Palm Island experience
The community of Palm Island provided a very special welcome for Archbishop Balvo when he made a very special trip on Saturday, June 4.
He was met at the airport by Parish Priest Fr Manh Le and Holy Spirit Sisters Sr Mere and Sr Gracia who then took the group to Butler Bay and the location of the first Catholic School on Palm Island.
St Michael’s School Principal Tess Fong said: “We felt it was important for the Elders of Palm Island to welcome the Apostolic Nuncio by giving a history of Palm Island and the journey the community had travelled to where we are today.”
Before landing on Palm Island, the plane took a tour over Fantome Island where the archbishop gave a special blessing and prayed for the Priests, Religious Sisters and members of the community who ministered and those who were residents of the Island during its time as a leprosy colony in the early 1900s.
“This was a very special welcome from the community,” Archbishop Balvo said.
“To have elders, members of the Palm Island council, children and members of the community come and greet me in this way was touching.
“This was the second smoking ceremony I have been part of since arriving in Australia, the first was when I presented my credentials to the Governor-general at Government House in Canberra.”
The group then visited the school and church precinct where Fr Manh held a brief prayer and reflection ceremony and explained some of the history of the island and the role the Church had played in the community over many years. Bishop Tim Harris said: “I felt it was important to share the Palm Island story with the
Nuncio to give him a better understanding of this very special part of the Diocese.
“We are unable to visit the length and breadth of the Diocese in this visit but the archbishop is keen to return and would like to go fishing.”
After an informal afternoon tea, Fr Manh showed the group around the main part of the island and visited the cemetery where Sr Paule FMM (Marie Rose Duford) grave is located, the only religious sisters buried on Palm Island.
The archbishop had a special connection and she too was from the United States of America. Sr Paule insisted that she was buried on the island to be with the people she cared for over many years.
Archbishop Balvo reflected on his time with the community as a blessed moment.
“This has been a very special time and has allowed me for the first time to meet and chat with First Australians, something I will remember very fondly,” he said.