Liturgical Resources: 40th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s Alice Springs Address
29 November 2026 | First Sunday of Advent
On 29 November 1986, Pope St John Paul II delivered a historic address to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples at Blatherskite Park in Alice Springs. His words marked a defining moment in the relationship between the Catholic Church and Australia’s First Peoples.
Forty years later, his message remains as relevant and challenging as ever:
“The Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others.”
The 40th anniversary provides an important opportunity to reflect on the journey of the past four decades, celebrate the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics, acknowledge the work still to be done, and renew our commitment to walking together in faith.
Resources for Parishes and Communities
To support the commemoration of this significant anniversary, the Bishops Commission for Liturgy, in partnership with NATSICC and with the support of the Bishops Commission for Relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, has developed a collection of liturgical resources for use in parishes and Catholic communities across Australia.
The resources include suggestions for incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures into the celebration of Mass, prayers and reflections, liturgical readings, music and opportunities for meaningful local participation.
As the anniversary coincides with the First Sunday of Advent, these resources invite us to embrace this season of hope, renewal and preparation as we continue working towards becoming the Church Jesus calls us to be.
We encourage all parishes and Catholic communities to mark this important anniversary and, wherever possible, connect with their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic communities.
Download the Liturgical Resources
The Church Jesus Calls Us to Be – 40th Anniversary Liturgical Resources (PDF)
Explore the 1986 Visit
Click the image (left) to access the 1986 visit home page, which contains:
A video of the Address
Quotes
Head, Hand, Hearts Activity for Parishes, schools and groups
An Aboriginal perspective on the visit
Photo Gallery
