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About 50 people gathered at St Mary’s Church South Brisbane last night to grieve the death of Ted Kennedy and to celebrate his life and ministry.

As well as spoken tributes and recollections we had the music of Dermot Dorgan who has written songs from his days with Ted in Redfern. We used some of the texts from the Funeral Service including the Gospel: Luke 6:17-23 and the music of Peter Kearney. I composed the opening prayer of the service using some of Ted’s own words from his book, “Who Is Worthy?”

Opening Prayer

God of Ancient Days,
We … Continue reading →

Possibly the most honest and forthright, if not bluntly enraged, voice of progressive Catholicism in Australia passed into silence on May 17 with the death of Ted Kennedy, long the priest of St Vincent’s church in the Sydney inner-city suburb of Redfern.

Kennedy came to St Vincent’s in 1971 committed to a radical vision of Christianity that was centred on the struggles of the poor. When he arrived with a small band of other progressive priests, the outgoing priest left a comfortable rectory complete with leather furniture and shagpile carpets. Kennedy sold the expensive furnishings and installed beds for the … Continue reading →

Thank you for the many times at Mass at St Vincent’s Redfern when your honesty and courage touched me deeply.

You gave me a hunger for authenticity in our Church.

Your spirit continues to disturb me from my comfort.

Narelle Mullins, St Mary’s Community South Brisbane

TED

When the telephone alongside my bed at Quirindi Presbytery woke me out of a fitful sleep at 6:30 last Tuesday morning, I sensed, even before she spoke, that it might be Marnie, with the news that Ted had died.

To you, so loving an elder sister, Marnie; to those many nieces and nephews of “a wonderful uncle”; and to the aboriginal people of Redfern and elsewhere, I express a word of heartfelt sympathy.

These days, whenever I enter St. Mary’s Cathedral from the south doors, and gaze along the main aisle, I seem to hear still the sound of … Continue reading →

There are too many things to say about this man called Ted Kennedy. Somehow my brain has already wiped the pain of the last few years away. Glimpses of the 40 plus years of knowing Ted keep swirling past my eyes at all times of the day and night.

Ted the 31 year-old when I first met him. A young priest, inspired by the worker priest movement in France, inspired by Dorothy Day’s soup kitchens for the poor in New York, inspired by the priests and bishops living with and for the poor in Central and South America. Inspired by … Continue reading →

Many years ago, Redfern was a bad place to go into.

Many Kooris had to fight tooth and nail to claim a bit of land that is ours from the start.

Eora, Redfern, home of the Kooris, we were losing the battle and our dignity. When all of a sudden two powerful minds came together to be as one : Mumma-Shirley Smith and Fr Ted Kennedy.

Mumma-Shirley already knew the trouble we were in. But Fr Ted was shocked in the way Kooris were treated. Just going home from the pub was hard. Many police from all local stations come … Continue reading →

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 →