MEMERS of the Korumburra and district community have been arriving in small groups or as individuals to share a ‘Day of Prayer, Reflection and Solidarity’ at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Korumburra today.
The Church will be open from 9.30am until 4pm on Saturday, August 19.
Local parishioner, Ken Loughnan, himself a member of the church locally, and the Korumburra community for 32 years, had the task of meeting the media and other visitors. He said it was just a matter of providing a quiet place for prayer, contemplation, solidarity and reflection after a tragedy that had impacted the small communities of Korumburra, Leongatha and the surrounding area.
“Starting from the position where it’s a small town where we’ve had a major tragedy. Most people know each other within the town so it’s only natural that it would have a significant impact on a community like this. Over the past three weeks there has been a lot of sadness, I think. So, what we are doing today is to try to provide an opportunity, and we’ve had some church services, but what we wanted to do was just to open our doors here to everybody, so the whole community, not just the Catholics, not just the other religious denominations as an ecumenical site, but rather for everybody and the philosophy is that, after all, we’re all God’s children.
"So, quiet church, a quiet space in there. It’s just really quiet where people are popping, just to sit and pray, reflect, meditate and whatever and just use a quiet space and we’re hoping that that’s going to help the whole community within the town and that’s just our contribution to what we can do as part of being in the community together.
"It's just been a tough time and so many people knew these people and knew them well and they’re all hurting. It’s different if you’re downtown in the big cities, where you have a tragedy, but it doesn’t affect such a concentrated group of people and that’s why the impact on these small towns is so significant.
“Everybody goes to the same supermarket, everybody goes to the pharmacy, everybody goes to the two pubs and so this is not just about church going people, this is about the community.”
Asked if there had been a good response, Mr Loughnan said people had come from a wider area than just Korumburra and Leongatha.
“Yes, it has been a good response and it’s interesting the response has come from as far as Cape Paterson, and yes, from the community generally, our own people, people from other churches coming in, and the police have been in, yes, it’s just wonderful. It’s part of the process and we’re not doing anything apart from providing a quiet space, and it’s nice yeah.
“One of the interesting things is that if you talk to the chaplains of any of the emergency service organisations, police fire, ambulance and chaplains in the defence forces, and in the prison system; they’ll all tell you that in a time of crisis, many will actually turn back to God. We’re not trying to do anything special in that regard but what we are trying to do is just to say people need to recognise that they need something in a time of crisis and we hopefully are providing an opportunity for that."
All are welcome, according to a message from the Catholic Diocese of Sale, which has sanctioned the day.
“Against the background of much sadness within the local community over the past two weeks, today we invite all people of Korumburra and surrounding districts to come together as God’s children for individual prayer and reflection in the quiet space of St Joseph’s Church,” said a spokesperson for the Sale Diocese.
“Prayer invites us to gather in solidarity with each other to reach out to God in times of sadness and distress.
“We remember with love those who have died and we pray particularly for Pastor Ian Wilkinson, as well as everyone who is affected by this tragedy.
“Everyone is most welcome, but we do ask you to please observe silence at all times inside the Church building, and to refrain from video and photography inside the church, respecting the sacredness of the space and the privacy of those in prayer.
“Thank you for being part of this act of Christian love.”
The church also offered a prayer:
“O Lord our God, thank You that You are our rock and fortress, we can always find refuge in You. You have said that whoever follows You will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. As we feel the darkness of grief and sorrow at this time, shine Your light on our life. Remind us that our hope is found in You. May Your love surround us, Your Spirit guide us, Your voice cheer us, Your peace calm us, Your shield protect us, Your wisdom arm us, wherever you may lead us. Amen.”
As well as members of the community, representatives of Victoria Police have also attended to show their support and solidarity with the community at this difficult time.
The service follows the tragic death of three Korumburra residents, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, allegedly as a result of eating a contaminated meal at the home of a family member in Leongatha on Saturday, July 29.
The two sisters died of food poisoning on Friday, August 4 and Mr Patterson on Saturday, August 5.
Pastor Ian Wilkinson remains in hospital in Melbourne where family members say his condition has stabilised.