EASTERN LINK - Province 20 Catenians of Western Australia

SAINT MARY OF THE CROSSMACKILLOP*Honoured to share Mary's spirit!By: Paul DobbynWHEN young indigenous man Marlon Riley dancedhis brolga steps in honour of Mary MacKillop beforean international audience at her canonisationcelebrations in Rome none were prouder of him thanhis mother Margie.For it was she who struggled mainly on her own tobring up a vigorous brood of nine children, first inInala, then in Woolloongabba and now at AcaciaRidge, on Brisbane's Southside, determined to keepthem true to the Catholic faith she first discovered asa student with the Sisters of Mercy at Rockhampton.Others too are proud of this 32-year-old who is acultural tutor at Brisbane Catholic Education'sNgutana-Lui Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderCultural Studies Centre.There's his 26-year-old brother David who hasovercome learning difficulties to carve out life as anartist whose work can now be seen in Brisbane'sparks and other public places.Murri pride: Marlon (left) andDavid Riley with the Boomerangsand Clapsticks David made forhis brother to take to RomeAt the Canonisation Mass, Marlon performed alongside dancers from Brisbane's AustralianCatholic University Weemala Indigenous Higher Education Unit in the entrance procession.The next day, Marlon danced with five other Queensland Aboriginals during the ThanksgivingMass Offertory procession at the papal basilica of St Paul Outside-the-Walls.Also definitely among the proudest is the two women who supported Margie Riley as sheraised her children in the faith - Brisbane archdiocese's Murri Ministry co-ordinator RavinaWaldren and Josephite Sister Kay McPadden.It was an honour and pleasure to be present at Brisbane archdiocese's Murri Ministryheadquarters at Justice Place, Woolloongabba, when David surprised his brother with hisworks of love and pride.Asked later how he felt about his brother's gifts, Marlon looks at the boomerangs andclapsticks for a few minutes before answering./Cont.SAINT MARY OF THE CROSSMACKILLOPHer Story - Her legacy - Her Canonisation!