Members of the Order of Malta Australia in Darwin joined families who have recently arrived in Australia seeking a better life for themselves and their children for the first Fraternity Feast Day on 12 September 2026.

Held at O’Loughlin Catholic College in Casuarina, Darwin, the event was a beautiful morning of faith, welcome and community, organised in collaboration with the St Vincent de Paul Society (NT) and Catholic Care NT.

 

A Morning of Faith and Community

The morning began at 8.30am with the celebration of the Eucharist, led by Fr Cyrus Banque CMF, Parish Priest of Holy Family Church. The Mass provided an opportunity for families, members of the Order and representatives of the participating organisations to come together in prayer and fellowship.

Following Mass, participants took part in a tree-planting ceremony to mark the Season of Creation. The planting of the tree provided a powerful and lasting symbol of our shared responsibility to care for our common home and for one another.

The families were then warmly welcomed into the community, with the morning continuing in a spirit of hospitality, fraternity and friendship and giving us an opportunity to build relationships, extend friendship and help families feel welcomed and connected to their new community.

 

Supporting Families as They Begin a New Life

As part of the Northern Central Region’s contribution to the Fraternity Family Day, members prepared 75 educational bags, each containing books and school supplies, for distribution to the families.

The bags were received with great joy.

 

Living the Hospitaller Mission

The Fraternity Feast Day reflects the Order of Malta’s longstanding commitment to serving our bothers and sisters with dignity, compassion and respect.

The collaboration with the St Vincent de Paul Society (NT) and Catholic Care NT demonstrates the importance of working together with organisations already supporting families and communities across the Northern Territory.

The Order of Malta Australia is grateful to all who contributed to this inaugural Fraternity Feast Day and to the families who shared the morning with us.