About the ACM

The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) is a ministry of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and is funded through the support of the Archdiocesan’s Charitable Works Fund. Our vision is to promote Reconciliation through shared understanding, well-being and pastoral support in the living of our faith.

The ACM has two sites; the main office is at 77 Buckland Street, Alexandria and the Reconciliation Church at 11 Yarra Road, Phillip Bay (near La Perouse).

Guiding principles of the ACM are to:

  • Provide a welcoming and culturally safe environment
  • Act as a connection between Aboriginal peoples and the Archdiocese of Sydney
  • Promote the ACM, its prayer life, works and outreach
  • Broaden the network and relationships with the internal and external agencies of the Archdiocese of Sydney
  • Advocate on behalf of Aboriginal people living within the Archdiocese of Sydney

Our Team 

Lisa Buxton

Executive Officer

Lisa Buxton is a Bundjalung and Yugambeh woman, a committed educator, who has a passion for continuing her journey of learning from and connecting to the Country. Lisa took on the role of Executive Officer in August 2018 after spending two decades working for Catholic Education (Lismore, Broken Bay, and Sydney Dioceses). Lisa is based at the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) Alexandria and spends considerable time in the community promoting the work and outreach of the ACM including offering workshops to school staff and parish communities to deepen their appreciation for and reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Kelly Wyld

Ministry Cooordinator

Kelly Wyld is a proud Bidjigal woman and has lived on Country her whole life. Kelly started in her role as Ministry Coordinator for the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in 2016 and is located at the Reconciliation Church in La Perouse. Kelly is passionate about assisting people’s needs through pastoral and welfare support. Working full time at the Reconciliation Church, Kelly coordinates sacramental activities, prayers and services.

Janice Ban

Administration Officer 

Janice Ban was born in the central part of the Philippines and arrived in Australia in 2006. After years of working in the hospitality and the retail industry, Janice started volunteering at St Therese Parish Mascot and she was employed as a casual Parish Youth Coordinator in 2016. Janice started working with the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in 2017 as the Administration Officer supporting the ACM Team. Her role includes mass preparation, liaising with priests and parishes and supporting the pastoral care of the community. Janice is passionate about helping people and creating a welcoming environment for both old and new members of the community.

Father Darryl Mackie

Father Darryl Mackie

Chaplain

Father Darryl grew up in the Hunter Valley and after a short career in banking, began studies at St Patrick’s Seminary in Manly and was ordained a priest in 1996. After a number of parish and Diocesan appointments in the Hunter, Manning, Regional Marriage Tribunal and as Parish Priest of Newcastle, Darryl began his appointment as a hospital chaplain at the St Vincent’s Darlinghurst Campus in 2012. It was during Fr Darryl’s time in the Manning (Biripi) and Newcastle (Awabakal) areas that he became involved within Aboriginal Catholic Ministry. He began helping with Masses in 2016 and in June 2018, Fr Darryl was appointed as Chaplain to Aboriginal Catholic Ministry bringing his vast experience of the parish and sacramental ministry to the community. Fr Darryl has a great passion for working towards equal rights and walking towards the path of reconciliation.

The Church invites you to express the living word of Jesus in ways that speak to your Aboriginal minds and hearts. All over the world people worship God and read his word in their own language, and colour the great signs and symbols of religion with touches of their own traditions. Why should you be different from them in this regard, why should you not be allowed the happiness of being with God and each other in Aboriginal fashion?

Pope John Paul II – Address to the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, 1986

Our Volunteers 

ACM volunteers are an essential part of our vision. Our volunteers really enjoy making a difference in people’s lives. ACM has more volunteers than paid staff and we have found that our staff also become volunteers in other aspects of their lives. Honestly, we cannot achieve what we do without the skills, commitment and passion of our volunteers.

ACM Sydney is currently seeking volunteers. Should you be interested in joining the ACM Team please see volunteering information.

Meet some of our Volunteers

John Allen

John Allen

Assisting Aboriginal Elder

John has been working with the ACM for many years. He is a proud Aboriginal man who is dedicated to promoting Aboriginal spirituality and sharing his Catholic faith. John serves our community as an Acolyte and volunteers his time as a member of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Advisory Committee. He is always willing to help in any way he can. His presence and assistance at the masses are of great value to our community. John also prepares our young people as altar servers and supports the prayer life and outreach of the ACM. We are very grateful for Uncle John’s continuing support.

Carolyn Cronan

Carolyn Cronan

Volunteer

Carol has been a volunteer with the ACM for the past two years. Previously she had worked for forty-two years in secondary and tertiary education; most of this time with Sydney Catholic Schools. She developed a particular interest in Reconciliation and Aboriginal culture whilst working as a curriculum leader of learning in Sydney’s Eastern Region where she was fortunate in working closely with the Aboriginal Leader of Learning and the Regional Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer. Both of these women assisted her growth in knowledge and understanding of present issues confronting Aboriginal people in the Sydney area.

Carol’s work as a volunteer largely involves administrative support and assistance with the organising of events