A JOURNEY TO THE HEART - BY BIKE

• To remember 200+ years of displacement and harm to Australia’s Original People
• To greet Aboriginal Communities on the way and in the Centre
• To say ‘Sorry’ for stolen children and deaths in custody
• Connecting where possible with the schools and churches in the towns on our route.

Contact Peter Murnane on pmopnz@yahoo.com.au

Dominican friars and sisters try to live by the Gospel of Jesus. Their motto is Veritas (Truth) and they try to work for justice and peace. Even when living in Auckland I have followed the main events in the Aborigines' story and the actions of the Australian Government. While not able to do much to help their struggle, I hope that this Pilgrimage of Reconciliation will be a symbol of solidarity with all Aboriginal people.

The 40-day bike journey, 2700km from Parliament House Canberra to Uluru, will mark the 40th year since my ordination as a priest. A priest is one who serves the community by connecting through sacred symbols with the Other, the Holy, the End of all our journeying.

Our physical journey will move slowly towards The Centre. Our spiritual Journey of the Heart will help us to reflect on who we are as human beings and Australians. Both parts of the journey will help us to look more deeply at the terrible injustices done since 1788 to Australia's Original People, in the process that displaced them from their land.

Along the way and at Uluru I look forward to meeting many people - Aborigines and others - to share stories as we all proceed on our own journey of the heart.

Please support the Pilgrimage; or come to join us: ‘For one "K", or a day, or all the way!’

PETER MURNANE, Dominican Friar 1940 Born at Cobden, near Warrnambool (Western Victoria) 1945 Began school in Bendigo, Victoria 1950-58 Living in Melbourne, attended De La Salle College, Malvern 1959 Joined Dominican Friars in Camberwell, Melbourne 1965 Ordained priest, 11 December, St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne 1966 Blackfriars priory, Canberra 1967-72 Adelaide: Prospect Parish; Flinders University; Blackfriars Priory School 1973-75 Mannix College at Monash University, Clayton Victoria 1975-85 Melbourne and Canberra: formation of Dominican novices and students [1983] Pilgrimage to Israel and Rome 1986-91 Brisbane: Pastor, Carina Parish

1991-1996 Auckland, Aotearoa. Pastor, St Benedicts Parish; prison visiting; chaplain to Ascent gay group

1997 USA with St Thomas More Preaching Team and sabbatical study

1998-2003 Auckland: Tertiary Chaplain

1999-2003 (Part-time) Promoter of Justice and Peace among Dominican communities around Asia-Pacific Region 2004-2005 Dominican Preaching Team, in parishes around Aotearoa New Zealand.

Member of Amnesty International; Pax Christi International.

Since December 2004, the Auckland Dominican Friars have given accommodation to Ahmed Zaoui, Algerian refugee and political prisoner.

Dominican Friars and Sisters

URL: http://www.users.bigpond.com/lexicon/Uluru.htm