The Story 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 it's Ministry under Fr Ted Kennedy. The story of Fr Ted, Mum Shirl and their many helpers is one of outstanding commitment to ministering to Aboriginal people.

As time went on Dundara became a Hostel for Aboriginal people who having come in from the country were in Sydney for medical treatment.

In the late eighties the ACM was re-established, after a period dormancy, in St Mary's Parish house at Erskineville by Fr Frank Fletcher, and in the mid nineties it moved to its present site at 56 Swanson Street Erskineville. Barbra Asplett and Elsie Heiss have been associated with this ministry almost from its beginning.

In 1997 the Aboriginal Women's Healing house was set up by Barbra Asplett in Forbes St Newtown, and then in late 1999 Barbra Asplett and Brenda McDonnell moved the Healing House to a large property near Picton. The Healing house is always heavily booked, and for this year is fully booked out to October. Several groups of young girls, and older women have been to the Healing House.

In 1998 Elsie Heiss established the Reconciliation Church and Office in Yarra Rd at La Perouse. In the following year Dundara closed, and the Committee retired after 30 years of work. The building has been handed over to the ACM.

In 2001 Sr Pat and Michelle Hookey set up a Welfare and Pastoral Centre with help of the ACM Erskineville, and funding from the Catholic Church. Called St Vincent's Pastoral Center it operates from the Catholic Church Redfern Street.

At the ACM Erskineville has continued to develop. The welfare Office here, known as the Mum Shirl Center, is managed by Ruth Ryan. Each month about $800 worth food ( supplied by St Vincent de Paul ) is distributed to about 150 people and families. This Office also assists families with their funeral costs, and net-works with other agencies for other types of assistance. Many people also come for support or help in difficult situations, and sometimes just to talk.

Here at Erskineville the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry gives pastoral care to the Catholic People, with weddings, baptisms and funerals. Funerals are a very special work of the ACM, and staff spend a lot of time supporting the families, and in preparing the ceremony with them.

Our financial support comes from the Catholic Church. Our overall financial management and supervision of all the Ministries is situated here at Erskineville.