An Open Letter by John Hill

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

From Sts. Joseph & Michael Parish, NJ

From: mbrito@HanoverDirect.com

Dear Mouse,

My name is Monica and I am a NeoCat as you call the way. I’ve read some of the articles which are posted on the site and I can’t tell you how disturbed I am that this movement within our Church is the cause of much division in certain parishes. I am a revert to the Church and I belong to a wonderful little parish in NJ which just introduced the Way about 4 months ago. Being a CCD teacher I have learned much about Church’s teaching and have fallen in love with the truth. … Continue reading

Priests support the 43 prominent Australians

From Online Catholics Issue 20, 6 October 2004

http://onlinecatholics.com.au/issue20

 


One hundred Catholic priests, meeting at the biennial Conference of the National Council of Priests of Australia (at Toowoomba QLD 6th – 10th September 2004) added their voice to the 43 prominent Australians and the group of doctors calling for truth and integrity in public life.

The priests built upon the concerns raised by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference in August, when the ACBC advised Australians to consider their voting intentions in the light of the building of … Continue reading

Testimonial from Kelmscott

About three years ago, the last of the Salesians left the Good Shepherd Parish and were replaced by a couple of ‘new priests’ in Fr Pele and Fr Daniel. They in turn were soon replaced by Frs Melvyn and Dennis. These priests technically belong to the Diocese but in fact are Neocatechumen priests.

All seemed well as they initially endeared themselves to parishioners with their energy, friendliness and enthusiasm. The parish appeared to be coming alive with organised family days etc.

Then one day parishioners were asked to attend an Adult Catechesis which they were told would … Continue reading

Letter to the local Bishops

Arch Bishop Barry Hickey & Bishop Don Sproxton
St Mary’s Cathedral,
17 Victoria Square
Perth, Western Australia 6000

Your Excellencies

We are writing to you with the intention of bringing to your attention the situation that exists in the Good Shepherd Parish at Kelmscott and to hopefully initiate the necessary actions that will remedy the same.

Recent correspondence with the local Bishops

Dear Clive,

I received your email late on Friday. The Archbishop and I will discuss the matters you raise at our next Curial Meeting.

I have delayed my visit to Kelmscott until Fr. Melvin returns from his annual holiday, as I think it is only fair that he be in the parish when I meet with the parishioners. The meeting will be about the Neocatechumenal Way and I will explain how it is a means of evangelisation for a parish community. The experience I had when answering questions about the Way at the Parish Council meeting during … Continue reading

No accord on inter-faith service

An article by Jeremy Hartcher in Issue 2/2004 of The Southside News, a publication of the University of Technology Sydney Journalism program.

 

It includes comments attributed to Cardinal George Pell on the Redfern situation that some might consider defamatory.

 

 

Parishioners at St Vincent’s church in Redfern have been refused permission to hold an inter-faith service. [see also {rdlc Is this an ecumenical Church?}]

 

Organisers say assistant parish priest, Father Dennis Sudla, told them the service is inappropriate for the church – although the inter-faith event has been held at St Vincent’s … Continue reading

Neocats and religious life

Is the Neo-Catechumenate Way Compatible with Religious Life?

Updated version of an article first published in Religious Life Review, Ireland, Jan-Feb 1994 , Vol.33, No.164 by Gerald A. Arbuckle, sm

Gerald Arbuckle, sm, Ph.D., is a graduate in social anthropology from Cambridge University, a former assistant-general of the Marist Fathers, Rome, and professor of pastoral anthropology at the East Asian Pastoral Institute, University of Manila, Philippines. He is currently a co-director of the Refounding and Pastoral Development Research Unit, Sydney. Of his ten published books, four have received awards from the Catholic Press Association of the United States. … Continue reading

This is not an Ecumenical Church

St Vincent’s, under the spiritual guidance of Father Ted Kennedy, was well known for its welcome to and inclusion of all people, especially the suffering, the abused and the forgotten.

Such behaviour, it would seem, is an anathema to our Neocat priests.

Despite numerous representations by Mary McMahon and others, Neocat parish priests Prindiville and Sudla doggedly refuse to allow St Vincent’s to be used as the venue for another Interfaith Service. The Community’s wishes have been dismissed with a perfunctory “This is not an Ecumenical Church”. See news article No accord on inter-faith service.

From the di Venuto family

From: divenutofamily@yahoo.com.au

A friend recommended we take a look at the Church Mouse website. We have read the information it presents carefully and thoroughly. We are regrettably left with the conclusion that you are behaving like spoilt little children who aren’t getting their own way.

Where we live our priest, close to retiring age and in average health, is looking after two fairly large parishes singlehandedly. In our diocese one priest is responsible for three parishes. In our country there are people who might get Mass once a month, or even longer. Friends in far west Queensland see their … Continue reading