Letters from Representatives
I have the privilege of being the National Lay Director of Australia during this milestone of celebrating 25 years of Emmaus in Australia.
In August 1984, the Rev. Robert Wood, at the invitation of The Upper Room (Australia), brought a team of 32 Americans (most of whom paid their own fares and used their annual leave) to run the first Emmaus Walks in Australia.
Team members came from all over the USA from both Emmaus Walk and Cursillo movements and included two Australians who had made their initial walks in the US. The first Emmaus Walks from men and women were held in Oxford, NSW. Twenty men and thirty-three women attended.
During 1985, the Uniting Church Board of Mission (NSW) became the official sponsor of the AUSTRALIAN WALK TO EMMAUS movement. In 1991 responsibility was assumed by the National Mission and Evangelism Committee of the Commission for Mission of the Uniting Church in Australia. The commitment to making the Emmaus movement an ecumenical tool of spiritual renewal for church leadership in Australia has constantly been emphasized.
The Walk to Emmaus has grown rapidly from its beginnings in Sydney. We have 26 communities throughout Australia., New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Australian Capital Territory.
Australia has also been involved in helping New Zealand; they became a community in 1998.
In 2008 Australia lead the first walks in Fiji and are now helping Fiji to form their steering committee, and hoping to have another set of walks in 2009.
Around 12 Chrysalis communities have also been established around Australia, were thousands of young people have had this wonderful experience.
There is also a form of Emmaus for disabled people called Alarga, which was developed in Queensland and is also held in New South Wales and is now moving around Australia.
The first Kairos weekend in Australia was held in Parramatta Prison in 1995. We now have many Kairos weekends that take place around Australia, which includes Kairos outside.
In May 1st – 3rd we are holding a national conference to celebrate this milestone in our history. The main celebration will be on Saturday 2nd May at Elanora Heights Sydney. Representatives from all around Australia will be attending to help us celebrate.
Your servant,
Bill Harper
National Lay Director
Australia.
