3 Sep 2025
Holy Rosary School in Derby has partnered with the Broome Dioceses, under the leadership of Bishop Tim Norton, to organise the first Mass to be held at Bungarun.
The mass was held at the Bungarun leprosarium and cemetery to acknowledge the stories and challenges that this place held for the Aboriginal people of the Kimberley.
The day started with a 17 kilometre pilgrimage from Derby Cemetery to Bungarun Cemetery. The walking group was then met at the Bungarun entrance where approximately two hundred people gathered to walk the final 500 metres, praying the Our Father and the Hail Mary as they slowly made their way to the Bungarun Cemetery where approximately 356 Aboriginal people lost their lives to leprosy.
The Kimberly Missa Mass was conducted, with the opening of the Mass being a water blessing from members of the community who were born at the leprosarium.
Led by Bishop Tim, and supported by Fr Steve and Fr Liam, the congregation heard a beautiful homily from Bishop Tim, who acknowledged the pain of the Bungarun story but also the strength that is in the story for those people still with us today. Families were all united in the singing of the Aboriginal Our Father and the congregation also shared in singing the Blessing Song.
A beautiful statue of Mary was unveiled and blessed by Fr Steve, of the Derby parish. The statue will eventually be installed at Bungarun with the hope of the community banding together to build a beautiful grotto to protect this addition to the cemetery.
Following on from the Mass a shared lunch was held at Holy Rosary School, where members of the community shared their stories of life at Bungarun and beyond.
The story telling provided an opportunity for healing and understanding of how deeply impacted the Aboriginal people of the Kimberley were impacted by life at the leprosarium, including family separation and the loss of language and culture.
“I felt blessed to be part of this special event and it really opened my eyes to how much of an impact Bungarun has had on the families I connect with at school and in the wider community,” said one participant.
The community of Derby has been asking for a number of years for this celebration to take place and thanked Bishop Tim for bringing these wishes to reality. It is hoped that this special Mass will continue in coming years to recognise the importance of Bungarun and its connection to the people of the Kimberley.
