Author Archives: cmadmin

The following message arrived yesterday. The item that so offended the papist may be found at http://church-mouse.lanuera.com/neocats/index.html .

From: Accounts [mailto:accounts@woodrecruitment.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 24 May 2005 3:42 PM
Subject: Guillible Others

Dear Church Mouse,

I would like to register my objection to labelling John Paul II as “gullible”.
Maybe a better name for your site would be “Church Rat”.

May God forgive you for the harm that you are doing.

Hugh Girod Western Australia

My name is Margie Kennedy-Gould – I am Ted’s niece, eldest child of his late brother John and Kath Kennedy. I would like to speak on behalf of Marnie and the family and firstly wish to thank all of you who have gathered here today in this most spiritual place to celebrate his extraordinary life.

First I would like to tell you a little of his background: Ted was of bog Irish stock on both sides of his family: one of his forebears, Cornelius Wholohan of Tipperary, was a convict, sentenced in 1831 to transportation for life. One of his … Continue reading →

Invitation
Our world is frail and we all stand in need every day of grace and strength. Ultimately, we must look to God our prodigal father for our bread and his welcome. I invite you all to soften your minds in his presence here, to turn to Him in prayer for our needs and the needs of those we admire and love.
When you hear the simple words “Lord, hear us”, please answer with faith and enthusiasm – “Lord, hear our prayer”.

Dearest Father, we regarded Ted our brother as a holy man in our midst, and now … Continue reading →

Thirty-three years ago Ted opened the presbytery door to Aunty Helen and so began his extraordinary journey here at Redfern and for many of us our journey was entwined with his. His early days with that rag tag group of lay and religious people who threw their lot in with him and the poor, were tumultuous and life changing.

None of us here today would want him to have suffered one more day but our grief and loss is raw. We have lost someone we all loved deeply. I loved you Ted and feel I have lost my soul mate.

… Continue reading →

Ted Kennedy had a great love of Ireland and empathy with the struggles of the Irish. He was very familiar with what Patrick Pearse had to say at the grave side of O’Donovan Rossa. What Pearse had to say was this:

“Splendid and holy causes are served by splendid and holy men.”

The cause to which Ted Kennedy selflessly devoted his life was the liberation of the human spirit. Ted found the expression of that liberation in poetry, in art, in theatre, in friendship and in the sheer joy of life. Of course for Ted, the most potent expression … Continue reading →

Oh you were a mindreader
I tell you.

Oh you were a heartscorcher
I tell you.

Oh you were a soulsearcher
when you looked at me.

For you loved a black Christ
And helped us see.

In loving memory of the marvellous Ted Kennedy

from Sean O Connor, Drogheda, Ireland 22/5/2005.

Dear Ted our Father,
who believed that each of us carries a piece of heaven,
precious is your name for those who loved you
because you showed us a living kingdom
here on earth as it is in heaven.

You understood how critical it is to have a piece of bread at the end of each day, especially for those of us who know hunger and unemployment.

How clearly you insisted that we must reconcile with those on whom this nation trespassed with blood, before we can learn to forgive those who trespass against us.

In … Continue reading →

Griffo had been in Kempsey for about a month.

On Tuesday last, by his own account, he had “a feeling”- of loneliness and sense of loss. Griffo did not know that Ted had died, but he suspected that “something” was wrong – a member of his family perhaps…..

When he got into Central yesterday afternoon (Friday), he was “bustin’ for a cuppa” and headed for “The Gathering Place” in Caroline St. When he got there he saw a notice in the window – not an unusual thing – very often a notice would be placed in the window advising that … Continue reading →

Hello Church Mouse,

We have been living in Ireland for the past couple of years. We heard the news of Ted’s passing from Marnie Kennedy within a few hours of his death. Sad news because Ted has always been a great affirmer for us and like a member of our family – as of so many families. It’s difficult to be so far away as preparations are made for his funeral…. but good to be browsing through the ‘Church Mouse’ website today and to feel closer to the memory of a great hearted man.

Thankyou

Peter and Madge Kearney
… Continue reading →

What made Ted Kennedy so special? What made him value his role as a priest while at the same time never ever espousing clericalism? Ted had a heart that was filled with the compassion of Christ. Although totally ecumenical in his way of life and belief he did not have to search for new age solutions to find compassion. His way of seeing the world was formed by his religious tradition and his own family.

Ted once said that the saddest thing in the world was that people lived unpoetically. Poems for Ted were not just printed words dancing on … Continue reading →