Author Archives: Church Mouse

Listening skills

By | | Morsels
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Our Neocat pastors regularly include the following advertisement in The Saving Word handout every Sunday:

Attention Married Conples
Is "listening" an area of your relationship where you’d like to develop better skills for yourself? Would you like to experience a deeper level of being listened to by your spouse? A marriage Encounter weekend gives you the opportunity to explore your listening behaviours.
Contact Bill and Ardell Sharpe 4283 3435

 

Perhaps the community would like to consider taking up a collection to pay for GP and DS – not to mention some … Continue reading →

Letter Rob Brian

By | | Sharing the meal
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A letter from Online Catholics Issue 26, 17 November 2004

from: Rob Brian, via email, 12 November

 

Like John Hill [Issue #25] I am appalled at our Archbishop’s treatment of the Aborigines at St Vincent’s Parish in Redfern, Sydney. Instead of giving my usual donation to the Charitable Works Fund, which no longer supports the Sharing of the Meal project in Redfern, I have sent my money direct to the people who battle on to feed the hungry and help the needy. I urge my fellow Catholics to do the same.

Please see Sharing … Continue reading →

Letter Paul Denny

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A letter from Online Catholics Issue 26, 17 November 2004

by Paul Denny, Traralgon, Vic

I am appalled at the treatment of parishioners in Redfern by Neo Catechumenate priests (see Issue #24 "Open letter by John Hill). The litany of abuse is very serious: rough bodily handling, inflicting pain, breach of trust, broken promises, ignoring pleas, lack of respect. It sounds very much like rape! How could the Archdiocese have failed to correct these abuses? How is collaboration between parishioners and clergy possible while this rape continues?

http://onlinecatholics.com.au/issue26

Bearing witness

By | | Sharing the meal
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Sydney Morning Herald Letters, November 11, 2004

I have shared in the St Vincent’s parish community since 1971 when Father Ted Kennedy was appointed parish priest ("City’s poor ask for whom Pell tolls", Herald, November 10), and totally reject being labelled a newcomer to the parish by the Sydney Catholic archdiocese spokesman.

The unfortunate incidents outlined in my open letter published by Online Catholics actually happened, and in most cases occurred in front of witnesses. These have been properly documented and can be fully substantiated.

John Hill, Turramurra, November 10.

City’s poor ask for whom Pell tolls

By | | Sharing the meal
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Sydney Morning Herald, November 10, 2004

 

Multi-faith services and meals for the poor have gone from Redfern’s Catholic Church, writes Linda Morris.

Under the organ loft of St Vincent de Paul Church, latecomers fork through the remains of chicken stew and the crumbs of jam rolls while cheerful helpers chorus happy birthday for one of their own.

But the picture of good works at the twice-weekly meal for the poor belies simmering tensions between Catholic conservatives leading the Redfern parish and a diverse congregation with a reputation for social justice.

The new leaders … Continue reading →

Thoughts November 2004

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Thoughts for the Month

The Jesus I know is no cold, hard Iron-Christ; nor does Jesus deserve to be reduced to smug, glib and uncompassionate irrelevancies when the real meaning of His love is what people need so desperately.

“Who is Worthy?” Ted Kennedy

In November we are invited to remember all “the good people” (saints) who, through their lives, have been an example and an inspiration to us. We are also invited to remember all those who have died. This month we especially remember the 353 people, mostly women and children, who drowned with the sinking of the SIEVX. … Continue reading →

An Open Letter by John Hill

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An Open Letter by John Hill in Online Catholics Issue 25, 1 Nov 2004

I am writing as a parishioner of St. Vincent’s Church, Redfern, NSW. I write with a deep sense of sadness and a feeling of depression. I am seeing the disintegration or even worse, the destruction of a parish that for over 30 years has been a beacon of hope for social justice, the authentic Gospel teachings, the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and the rights of indigenous Australians.

The legacy of an ailing Fr Ted Kennedy has been decimated. The assurance … Continue reading →

Council of priests meeting

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Meeting of the Council of Priests, Archdiocese of Sydney
Minutes- OCTOBER 27, 2004

ITEM 1: INTRODUCTION

10.00am Morning Tea

10.30am Welcome and Opening Prayer

Present: Cardinal George Pell, Bishop David Cremin, Bishop Anthony Pisher, O.P., Mgr Kerry Bayada, Fr Brian Byron, Fr Jason Camilleri, Fr Joseph Camilleri, Fr Tom Carroll, Fr George Connolly, Fr John Crothers, Fr Paul Crowley, Fr Ray Parrell, Fr Josef Kolodziej, Fr Martin Maunsell, Fr Paul Monkerud, Fr Vladimir Novak, OPM, Mgr Brian Rayner, Mgr Vince Redden, Fr Kevin Spillane.

Apologies: Bishop Julian Porteous, Fr Peter Pitzgerald, Fr Paul Stenhouse.