Pope Francis continues to inspires First Australian Young People
29 April, 2025“Aboriginal Cross blessed by late Pope Francis carries stories of First Australian Young People”
In 2019, a young catholic woman Holly Roberts from Adelaide Archdiocese attended the International Youth Forum in Rome carrying with her the hopes and prayers of First Australian Catholic Youth. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) presented Holly with a hand painted Aboriginal Cross to accompany her on the journey to Rome where on she graciously shared briefly the reality of some of the challenges faced by First Nation young people in Australia. At the conclusion of the Youth Forum, an audience was help with Pope Francis where Holly was able to have the NATSICC Youth Cross blessed.
The Cross is hand painted by Ramindjeri Elder Aunty Phillis Wilson who was involved with the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in Adelaide, renowned for her deeply cultural works of art on a variety of mediums, including stones, woods and canvas.
This Cross, which has since come to be a sign of hope for First Nation Catholic youth in Australia, will temporarily remain in Rockhampton Diocese with Sabrina Stevens who was recently appointed as First Nations Ministry Coordinator and is also the Youth Councillor on NATSICC (2015-2025). The Cross will accompany Sabrina in her ministry throughout the Rockhampton Diocese and will be returned to NATSICC when Sabrina’s term as Youth Councillor draws to a close at the NATSICC Assembly late this year.”
