The Southern Cross | August 2023

Adelaide Indigenous community leader John Lochowiak says he is "honoured" and "overwhelmed" to be among 10 Catholics from the Oceania region chosen to participate in the upcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome.

Announcing the names of non-bishop members from Oceania going to the Synod in October, Bishop Anthony Randazzo, president of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania, said they would help “amplify the voice of the Catholic population”.

Mr Lochowiak, chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council, is one of only five Australian representatives other than the bishops, who include Adelaide Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Bishop Shane Mackinlay (Sandhurst), Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB (Perth) and Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP (Sydney).

A participant in the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, Mr Lochowiak said it was a great honour to be selected.

“It’s overwhelming, I’ve never even been to Europe and to be able to represent Aboriginal Catholics in Rome is huge,” the Wadi (initiated) man and father of four told The Southern Cross.  

“It’s significant because there is so much happening in Australia with the Voice to Parliament and for the Pope to be listening and in touch with what’s going on here is really fitting.

“My family’s connection with the Church has always been very strong, and that makes this is even more important to me personally.

“For me it’s about all of us as one.”

Earlier this year, Pope Francis invited each of the seven regions of the world to nominate 20 people who have been involved in local initiatives for the Synod of Bishops for a Synodal Church as possible additions to the Synod’s membership.

Pope Francis chose 10 members from each region from the list of nominees, seeking to create a cross-section of the Church in terms of age, sex, vocation and other demographic factors.

“There was no shortage of faithful and qualified people in Oceania who could bring their lived experience to the two sessions of the Synod of Bishops in October this year and October next year,” said Bishop Randazzo.

“Our region is one of the most diverse in the world, when you consider the 20 or so nations in this corner of the globe. That diversity enriches the Church in Oceania and it will do so at the Synod gatherings in Rome.”

The 10 Oceania non-bishop members appointed by Pope Francis are: Mr Manuel Beazley, New Zealand; Dr Trudy Dantis, Australia; Mr Lochowiak, Australia; Fr Denis Nacorda, New Zealand; Mrs Kelly Paget, Australia; Sr Mary Angela Perez RSM, Pacific; Fr Sijeesh Pullenkunnel, Syro-Malabar Eparchy; Dr Susan Sela, Pacific; Ms Grace Wrakia, Papua New Guinea/Solomon Islands; Professor Renee Kohler-Ryan, Australia.

Brief biographies on each of the members can be found here.

Click here to read more.

Picture: John Lochowiak conducts a smoking ceremony on the steps of St Mary's Cathedral during the Plenary Council last year. Photo: Fiona Basile