Some news from the other side of the world: Australia has chosen a native son to provide some of the important artwork that will be on display for World Youth Day 2008:

The work of Richard Campbell, an Australian from the Gumbaingirr/Dhungutti people, has been selected to be displayed at World Youth Day events and on event paraphernalia.

Campbell’s series of indigenous artworks reinterpret major Catholic themes. His Fourteen Stations of the Cross, The Madonna, The Crucifixion, and The Resurrection will be used on merchandise for the expected 225,000 registered pilgrims for the international youth event.

Mr. Campbell was taken away from his family at the age of nine. Afterwards he was constantly moved from one boy’s home to another.

“A Catholic priest once asked me to connect Aboriginal spirituality with bible stories through a painting,” Campbell said.

“When I started to paint, I felt my own spirituality come flooding back and I started to remember the stories of my people. That’s when I became aware of the similarity between Aboriginal and Christian stories.”