Once again, I have had a week of many blessings and I begin this week’s message with some words from Archie Roach’s autobiography, Tell Me Why, which was shared by Michael McGirr, in the Caritas Workplace website, on Monday 1 August. I am sure you would be aware of the passing of Archie and the many tributes of honour and respect that have flowed. Tell Me Why is a story of Archie Roach’s life and music.
A rhythm can sometimes be transcendent, divine. Like a second heartbeat, pumping a spiritual energy through your body. A rhythm that feels like it has come from the breaking of the first dawn of time, vibrating out, all the way to the edges of the universe.
I’ve felt that feeling more than a few times. I’ve felt it in the deep, ancient sounds of the didgeridoo and clap sticks, resounding through my body, through every cell, singing the story of my family and my mob.
I’ve had that feeling course through me as a young man in the house of Jesus with clapping hands raised towards the Christian God above, my heart full of the Holy Spirit and the possibility of heaven.
I’ve also felt it when the boom of a North American First Nations drum resonated deep in my chest, first in Canada in the early 1990s when Ruby and I were welcomed on country by elders, and then on my ‘against all odds’ return in 2018.
As a younger man, I would try to weigh up my Christian beliefs with my search for Aboriginal spirituality, and my place of belonging in the ancient ways I was coming to know. I would struggle then with those seemingly contradictory beliefs, but I don’t anymore. Now I know that at the epicentre of everything, at the heart of humanity, is love.
In 2015 I wrote a song called ‘Let Love Rule’, which became the title track of my new album. It had been three years since I’d released Into the Bloodstream. I wanted to explore the themes of love– what it is, what it means, spiritual love, romantic love, love of family, of country, of life, of culture, of people. I wanted to examine all the aspects that love encompasses: compassion, respect, inclusiveness and charity.
I particularly wanted to write about letting love be the main sentiment in our life, about a willingness to love one another and find the things common to us – our shared humanity – rather than just seeing the things that divide us.
It’s sad what’s happening in the world today, particularly in Australia. We are closing ourselves off and not letting people in, not only into the country, but not letting them into our hearts, into our minds. Australia was built on people coming here from other places around the world. That’s what made this country what it is today. Our identity comes from many cultures and peoples.
So, what has been the rhythm of the past few days in my role as Director of Pastoral Ministries, and as a mother which sings of love.
On Friday evening we had a dinner of the alumni of our Pastoral Placement Program. Since 2015, we have had 36 young people participate in the program. The purpose of this program is to provide pastoral placements for those seeking to explore the opportunities to serve God and God’s people through ministries of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. It aligns with our Diocesan Pastoral Plan, its Pastoral Goals and Theological Principles.
Participants have the opportunity to be placed in as many ministries as possible, to get the sense of what is involved in working in the mission field of diocesan life. We look for people whose life circumstances, personal background, interests, relationships, and God given gifts inspire them to explore what it might mean to proclaim Christ.
Through engagement in this, mostly 10-month program, the hope is that participants may experience a real encounter with Jesus Christ which may lead to the discovery of a personal vocation and to full participation in the life of the Church.
At the dinner, we gathered with young people who have been or are part of the Pastoral Placement Program, with those who have supported them in formation or in placements, and with the parish leaders, where they have worked/ministered. Some of the young people shared stories of their experiences, their development spiritually, personally and in faith, and their call to be part of our Catholic community. As Archie Roach describes it, they encountered the love of being and belonging. It was a joyous and proud evening for our diocese.
Then on Saturday, Fr Matthew and I accompanied about 100 people from the Maitland Region’s six parishes, to explore with them models of parish leadership, parish review and pastoral planning. Once again, the overall sense for me was one of love, encompassing compassion, respect, inclusiveness and charity. Those gathered were able to let go of any pessimism by listening to each other and the Spirit. I could sense the rhythm of the drumbeat and the “singing the story of my family and my mob.” That is what we are, an ancestral group connected by our common beliefs, purpose and desire to make real the presence of Jesus in our world.
After this sharing of food, fellowship and envisioning, I was greeted by a wonderful text message from our youngest son, Edmund, informing us that he and his wife Karen had just given birth to Flynn, our twelfth grandchild. As I write this week’s message, we are on our way to the Gold Coast, to welcome Flynn into our family and to celebrate his safe arrival with Karen and Edmund. One of the marvels of technology is the instantaneous messaging and photo accompaniment. As I drove, I thanked God for this amazing gift of new life and for the love that surrounds our family. In our own way we are a clan or tribe who keeps on growing and connecting across generations.
- Allen’s dad – Allen Leonard Brierley
- Allen – Allen John Brierley
- Our son – Edmund Allen Brierley
- Our grandson – Flynn Allen Brierley
As you read this message, I invite you to contemplate Archie Roach’s words around how you experience the heartbeat of life and love:
A rhythm can sometimes be transcendent, divine. Like a second heartbeat, pumping a spiritual energy through your body. A rhythm that feels like it has come from the breaking of the first dawn of time, vibrating out, all the way to the edges of the universe.
