The Emerald Catholic Parish in Queensland’s Central Highlands district is reaching out to welcome seasonal labourers from Pacific nations who have arrived in the rural area to work.

This month, Parish Priest Fr Truc Quoc Phan SVD, offered St Patrick’s Church in Emerald as the venue for the induction session for a group of 69 seasonal migrant workers from Tonga. Previously, the parish has offered a welcoming hand to workers from Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Samoa.

“It’s only a small role we play at the induction day, but I offered a few words of welcome and let them know that if there’s anything we could do to help them settle in, we are very happy to do it,” Fr Truc said.

“Most of the workers from Tonga are not Catholic, but we still want to welcome them, of course. And most of the workers from East Timor, for example, are Catholic and they are very faithful and join in parish life with us.

“Apart from me addressing the Welcome Induction sessions, we also invite them to our annual Multicultural Day and for barbecues with our parish community.”

Fr Truc said that reaching out to migrants and seasonal workers is part not only of the charism of the Divine Word Missionaries, but is also fundamental to the parish community’s spirituality of outreach and hospitality.

He liaises with the SVD Australia Province’s Coordinator for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, Fr Jun Perez SVD, in coordinating with those managing the workers’ arrival.

Fr Truc said that as a member of the Rockhampton Dioceses Pastoral Council, he is also aware that the Diocese is also looking at ways to focus more on the needs of seasonal workers.

Emerald lies approximately 270 kilometres west of Rockhampton and serves as major service centre for the region's extensive agricultural and mining industries.

The seasonal workers are predominantly in Australia as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme which allows eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from nine Pacific islands and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available.

“It can be a very challenging time for the workers because they are separated from their families back home,” Fr Truc said.

“But at the same time, they are happy because they can come here and earn better money than they might in their home country, to take back for their families.

“So, anything we can do to offer them a warm welcome and a supportive community while they are here, we are very happy to do.”

PHOTOS: Fr Truc Quoc Phan SVD welcomes seasonal workers at their induction session held at St Patrick's Church, Emerald in Queensland.