Today was a late start as we were all tired from our travels yesterday. Despite the cold (weather app says feels like -5 this morning) we were toasty and warm in our bed and woke with a start when Mr Horder knocked on the door of the accommodation at 7.30am.
The Emu group was scheduled for breakfast and cooked up soft boiled eggs and toast with cereal, fruit and yogurt. We were all ready well before the time for Mass.
Mass today in Santa Teresa was a big event as there was First Holy Communion as it was the Feast of Corpus Christi. We met Sr Liz outside the church to get our directions of how we could assist today. Fr Prakash looked amazing in his beautiful hand painted stole that was presented to him when he joined the community in 2017.
Today 4 young boys and 4 young girls were presented for Holy Communion. They were all dressed up in gorgeous white dresses and heels for the girls and . smart pants and vests for the boys. Each family is also given a blank stole which the family paints and presents to the child at the beginning of the Mass. Before mass the students went through a smoking ceremony in front of the church to purify them and strengthen them before they received Jesus into their hearts for the first time.
The Mass was vastly different - simplified readings, responses in Arrente language and lots of singing and clapping. The prayers were in a mixture of Arrente and English. But really despite the language we knew what was going on - because the Mass is Universal and the only real difference was that there was no kneeling or standing. We only stood for the Gospel reading. Sr Liz later explained that while it may be a mark of reverence to kneel in western culture the mark of respect and reverence in this Community is sitting and listening. Together we celebrated a lovely mass.
After communion the group left the Church to help set up for the sausage sizzle and morning tea for the whole congregation. The primary school organises the food and morning tea and a cake for the students to celebrate this important day in their faith journey. We served sausages on rolls, made coffee and tea and poured cups of cordial for the community. Later we cleaned up and watched as a new modular house was brought into the community. Fr Prakesh entrusted us with the parish dog "Lyabo" to walk and keep us company.
We went back to our accommodation for some games of "Uno" and "Mafia" before Mr Horder opened the door to the courtyard and Lyabo bolted! We can't be the group that lost the Parish dog of 10 years who has seen 4 priests come and go!
We went looking for Lyabo and found him resting the Parish yard - maybe all our pats and cuddles had worn him out. We decided to leave him where he was happy and continue with our big hike up to the cross on the hill over looking the town.
The walk was steep and rocky and the girls and Mr Horder made their way up in double quick time while slow poke Mrs Monk was last up the hill! Special thanks to Emily and Eden for telling me they needed to rest too while they waited for me to trudge up the hill panting and puffing! You really didn't fool me girls but I appreciate your fibs!
The view from the top was amazing - 360 degrees of the town and surrounding areas. We could see puffs of dust in the distance where cars were driving over dust roads. After the obligatory selfies were taken we made the slow and treacherous trip down the hill. All up the hike took about 90 minutes.
On returning to our accommodation Mr Horder got the Goanna group to work making the salads for our to contribute to dinner at the Brother's House tonight. Then with munchies in hand we will go to the Primary school with the teachers and Sr Liz to watch the State of Origin - go Blues!
Tomorrow we start our work in the Community centre, Creche and Spirituality centre.
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