours, the worst days of so many of our lives. This sad and sickening act has torn us open. But we'll stand together and we'll make it through,” he said.

In his homily, Vicar General Reverend James Saunders said, “While we are vulnerable and wounded we are also people of strength. We have an inner God-given power which could well take us by surprise when it surfaces in times of crisis and great suffering.”

Bishop Michael Malone, who is currently overseas, sent a message of condolence which was read at the beginning of the service by Cathedral Dean, Monsignor Allan Hart.

“I offer you my prayerful support and stand united with you at this time of great sadness and suffering. May you experience the solidarity of being part of our faith community and the wider community of Newcastle and the Hunter. It has been my experience that in times of tragedy the people of the Hunter unite together and find strength and comfort from each other,” Bishop Malone said.

Guests at the service included NSW Premier Morris Iemma, NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam and Minister for the Hunter, Michael Costa. The fact that Mr Debnam sat between Premier Iemma and Minister Costa expressed something of the unified spirit in the Cathedral. Local heads of Christian Churches attended and messages were sent from representatives of the Muslim and Jewish faiths.

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