!ary !ac"illop #nstitute Support for East Timorese Independence Some highlights
This Award is bestowed on the Mary MacKillop Institute to recognise the solidarity of the Sisters of
St Joseph, Religious of other Congregations and Colleagues who had the privilege of working and
praying together for justice and freedom for
East Timor.
They organised Masses, vigils and other prayer services, took leading roles in public demonstrations, engaged with politicians
and other persons of influence, raised awareness through radio, television and
print media, agitated for justice for asylum seekers, refugees and families, and assisted
the Timorese people to preserve and promote their culture.
Santa Mary MacKillop,
rona mai ami.
Timorese people with Dili Massacre Cross at St Marys NSW
2
Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet
Santa Cruz
Memorial Masses St Marys Cathedral Sydney 1991-1999
They organised Masses, vigils and other prayer services
May 1999 ~ Beginning of three months prayer at
Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, North Sydney
Altar Display and Stones with names of the dead,
St Marys NSW
1998 1995
1997 Fr António Alves & Bishop David Cremin Crosses bore the names of the of the Dili Massacre victims
3
Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet They took leading roles in public demonstrations
Joan Westblade LCM and Ligia
Ximenes August 30, 1999
Josephine Mitchell speaking at one of many demonstrations
Many Religious
joined others to
show public
support for the East
Timorese people
The demonstration in Sydney September 11, 1999 ~ ( L to R) Patricia Macinante RSJ,
Tess Ward OLSH, Rosita Kiss RSJ, Irene Macinante RSJ, Therese Carroll RSJ
Sisters and friends at demonstrations
4
Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet They took leading roles in public demonstrations
Call to Action
Numerous demonstrations were held throughout the 1990s calling on those in power to consider the suffering of the Timorese people.
These were opportunities to educate Australians about the close historical links between East Timor and Australia.
Tess Ward OLSH, Cathy O’Keeffe PBVM, Nony Piedade, José Ramos Horta
Pope’s visit 1995
Susan Connelly speaking at rally
Joan Westblade LCM with health supplies
Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet
Mary Cresp RSJ, José Ramos Horta, Giovanni Farquer RSJ
They engaged with politicians and influential persons and raised awareness through radio, TV and print media
Dear Senator Faulkner
Dear Mr Howard
Dear Mr Downer
Dear Mr Lynch
it is most
Dear
Dear Mr Downer
Solidarity groups celebrating the fall of Suharto
Dear Senator
Dear Mr Howard
Dear Mr Fergu son
Dear Senator Payne,
Dear Editor The Australian
all Australians are World War II
Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet They agitated for asylum seekers, refugees and families
Involvement with:
~ Sanctuary Network ~ Christians in Solidarity with
East Timor (CISET) ~ East Hills Safe Haven
~ Jong Kim Koe vs Government
~1600 asylum seekers threatened with deportation
Josephine Mitchell Kath O’Connor
Joan Westblade, Josephine Mitchell and Tess Ward with families
Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet They assisted the people to promote their culture
Josephine Mitchell RSJ, Nancy de Almeida and Louis Ezequiel, Joan Westblade LCM
Josephine Mitchell RSJ, Tess Ward OLSH and Cardinal Clancy at the Celebrate Survival event 1997
The “Mary MacKillop East Timorese Singers” with Irene Macinante RSJ and Susan Connellly RSJ
Bishop Belo with
Mary MacKillop
Tetun Literacy Program
Fr António Alves, Kath O’Connor RSJ, Susan Connelly RSJ, Moya Campbell RSJ,
Bishop Carlos Belo, SDB, Bishop Hilton Deakin, Jan Barnett RSJ, Josephine Mitchell
Janine Keatinge RSJ and friends at the East Timor Culture Centre, Fairfield
Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet
The Cross carried in demonstrations which occupied a space in St Marys Cathedral, was then at Mary MacKillop Institute St Marys, and is now at Mary MacKillop Place,
North Sydney.
!osephine "itchell and !usan "onnelly accepted the !edal of the "rder of !imor-!este
on 30 !ugust 2014 on behalf of staff, volunteers and colleagues .
Susan Connelly 2014
Tess Ward OLSH with FALINTIL
Joan Westblade LCM with INTERFET
Pray, witness, support, assist, speak out, sing for freedom, agitate, write, stand with the poor, work with others, have
a rest, network, laugh, argue, work hard, question, don’t give up, pray, pray, pray…
1999 Some Meetings and Demonstrations Curatoreum for Choir visit Independent Education Union Australian Catholic University Solidarity meeting monthly Masses at Balgowlah ChineseTimorese welcome Bishop Belo Tuba Rai Metin display Bishops Belo and Deakin at Nth Sydney Wilmot Community AETA and ASIET meetings Forum of Social Concern APHEDA World Day of Prayer Caritas 6 Foot Track Marathon CWL Parramatta Trinity College Auburn Visit from Australian Military personnel Dulwich Hill School All night vigil Fairfield Church UN Representatives CNRT Conference Melbourne
Caritas Canberra demonstration Hyde Park Rally Joan in Bike ride to Bega Prayer Campaign Croydon Press Conference State Parliament Goulburn Rotary Clubs Balgowlah Masses Labour Council and ACTU Reps Choir at ABC Studios Politics in the Pub Broadway Fretilin 25th Anniversary Anglican Parish Hunters Hill ABC Radio Background Briefing Asquith Masses Mary MacKillop Wakeley Trade Union Solidarity Day Demo at Whitlam Testimonial Directors of Educ. Dili & Parramatta Catholic Colleges combined Social Justice Commission Senate Inquiry Castle Hill Masses Panania School Mary MacKillop School Penrith
Pymble Masses
ABC Lateline Eastwood and Epping ALP Richmond Air Base Demo Uniting Church Lindfield Clovelly, Sutherland & Peakhurst Churches Amnesty International meeting Randwick, Gosford, Panania The Grail, North Sydney Rotoract Middle Harbour St Gregory’s Campbelltown St Marys Cathedral and streets Kirribilli School Time Magazine All night Vigil North Sydney Sydney Morning Herald Local papers ABC Four Corners, SBS Hyde Park Demonstration UWS Nepean Marist High Wollongong University Arabic radio ABC Radio Nagle Girls’ High Blacktown
Every person and group who contributed so much work and effort under the name “Mary MacKillop” during the last
difficult years of the Timorese people’s suffering share in this recognition by the Timor-Leste Government.
“Whatsoever you do to the least, that you do to me.” (Matthew 25)