This year’s annual Mass for the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita united Australia’s largest Sudanese and South Sudanese communities to honour their patron saint – a symbol of resilience in the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking.
The Mass was celebrated by Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv on Sunday 16 February 2025 at Mary, Queen of the Family Parish, St Patrick’s Catholic Church Blacktown.
St Josephine (1869-1947) had been born into a wealthy family in Darfur, in the village of Olgossa, west of Nyala – the fourth largest city in Sudan. Despite these beginnings, she was kidnapped as a young child and sold into brutal and abusive slavery many times.
She eventually gained her freedom and joining the Canossian Sisters, but sadly, she had spent so much time in captivity that she had forgotten her original name. It was her slave owners who gave her the moniker “Bakhita”, which means “fortunate” in Arabic.
Halleluia Girls perform cultural dances during the Mass. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
St Josephine Bakhita was canonised on 1 October 2000 by Pope St John Paul II, becoming the first female black saint in the modern Catholic era. Her feast day is celebrated each year on 8 February. She is commemorated as the patron saint of South Sudan and Sudan, and of the victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.
In his homily, Bishop Vincent addressed the congregation, which consisted predominantly of members of the Sudanese and South Sudanese Catholic community.
“Like St Josephine Bakhita, many of you experienced the trauma of war, the pain of being forced to leave your homes and the struggle of adapting to a very different environment,” he said.
He said the Church “especially here in Parramatta” was “very blessed” with their presence in the Diocese.
Sudan-born migrant Agul Tong, pictured with husband Kwat and their four children, said she “loved everything” about Mary, Queen of the Family Parish in Blacktown. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
“You have enriched us with your ancient culture and your strong faith tested in a crucible of pain,” he said.
“Like St Bakhita, may we have the courage to live the paschal mystery as it unfolds in our lives; may we embody the caring and inclusive ministry of Jesus and bring about the divine intent of freedom, liberation and emancipation for humanity.”
After communion, Christian Koelbach gave a short reflection on behalf of International Justice Mission (IJM) Australia. He emphasised that St Josephine Bakhita’s journey reminds us that slavery still exists in many parts of the world today.
“This year we are particularly excited to have the opportunity to work even more closely with Catholic parishes across Australia,” Christian Koelbach, Director of Engagement, International Justice Mission (IJM) Australia, said. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
“Last year alone, we at International Justice Mission were able to rescue hundreds of individuals from the grip of modern slavery,” Christian said.
“Across the globe, an estimated 50 million people, including countless children, are trapped in this injustice.
“This global crisis touches every part of the world, and we are committed to standing in solidarity and making a real difference.”
During the Mass, barefoot parishioners, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Hallelujah Girls’, enlivened the congregation with dances. They waved colourful fabric and were accompanied by choristers and the unique sound of ululation – a long, high-pitched trill.
The Choir. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
Community celebration
Following the Mass, the community gathered in the undercroft area at the All Saints of Africa Centre, one of the community drop-in centres run by the Diocese’s social welfare agency, Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
The community enjoyed a traditional feast, and South Sudanese coffee, which is ground using a pestle and mortar and spices and poured from a special clay flask with a long spout, known as a ‘jebena’.
There were plenty of traditional cultural foods and the community reflected on what the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita meant to them.
Diocesan chaplain to the Sudanese and South Sudanese communities Deacon John Cinya said St Josephine Bakhita’s story represents “all our stories”.
Deacon John Cinya, dressed in black, plays an important function as Schools Liaison Officer and Chaplain to the Sudanese-Australian Catholic community in the Diocese of Parramatta. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
A Sudanese born refugee, Deacon John recounted his own harrowing escape from religious persecution during his time living and studying in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
In this heart of Arab-Islamist politics, Deacon John said it was not possible to get a job as a Christian; and he eventually escaped with five university colleagues after finishing their degrees, walking “two weeks through the bush”.
Also attending this year’s Mass and community celebration was NSW Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General and NSW Member for Prospect, Dr Hugh McDermott, MP.
“St Bakhita is such a wonderful example of humanity, of overcoming diversity, or rebuilding your life after such terrible circumstances of her slavery,” Dr McDermott MP said.
“And that is exactly what happens to people in Australia, especially the Sudanese and South Sudanese community … who have gone through so much, who themselves have sometimes been slaves – they came to this country, to Western Sydney, and rebuilt their lives.
“This is a true celebration of that.”
“I come here regularly, almost monthly, to have meetings with their [South-Sudan and Sudanese] leaders,” said NSW Member for Prospect, Dr Hugh McDermott, MP, pictured receiving the Eucharist. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
“Thank you to all our Equatorial African and South Sudanese community for a wonderful display of community spirit.”
Father Pawel Barszczewski OP (Father Paul), a chaplain at Australian Catholic University’s Blacktown campus, which is named after St Josephine Bakhita, shared the value of fostering learning and community connections.
Fr Pawel explained the campus’ name represented “connection with the local community”.
Dominican Friar, Fr Pawel Barszczewski OP assisted the bishop during the Mass. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
It is not only universities that are named after St Josephine Bakhita. For Agul Tong, a Sudanese-born migrant, Bakhita is her niece’s name.
“Bakhita, she’s important in a lot of ways; she’s a strong lady with a good relationship with God… She means everything to me,” Agul said.
The St Josephine Bakhita Diocesan Memorial Mass and Community Celebration is an annual event held by the South-Sudanese and Sudanese Australian Catholic Communities in collaboration with the Diocese of Parramatta’s Mission Enhancement Team, Australian Catholic University, and this year for the first time International Justice Mission Australia.
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