Category Archives: Morsels

2006 Margaret Dooley Young Writers Award-winning short essay

Without doubt, the most important issue facing contemporary Australian society is the continued oppression of our Indigenous peoples. The divide between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians is shamefully expanding at an unacceptable rate. As our economy goes from strength to strength, Aboriginal communities nationwide sink further into the soul-shattering cycle of poverty and despair.

Reconciliation is the cornerstone of our existence. We must move past the systems of assimilation and have the humility and wisdom to learn from these different cultures, so that we can integrate their perception of the world into … Continue reading →

The annual Christmas lunch was shared with several hundred of the local poor, marginalized and kindred spirits. They came for a feed and for a chat, a little compassion, a little friendship.

In attendance were a number of priests and religious from all over the place, to lend a hand, side by side with the usual Meal helpers.

Missing, sadly as usual, were the parish priest, his assistant, and their little gang of seminarians. Rather than accept repeated invitations to join in, they continue to set themselves apart (above?) and ridicule the community’s efforts.

Fr John Ford said Grace. … Continue reading →

The Christmas Sharing of the Meal will be held on Tuesday.

Just because the Church Mouse hasn’t been reporting lately on the day-to-day behaviour of the Neocats at Redfern doesn’t mean things have improved.

When the organisers, trying to do the right thing, first asked Gerry Prindiville some time ago to say Grace on this special occasion, he responded with characteristic gruffness that he would have to think about it. Since there had been no further word from him on the matter, Kate tried him again today, and the response?

He’s still thinking about it.

May … Continue reading →

Don’t forget Peter Kearney’s farewell concert on Sunday, November 12:

I n addition , after Mass at St. Vincent’s on Sunday 12 November as part of the community’s Sharing the Journey programme, Peter and Madge will speak about their connection with Ted over many years.

Who knows, Peter might even sing a song or two.

All are welcome.

REDFERN, NSW – Sunday, 22nd October 2006

Today I attended mass at St. Vincent’s Redfern. I went to communion and the parish priest initially refused to give me the host and waited for me to open my mouth to receive it. When I persisted and stood with my hands open, he eventually placed the host in my hand. I then walked down the aisle of the church where I broke the host to give half to a parishioner who has been too traumatized to receive communion from the Neocatechumenate priest. The priest chased me down the church … Continue reading →

  The following statement was read out to the congregation before yesterday’s 10am Mass.

The St Vincent’s Parish Bulletin distributed on 19-20 August 2006 included an extraordinary item entitled "Apology", which was presented without explanation. This issue of the Bulletin was in very short supply for the Sunday 10am Mass and had been printed on two-week-old "Saving Word" stationery. This deterred many people from picking up a copy. Nevertheless none were left by 10:05am.

Equally extraordinarily, on the preceding Friday the parish priest handed an envelope containing a money order for $200 made out to Sharing the Meal, bearing … Continue reading →

Karol Jozef Wojtya, known as John Paul II since assuming the office of pope in October 1978, will be remembered as one of the most significant, though certainly not the most progressive, figures in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope John XXIII, who preceded Wojtya as head of the Church by two papacies, is still revered by many Catholics for radically reorienting the church by convening the Vatican II Council, which directly fed the growth of what is known as “liberation theology”. From Vatican II the democratic notion emerged that the whole church — laity and clergy … Continue reading →

Written by Morris West for the Sydney Morning Herald, April 4, 2005.

The late Morris West wrote numerous novels about the Catholic Church, including The Shoes of the Fisherman. This is an edited version of an article West wrote exclusively for the Herald in 1997, to be published on the death of the Pope.

Let us pray for a man of courage

In the Society of Jesus, there is an interesting practice. When a superior’s term of office expires, his colleagues are asked to submit, in writing, a portrait of the man they think should replace him.

… Continue reading →

On issues that are important to women, John Paul turned a deaf ear, writes Veronica Brady for the Sydney Morning Herald, April 4, 2005.

Dr Veronica Brady is a Loreto sister and an honorary senior research fellow in the Department of English, University of Western Australia.

Any attempt to assess the significance of the long pontificate of John Paul II as far as women are concerned is a tricky business.

To an outsider, the Roman Catholic Church probably seems like a large and formidable institution, globalised long before the present era of globalisation. … Continue reading →

Gripped with Easter fervour, Prindiville and Sudla have this week indulged themselves in a little church redecorating. Their redoubtable DIY skills may be admired, not so much on the wall behind the altar where they focussed their attention, but in the paint splashes and smudges on the sacred Kiko carpet, and even, to Naoami Myers chagrin, outside the church on the Aboriginal Medical Service’s path and plants.