In 2001 the Australian Region will celebrate a hundred years of Pallottine presence in this country.

The first Pallottines to come to Australia worked in the remote North West of the continent. Their task was the evangelisation of the Aboriginal race. The focus of the foundation retained this exclusive focus for almost forty years. There was a foundation at Tardun in the Midwest about 1500 Kms south of the Kimberley and 450 Kms north west of Perth, the state capital of Western Australia. This foundation made in 1928 was initially an attempt to provide a solid economic underpinning for the work in the Kimberley. But it also provided an outstanding example of collaborative ministry with the Aboriginal people. Many of the people from Beagle Bay came and worked at Tardun. This model of volunteers working along aside Pallottine has a long and glorious history in the Region.

Australia is remote from most of the great centres of world population. The Kimberley is the most remote area of Western Australia, the most remote state in Australia. The general perspective of the dominant culture was never favourable towards the Aboriginal people. Official policy until recently was assimilationist and the subtleties of discovering the presence of God in other religions and worlds views was not a popular nor a widespread approach amongst Christian missionaries. Happily there were notable exceptions in the Pallottine ranks.

Religious institutes did most of the early evangelisation amongst Aboriginal people particularly in the remote areas. They drew their members from countries other than Australia. The North German province took on the Aboriginal Mission in the Kimberley. The debt that the Australian Region and the Australian Church owe to the Limburg Province is immense. Despite the harshness of climate, the remoteness of the locality, the seemingly insignificant results and the trauma of two world wars in which their country fought on the opposite side to the Australian nation, they remained loyal and resolute in their task. Their contribution, particularly in the personnel who have come to Australia is outstanding. It is both pivotal and seminal in the development of the Society. For many years the members of the Region have come from both Germany and Australia.

Geography, political alliances and Church politics conspired to prevent the formation of the Australian Region. The first Australian born vocations took almost 40 years to emerge. The exclusive identity of the Society with the vicariate of the Kimberley provided a very focused approach to the Pallottine work.

The way in which the Australian Region evolved, meant that there were twin elements in the Pallottine focus. The work amongst the Aboriginal people and the apostolate in the cities.

As with most religious institutes and dioceses in Australia there is a dearth of vocations. With a dual focus of the Society, the Apostolate with the laity and the Apostolate with the Aboriginal people, a certain edge is added to this dilemma. However the initial marrying of these two works in the lay missionary movement of the late 1950’s provided a solution. The development of self-determination amongst the Aboriginal people and a renewed interest in indigenisation of Liturgy has provided a new possibility of the practical unity between these two aspects of the work of the Australian Region. To achieve this successfully a greater openness to Aboriginal people and a more through study of the elements involved in this process will be needed. A few members have made a significant start to this whole process.

The other solution to make sure that the charism of the Society remains is to emphasise the role of the laity in the discharge of our apostolate. Significant strides have been made in this area in many places. The Society in Australia had relied heavily on lay volunteers to work with and carry out the Pallottine apostolate. The benefits from this approach are apparent. It is does not necessarily involve any lessening of commitment just a different approach to collaborative ministry.

As we prepare for the celebration of 100 years of Pallottine presence in Australia

We hope all our friends, all the people whom Vincent Pallotti has inspired, will be an integral part of this celebration.

Mike McMahon, SAC (Regional)