22 May 2024
Catholic Education Western Australia(CEWA) embraced a recently approved liturgy, which incorporates elements of Aboriginal language and culture, at two office celebrations.
The Missa Terra Spiritus Sancti, also known as the Mass of the Land of the Holy Spirit, was passed at the plenary meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) in Sydney in May for use in the Diocese of Broome in Western Australia.
With permission from the Apostolic Administrator
for the Broome Diocese, Michael Morrissey, CEWA staff from the Broome, Bunbury, Geraldton, and Perth offices first adapted the liturgy for their Staff Commissioning Mass.
The Mass was then celebrated on Monday 27 May at the CEWA head office, to mark the start of the National Reconciliation Week.
Mass celebrant, Fr George Kolodziej SDS said the Mass was an important part of the Staff Development Day events, which was themed around the ACBC’s Social Justice Statement: ‘Listen, Learn, Love – A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.’
“The Mass of the Land of the Holy Spirit holds profound significance for our brothers and sisters who serve CEWA in the Broome Diocese. We are immensely grateful for the guidance provided in embracing and honouring this sacred tradition.”
Aboriginal Education Consultant Merrilee Lands, who was part of the choir, said it was hugely significant for her to be a part of a liturgy she had been practicing from her childhood. Merrilee spoke about the origins of this liturgy and the man who was determined to ‘make a difference.’
“I grew up with this special Mass at La Grange Mission, Bidyadanga Community with old Japalu (Fr Kevin McKelson). He was a wonderful and humble man who got down on the ground and worked with our people to create this special Mass incorporating our languages. Old Japulu wrote this special Mass in the five of the languages of Bidyadanga Community: Karrajarri, Juwaliny, Mangala, Nyangumarta and Yulparija.
“Old Japulu formed an amazing connection with our people and was well-respected. He was beyond his time and was loved for respecting our spirituality, languages, and culture during a time in Australia’s history where our people and our ways were not respected.
“The other wonderful thing about celebrating this liturgy at our Staff Commissioning Mass was that two of our very own people from Bidyadanga Community, Maureen Yanawana and Madeline Jadai had addressed the Bishops Conference in Melbourne where it was agreed that the Mass be sent to Rome to be formally approved by the Universal Church.”
Broome Regional Officer Gerard Tonti-Filippini added that it was fitting that the timing of the Commissioning Mass coincided with Pentecost.
“Jesus followers strengthened by the Spirit, going out and in scriptural terms ‘like a river flowing across the landscape’, proclaiming and communicating to all people the good news of how to live in good relationship, respecting the dignity of all – the life of Jesus. The ‘Mass of the Holy Spirit’ repeatedly emphasizes this, clearly articulating through language that is understood, engaging the involvement of all present through its rhythm, and the responses around the life-giving Word and Eucharist.”
“I would love to see this Mass celebrated across all Catholic Churches and Schools and not just for Aboriginal Sunday and special occasions. I would also love for a special acknowledgement of Old Japula and our elders who worked alongside him to create such a wonderful celebration,” Merrilee concluded.
The Missa Terra Spiritus Sancti has been used in the Diocese of Broome for over 50 years. It has been celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Charles Balvo and has over many decades been known to and discussed by officials of the Holy See without any objections to it having been raised.
To learn more about the Social Justice Statement 2023-2024, CLICK HERE.
