Last week, Catholic school communities across the Diocese joined Australians in marking National Reconciliation Week, reflecting on this year's theme, "All In for Reconciliation."
The theme calls on all Australians to move beyond words and intentions and embrace reconciliation as a shared responsibility, grounded in truth-telling, justice and peace.
‘All In’ makes it clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change,” says Reconciliation Australia.
On 29 May, students from twenty Catholic Education Sandhurst schools gathered for the organisation’s annual Reconciliation Mass for Healing and Justice, while many other schools held their own Masses and liturgies throughout the week.
By providing space for reflection, these special Masses invited students to consider ways to promote reconciliation not just for one week, but through everyday actions that build understanding, respect and stronger relationships.
Catholic Education Sandhurst’s Mass for Healing and Justice in Shepparton invited representatives from all twenty schools to participate in the Liturgy, and livestreaming allowed many more to join online.
Before the Liturgy Yorta Yorta Elder, Uncle Kevin Cooper and his family performed a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country, followed by a performance by the Mulana Winyarr Dancers.
Fire Carriers Commissioned at Reconcilaition Mass in Kyabram
On Thursday, 28 May, St Augustine’s College, Kyabram, gathered for a Reconciliation Mass during which FIRE Carriers (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education) were commissioned and a video based on this year’s Reconciliation Week theme “All In for Reconciliation”, produced by Kasey Cooper and the College Community, was shown.
As these young people grow into adulthood, they will hopefully take with them the idea that, like the theme, Reconciliation will not happen by itself and heed Reconciliation Australia’s call for all Australians to share the responsibility of Reconciliation.
“ … advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights isn’t a passive activity, and it is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of championing, explaining and acting for far too long.”
If you would like to know more about National Reconciliation, head to the Reconciliation Australia website and download the Fact Sheets.
Yorta Yorta Elder, Uncle Rick Ronan, performs a Smoking Ceremony and welcome to Country before the Reconcilation Mass at St Augustine's, Kyabram.
Mulana Winyarr Dancers before the CESL Mass for Reconciliation and Healing in Shepparton.
Didgeridoo Players from St Mary of the Angels, Nathalia, at the CESL Mass for Reconciliation and Healing.
Image above right: A Mulana Winyarr Dancer before the CESL Mass in Shepparton.
Return to Sandpiper e-News 123 (6 June 2026)
