ST BAKHITA CENTRE
Sudanese Australian Catholic Community, Flemington
The Life of St Bakhita
St Josephine Bakhita
Josephine Bakhita was born in 1869 to a prestigious local family, living at the village of Olgossa, in the western Sudanese region of Darfur. Her father was the brother of a tribal chief. By the age of 9, Bakhita was kidnapped by Arab slave traders. During the following eight years, she was resold five times in the markets of El Obeid and Khartoum. She was forcibly converted to Islam. The trauma of Bakhita’s abduction caused her to forget her own name. The name by which she has become known is a compound of the name given by her slave traders (bakhita, Arabic for ‘lucky’) and the Christian name she took in adulthood.
In 1883, Bakhita was bought by the Italian Vice Consul, Callisto Legnani, who treated her kindly. When Legnani returned to Italy, Bakhita begged to go with him. In Italy, Legnani gave Bakhita to his friend Augusto Michieli, as a present. Bakhita became nanny to Michieli’s daughter, Mimmina. In November 1888, Bakhita and Mimmina were left in custody of the Canossian Sisters in Venice, when the family moved to Sudan. When the Michielis returned, Bakhita refused to leave. In her support, the Superior complained to the authorities. An Italian court ruled that since Sudan had outlawed slavery before Bakhita’s birth, and Italian law did not recognise slavery, Bakhita had never in fact been a slave. Bakhita was of age and in control of her destiny. She chose to remain with the Canossians. On 9 January 1890, Bakhita was baptised Giuseppina Margherita Fortunata. Bakhita took her vows in 1896 and was assigned to a convent in Schio, Northern Italy, in 1902, where she spent the remaining 45 years of her life. Employed as cook, sacristan and door keeper, Bakhita was in frequent contact with the local community. Her gentleness, calming voice, and ever-present smile became well known. Vincenzans still refer to Bakhita as la nostra madre moretta (‘our little brown mother’). Bakhita’s charisma and reputation for sanctity were noticed by her Order. Bakhita was instructed to publish her memoirs and give talks about her experiences, which made her famous throughout Italy. Bakhita’s last years were marked by pain and sickness, but she retained her cheerfulness. If asked how she was, she always answered smiling, ‘as the Master desires’. Following Bakhita’s death in 1947, thousands of people paid respects to her body. Twelve years later, Bakhita was beatified in 1959. She was canonised as Saint Josephine Bakhita, in 2000. Bakhita is venerated as a modern African saint, with special relevance to slavery and oppression. From Wikipedia & the Vatican website, September 2010 2
Logo & watermark: cannossian daughters of charity sisters of the poor
Bakhita suffered brutality in captivity. The son of one of Bakhita’s owners beat her so severely that she became bedridden for a month. In order to mark his claim to Bakhita, her fourth owner, an Ottoman Army Officer, inflicted scarification and tattoos. This involved cutting 114 intricate patterns along her breasts, belly and arms, filling these with salt and flour, in order to make permanent scars.
St Bakhita Centre, Flemington Archdiocese of Sydney, 2 Hornsey Road, PO Box 2221, Homebush West NSW 2140 The Centre is a place of welcome and hospitality for the Sudanese Catholic Community in Sydney. Newly arrived refugees receive pastoral care, settlement support and education to help build self esteem and community potential. The Centre promotes cultural identity, enhances spirituality and faith formation, and encourages participation in the wider Catholic and broader community. Faith Development The Sudanese Catholic Community of Sydney is assisted by Anna Dimo, a Pastoral Care Worker and Jonathon Ngor, an Assistant Pastoral Care Worker. Helen Campbell and Sr Maria Sullivan are support workers for the community. Each Sunday, Mass is celebrated at St Anthony’s Church, Toongabbie, at 3pm.
From left to right: John Cinya, Johnson Ngor, Sr Maria Sullivan ( foreground), Anna Dimo and Helen Campbell at St Bakita Centre, Flemington, Sudanese Australian Catholic Community
Prayer and Faith The Centre is used to help in the practice of faith, by holding prayer and meetings. Choir practice, Liturgical Dance practice for Mass and other activities are also organised and a Girls’ Youth Group meets regularly at the Centre. Liturgy preparation takes place at the Centre every Saturday. Young women prepare for Children’s Liturgy. Young men prepare the PowerPoint presentation for Sunday Mass. People from Sudan who are Muslim are welcomed at the Centre. Outreach Various Outreach Programmes operate from the Centre, including Men’s Outreach, Holiday Programmes, Visitation of the Sick and Bereaved, Legion of Mary Groups and Prayer Groups.
Fom left to right: Sr Ann Laidlaw DC, Immigration Office, Anthony Spata, Manager, Employment and Staff Development, Mary Karras, Manager, Multicultural Programs and Services, Catholic Education Office, Fr Dominic Ceresoli CS, Episcopal Vicar for Migrants, Parish Priest Mascot, Keith Yau, Financial Accountant, Chancery Office, Archdiocese of Sydney
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Wadda Committee Pastoral Care Workers are supported by an Advisory group of experts who meet regularly (left).
English lessons, TAFE assistance and sewing classes, at St Bakhita Centre, Flemington
Classes held at the Centre English English classes take place at the Centre every day, except Sunday. We recognise that an understanding of English is basic to resettlement for new arrivals. Computer Classes Frequent computer classes are conducted for women every Monday and Thursday. Men come at other times for assistance. A number of people also attend computer lessons, on Saturday and Sunday. TAFE Assistance A number of the Sudanese are enrolled in TAFE courses but need assistance, which is provided on a regular basis, by volunteers at the Centre. 4
Sewing Classes A number of women learn to sew each Thursday morning. It is hoped that this skill will assist them to do piece-work at home. Support Network A Sudanese counselor comes regularly to the Centre, in order to assist people with their resettlement problems. Visits are made to women with new babies, people are visited when death occurs and support is given to those with family problems. Many visits are also made to hospital. Citizenship and Driving Theory Classes are held for those who find English difficult but need to access a Driver’s Licence, or Australian Citizenship. Playgroup for Pre-Schoolers Volunteers mind Pre-School Children at the Centre, so that Mothers can attend Classes. 5
Members of the Sudanese community attending a Choir conference
Thanks to the Cardinal, the Sudanese community have a 12 seater bus, which transports people to Mass, to important functions and various programmes offered at the Centre.
Volunteers look after pre-school children to enable their mothers to attend classes
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Markets are held regularly at St Bakhita Centre
Please note: Market goods can be accepted only during the week prior to market day
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Assisting the Centre Financing the Centre Cardinal Pell has provided the Centre for the Sudanese Community. Wages and some other costs are met by Catholic Immigration. Additional costs are met from the collection of the Sudanese community at their Sunday Mass and generous donations by Benefactors, who are able to obtain a tax deduction. Volunteers The Centre could not operate without the assistance of volunteers. Many volunteers assist with teaching of the various classes. Other volunteers help with the care of babies and pre-school children. Without this support, the Sudanese mothers could not attend the classes. We are always in need of volunteers. Assistance in Kind In addition, we are frequently in need of new smallgoods for babies – huggies, clothes, etc. Please make arrangements to drop these goods off, because access to the Centre is impossible unless staff are present. We do not receive other goods, except during the week prior to regular ‘market’ days. Enquiries to Sr Maria. Contact If you would like to attend / assist at the Centre, please contact us on our mobile phones, or email (the office not always serviced): Anna Dimo on 0409 458 695, or anna_dimo@yahoo.com.au Sr Maria Sullivan on 0408 615 671, or mariasull@bigpond.com (email is best) Johnson Ngor on 0427 209 122, or johnsonngor@yahoo.com.au Helen Campbell on 0458 490 368, or stbsgirls@me.com The Centre on bakhitahomebush @bigpond.com PO Box 2221, Homebush West NSW 2140 (Telephone: 9763 5641) 2 Hornsey Road, Homebush West, NSW 2140 www.stbakhita.com 8