!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)