170th anniversary of first Catholic Mission to Aborigines

The 170th anniversary of the first Catholic Mission to the Aborigines in Australia was celebrated by Star of the Sea Catholic Parish at St Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, Dunwich, on North Stradbroke Island this past Sunday, reports the The Redland Times.

The mission was located at Dunwich when four priests of the Congregation of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ (Passionists) three from Italy and one from Switzerland arrived on North Stradbroke Island in May, 1843.

The anniversary was marked by a Commemorative Mass, at 9am and celebrated by Archbishop Mark Coleridge. It included eight baptisms, symbolic of the first baptisms performed by the Passionists.

There was also an acknowledgement to National Sorry Day, to remember the people from the Stolen Generation.

Following the Mass, the launch of a photographic exhibition, "Growing up Catholic", was held at North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum.

Curated by Michael Aird, the exhibition, a project funded by Brisbane's Murri Ministry, documents the Catholic history of North Stradbroke Island.

Following the launch, there was a presentation by Dr Stefano Girola from the School of Theology, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane.