Oceania Outreach Appeal - OOA
OOA is our new Appeal that seeks to support the work of WCCM amongst our neighbours of the Oceania region. WCCM Australia has been involved in several new initiatives in our region, and so we have turned our attention to raising funds for these projects closer to home. For now, we have three such projects but over time this may change.
1. FIJI—our meditators Penny Sturrock and Dianne Burn spent many weeks in Fiji “Sharing the Gift” with teachers, catechists and priests throughout the Fijian Islands. There is a need for translation of John Main’s readings which is presently being carried out by a team of local translators. Later there will be costs involved with the printing of resources, travel and accommodations costs. The next work of WCCM Fiji will be ‘Teaching the Teachers, as outreach extends to the Teachers’ College and Pacific Regional Seminary.
2. SOLOMON ISLANDS—our meditators Richard Cogswell and Mary Sattin (a Solomon Islander now living in NSW) went to the SI last year to explore interest in Christian Meditation. They received enthusiastic responses from a Catholic religious order (already meditators), as well as an Anglican Bishop, priests, diocesan officers, religious communities and a school chaplain. Richard and Mary plan to return to the SI early next year to connect with these contacts and to teach. Finances will be needed for this outreach, including for digital support, printing, translation work, and a contribution for travel and accommodation.
3. OUR OWN FIRST PEOPLES—through the presence of Campfire in the Heart in Alice Springs relationships are developing with the local Arrente people. There is a hope that this might be able to be extended as time goes.
I commend this new Appeal to you all, and invite you to donate whatever you are able, either as an individual or as a meditation group. And we pray for these seeds of meditation and contemplation that are being sown amongst our neighbours, may they bear much fruit.
Button “Donate to our Oceania Outreach Appeal”
Photo attached below
Catholic Teachers College students received their ‘Sharing the Gift’ certificates – with Penny and Dianne Burn – in Fiji.