Many Ways to Say Hello
Our languages are everywhere connected to the heart of identity and spirit, the deepest understandings expressed and understood in particular words and ideas
Ola, ciao, hello, Talofa, Malo e lelei, bonjour!
How much do you really know about the broader community in which your church sits? The 2021 Census results showed us that there is now no corner of Australia that is monolingual. The Willoughby area, on the North Shore of Sydney, features 103 languages (SBS Australian Census Explorer).
Visitors to Willoughby Northbridge Uniting Church’s recent Multicultural Spring Fair, were greeted by a display of more than 103 “hello” signs, captured in cardboard speech balloons and placed as if growing from the garden itself, in the languages of the broader Willoughby area. The purpose was to acknowledge and welcome all visitors in their “heart language”, the language in which they may think, pray, reflect and connect most deeply. And simply to provide interest to all, in noticing the similarities, differences, and the glorious diversity of simple greetings!
In addition to the SBS Census Explorer data, members of the congregation were also invited to contribute additional languages to which they had connection. The collection expanded, and included greetings in 6 Indigenous languages. The church has been committed to proclaiming the significance of Indigenous languages as the bedrock of identity for Indigenous communities, and recently donated to Bayala, for the support of Dharug language.
Why not commit to adding some signs of welcome in different languages to your church? And, did you know that some of the safe church resources produced by the Synod are in different languages? You can download them from the Synod website.
Our languages are everywhere connected to the heart of identity and spirit, the deepest understandings expressed and understood in particular words and ideas. For all of us, languages are our deep connection to God, to Country and to others.
“It’s the best form of Reconciliation, learning about one another’s languages” - Aunty Diane Mc Naboe, Wiradjuri teacher.
Find out how many languages are used in your area, on the SBS Australian Census Explorer website.
Robyn Moloney, Lesley Harbon, Willoughby Northbridge Uniting Church.
Why not commit to adding some signs of welcome in different languages to your church? And, did you know that some of the safe church resources produced by the Synod are in different languages? You can download them from the Synod website.
Tell Us Your Story
We love to hear stories from around the Synod. Simply send your article to insights@nswact.uca.org.au