The Atitjere Church Opening - Jesuit Social Services

Jesuit Social Services was proud to recently organise the opening and blessing of the Atitjere Church in the Sandover region of the Northern Territory.

Our involvement in the project stems back to 2012, when our Central Australian team was invited to visit the Atitjere community, 215 kilometres from Alice Springs at the foot of Mount Palmer.

Atitjere is an important ceremonial area for the Eastern Arrernte nation and has close family and cultural connections with Santa Teresa, where Jesuit Social Services has long-standing relationships.

At the time, the community was deciding how to best utilise Lease money, which is administered by the Central Land Council. We were invited to be a part of the conversation, the outcome of which was that the community wanted to use the money to build a church. Senior Eastern Arrernte man Raymond Webb said the church would ‘give us the opportunity to sit together and talk about how to treat each other.’

As well as a place for the local community to congregate, the church would also provide training and employment opportunities to local people. The building was constructed over a six week period by local Aboriginal-owned social enterprise Tangentyere Constructions according to plans drawn up in consultation with the community, and training six local men in construction work in the process.

Last month, Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards, Board of Directors member Shane Healy and John Adams and Jorge Basave from our Central Australian office drove to Atitjere with Father Jan from the Alice Springs Parish and Dave Howard from Central Land Council to formally open and bless the church. The opening event and celebratory barbecue, which we hosted, were attended by the whole community.

The Atitjere church project was a great example of community self-determination with the community conceiving and driving the project through to completion. The sense of pride and community ownership of the building is clearly tangible and Jesuit Social Services was pleased to provide a co-facilitating role.

Alliance key to climate justice in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is on the frontline of intensifying heat, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. Remote communities and homelands across the Territory are particularly at risk of these impacts with many Aboriginal communities already facing food insecurity, a lack of safe drinking water and access to reliable, affordable electricity. The Climate Justice Alliance, established in the Territory in 2021, strives towards a just transition - one that focuses on adapting to the impacts of climate change, and on the alternative economic futures needed to ensure justice for people and planet.

Neighbourhood houses building climate resilience and community connections

In the city of Darebin, nestled in the inner north of Melbourne, there are many community members who experience multiple forms of disadvantage and are vulnerable to the impacts of heat. As extreme weather events become more frequent, the Centre for Just Places is working closely with communities like Darebin, to build climate resilience. The Centre empowers them to cope with the impacts of climate change and to continue thriving as connected, vibrant communities.

School canteens feed curiosity

The Currawong Kitchen school canteen was established in 2020 to provide healthy school snacks, catering, and food hampers to families in the historically disadvantaged and under-serviced area of Mount Druitt. Two school canteens now sit alongside Jesuit Social Services’ affordable grocery stores, Ignite Food Store and Open Pantry, where the parents of school children can shop in a supportive, educational, low-cost setting. As Chandelle, who oversees Jesuit Social Services' food security programs in Western Sydney, explains "We’re different from a typical school canteen. We’re passionate about inspiring children to be curious about what they eat and encourage them to try a variety of healthy foods. We want them to develop their palates and trust their taste."

Sharing our vision with Jesuit leaders

In January, Jesuit Social Services was honoured to host special visitors from the global Jesuit community. Fr Arturo Sosa SJ is the Father-General of the Society of Jesus, the global leader of the Jesuit Order. When he visited Australia for the first time, we were delighted that he made time to visit our Richmond office. This is the first time a Father-General has visited Jesuit Social Services.

Annual Dinner 2024

More than 200 people gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 1st for Jesuit Social Services’ Annual Dinner. The event has traditionally sought to deliver a thought-providing keynote on important social justice issues, give attendees a chance to network and mingle, while raising funds for the organisation’s work. But this year, fundraising took a back seat in favour of more time to connect and build relationships.

Open Pantry helping provide food security and connection

Hear how Open Pantry delivers healthy meals and community for the Western Sydney residents.

Music workshops encourage self-expression in Alice Springs school

Hear how students at Yipirinya School have workshopped songs and laid down beats with ARIA Award-winning musician Adrian Eagle, as part of a new relationship between the school and Jesuit Social Services that will provide opportunities for performance, self-expression, and new narratives for First Nations young people in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.