The Palm Island community marked the 100th anniversary of the first Mass on the island recently, in a joyful celebration of culture and faith.
Townsville Bishop Timothy Harris was chief celebrant at the anniversary Mass, celebrated on the Feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, and marking 100 years since the first Mass was said in a classroom by Dr Kelly, the Parish Priest of Ingham, North Queensland, in 1924.
Other priests present included the Provincial of the Society of the Divine Word, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD and administrator of St Anne’s Parish, Palm Island, Fr Manh Le SVD.
“This is a day worth celebrating, and I understand a picnic will follow – a day to remember,” said Bishop Tim in his homily.
“The truth is that the Catholic Church has not abandoned Palm Island or its people. The Catholic Church, through its first missionaries, the religious sisters and priests over the years to the present day, has served and continues to serve with love and devotion.”
Bishop Tim said it was reported that the Church had been present on the Island as far back as 1918 when a priest visited, but there was no permanent priest to pastoral responsibility.
“This took time, but it was Bishop Terence McGuire, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Townsville, who did take pastoral responsibility and declared Palm Island a mission of the Church shortly after his consecration.
This was an historical moment of joy, but Palm Islanders have not always had a happy past so for anything we may have done as “Church”, I apologise. Our overwhelming desire has always been to do good. Not only on this Island, but also on Fantome Island.”
It was there that the Catholic Church went to care for lepers, he said.
“The Catholic Church in the image of the gospel, tried to plant good seed in the midst of challenging circumstances. In the Lord’s name, we have sought to be the face of Christ as we have baptised you, buried you, witnessed marriages, offered you the hand of friendship, taught you, walked with you, supported you by voting ‘Yes’ in the referendum. We have tried to listen to you, and to your grandparents and parents – your elders who hold all the wisdom.”
Bishop Tim said it was Jesus who “sent us here all those years ago”.
“We came with a purpose – we came in his name,” he said.
“Thank God for the gift of Eucharist still celebrated here on Palm Island and for the gift of Mary, our spiritual mother who loves us and who says ‘Yes’ to all that is lifegiving.
“We love you and with your permission we will continue to be with you in any way we can. Our school is a significant investment in you. Staff past and present are honoured to be here. You are in their hearts. Everyone is present today to thank all Palm Islanders for your embrace of us. May love given and received in this place be a sign of God’s all-embracing love now and always.”
Fr Manh Le SVD said the celebration of anniversary of the first Mass on Palm Island was a unique occasion.
“Nobody usually celebrates 100 years of the Eucharist in a place,” he said. “It’s usually celebrations of the opening and blessing of buildings.
“But this celebration was giving thanks for the first Mass ever said, the first proclamation of the Word through the Eucharist in this place, so it was really special.”
Fr Manh said the day was a shared celebration with St Anne’s Parish and St Michael’s Catholic School. It also included a kup murri lunch with meat cooked in a traditional underground method.
A large number of people from Vietnamese communities in Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville took part in the day at the invitation of Fr Manh, dressing in their traditional costume and bringing lots of spring rolls for the lunch.
“We knew when we combined with the school, that’s when the beauty would come,” Fr Manh said. “We trusted in the Holy Spirit and it was definitely beautiful.
“The kids made two lines and performed songs and cultural dancing for the procession in, so they were right at the centre of the celebration and felt special.
“And to see Australia’s oldest culture celebrating together with one of its newest migrant cultures with the Vietnamese visitors was so touching. I was in tears.”
Aunty Doris Watson, parent liaison officer at St Michael’s School, said the whole school enjoyed the day.
“The students did a bit of cultural dancing and all got painted up for the visitors,” she said.
“They really enjoyed having the visitors and sitting down and talking with them. It was good for us to see Palm Island through their eyes.
“Over the years there has been a lot of negativity about the place at different times, so it was good to be able to celebrate something like this. If you talk to some of the older people and hear the stories they tell about being at school with the Sisters, the way they speak about it, you can tell they really enjoyed going to school with the Sisters.
“Apart from the Mass and the lunch, the school also had a display of past-students and the school, as well as a morning tea in the library. It was a really good day.”
SVD Provincial, Fr Rass, said the celebration touched him deeply.
“It was beautiful to witness the genuine joy with which the community embraced this significant anniversary – from the elders to the youngest of children, including the whole St Michael’s Catholic Primary School student body,” he said.
“The life and memory of the first Eucharist celebrated there 100 years ago have borne fruit. We give thanks to the early pioneers of the faith for their dedication and sacrifice.
“The SVD is committed to continuing our ministerial presence on Palm Island so that together with the people, and bound by the love of Christ, we can be faithful and creative disciples into the future.”