A Brief Outline of the History of
the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry

The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry ( ACM ) had its beginnings in the nineteen sixties with the appointment of Fr Eugene Stockton as chaplain, and the employment by the Catholic Church, of a social worker, and a part time Aboriginal youth worker. During the nineteen seventies this ministry acquired a base in 77 Buckland St Alexandria,( which became well known as Dundara). At the same time the Redfern Catholic parish began to develop its deep and ongoing commitment to Aboriginal Ministry under Fr Ted Kennedy. During this time there was a growing awareness within the Catholic Church of Sydney of the need for ministry to the Aboriginal people, and for the Church to make a commitment to justice for Aboriginal People. As time went on Dundara was developed as a hostel for Aboriginal people from out of town It was managed by a single worker and overall supervised by a voluntary Committee.

In the late eighties the ACM was re-established, after a period dormancy, at Erskineville with Fr Frank Fletcher as Priest-assistant, and in the mid nineties it moved to its present site at 56 Swanson St. Erskineville. During all of this time Elsie Heiss and Barbra Asplet worked with Frank Fletcher; there were also many other staff who worked with these three for a shorter period of time.

In 1997 the Aboriginal Women=s Healing house was set up by Barbra Asplet in Forbes St Newtown, and late in 1998 the Reconciliation Church and Office was established at La Perouse by Elsie Heiss. In June 1999 Barbra Asplet and Brenda McDonnell moved the Aboriginal Women=s Healing House to a large property near Picton. During the second half of 1999, Barbra was seconded to work with the Sisters of St Joseph in preparing an Appraisal of their various ministries with Aboriginal People across Northern and Western Australia, while Brenda put an enormous effort into setting up the Healing House and property to prepare for its opening in March 2000.

In the following year Dundara, was handed over to the ACM, and the Dundara Management Committee retired after 30 years of work. In 2001 Sr Pat and Michelle Hookey set up a new venture with help of the ACM Erskineville, the St Vincent=s Pastoral Center in the Catholic Church at Redfern.

On July 5th 2002 the City Office of the ACM moved from Erskineville to Buckland St Alexandria. From there we operate a Welfare Office called the Mum Shirl St Vincent de Paul Centre; it is managed by Ruth Ryan. Each month we distribute about $800 worth food ( supplied by St Vincent de Paul ) to about 150 people and families. We also assist people with funeral costs, and net-work with other agencies for referrals for other areas of need.

Fromthe City office we also help with many different types of general requests: eg.

- we give support to the families of prisoners, and to prisoners.

- we give talks to schools and parishes on Aboriginal Issues

- we look after some local elderly people.

- people drop in to talk when feeling lonely or upset or just to say Hello.

- we give various types of support and help to families and individuals.

We give pastoral care to the Catholic People, with weddings, baptisms and our special work of funerals. Funerals are a very special work, we always spend a lot of time supporting the family, and in preparing the ceremony.

-we support our other centers from here, the Aboriginal Women=s Healing House at Picton, the Reconciliation Church at la Perouse, the house at 77 Buckland Street which is being renovated, and Redfern.

Our financial support comes from the Catholic Church. Our overall financial management is situated here at Alexandria. The maintenance of our various ministries depends on effective financial management of our resources, and Brenda McDonnell manages the accounts of all ACM Ministries, and sends regular progress Reports to the Diocesan Financial Controller at Polding house.

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