Category Archives: Our pastors

Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, author of “Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church : Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus”, was the featured speaker at a public “conversation” at Mosman Community Centre last Sunday. It was was so well attended that many had to be turned away from the crowded hall.

When asked to expand on his views on clericalism in the Church, he used a phrase perhaps first coined by Hans Kung, when he suggested that there was a trickle-down effect associated with Papal infallibility that often flowed all the way down to the humble parish priest.

The clericalism cap … Continue reading →

Michael offered a prayer of the faithful today in memory of five Aboriginal people who died in tragic circumstances on the Block during the past week. Picking up on the theme of Remembrance Day, he asked that we all stand in silence as a mark of respect for the lives of these five individuals.

After less than 30 seconds, Joe Pelle resumed the Mass.

When asked why he couldn’t wait the whole minute, Pelle responded "Michael, you have to let us know what you are doing … you have to give us an idea of what you are doing …"

… Continue reading →

The Mouse was a tad late this morning, but was assured by those who take their church going much more seriously that before Mass today Clesio Mendes, accompanied by his assistant Joe Pelle, made a pronouncement to the effect that there were to be no statements made in the Church by community members unless they had been vetted by the clergy. He clearly stated that violation of this edict would be punished by cancelation of the Mass.

Furthermore, Mendes and Pelle are now making noises about taking control of the community’s informal liturgy group.

The Neocat clergy have never been … Continue reading →

Several months ago the community wrote to a selection of cardinals in the Vatican in an attempt to inform them about the appalling behaviour of the Neocats in Redfern. There was an infinitesimally small hope, but no delusion, that the letters might have had some influence on the recent Vatican review of The Way’s status.

Each letter was copied to the Australian Apostolic Nuncio, the Most Reverend Ambrose de Paoli, and finished with the following postscript:

• Please visit our website, https://church-mouse.net for extensive supporting documentation. The findings of the Tribunal of the Catholic Church of NSW and the … Continue reading →
  

It would appear that the Redfern Neocats have started recruiting in earnest. Just how this is meant to be compatible or consistent with the Archdiocese’s assurances that St Vincent’s is not a Neocatechumenate parish remains to be seen.

About 2 weeks ago posters and cards were distributed around parts of Redfern, and a small band of self-styled Neocat troubadours, led by a guitar strumming parish priest, processed through the streets, luring the odd unsuspecting local (and quite a few more of the less naïve who were simply interested in a free feed) to a barbecue in Redfern park to launch … Continue reading →

In this morning’s Sydney Morning Herald Religious Affairs Writer Linda Morris writes:

The head of Sydney’s Catholics has lashed out at an inner-city parish for treating church like an unruly political branch meeting.

Archbishop George Pell has accused the parishioners of St Vincent’s Catholic Church in Redfern of "sad and shameful attitudes" and mounting a "program of intimidation, harassment and disturbance" on holy occasions.

But parishioners say Cardinal Pell has appointed conservative priests insistent on "imposing an alien and hostile form of religion and liturgical worship" and has ignored their pleas to intervene.

Parishioners have taken their … Continue reading →

Back in June of last year Sister Dom wrote to the Cardinal about the unacceptable behaviour of the clergy of the Neocatechumenal Way that he had appointed to the parish of St Vincent’s Redfern. She received the following response:

Sister Dom has only recently replied to the good Cardinal with this letter:

18th May 2007

Your Eminence

I was deeply offended by your response to my letter dated the 15th June regarding the Neo-Catechumenate Priests of St Vincent’s. As a Vicar of Christ, … Continue reading →

Last Sunday there was a brief exchange between Marnie and the new pp, Mendes, after Mass. She suggested that now that there was a new order in place there might be an opportunity to start afresh (the Church Mouse’s words, not Marnie’s). His curt response, before turning his back on her and rushing off, was something to the effect that there would be no dialogue until the Community “showed respect for the Eucharist”.

The ongoing abuse of the Eucharist by these Neocat priests is a soul-destroying business. They use their control of its distribution virtually as a weapon against the … Continue reading →

Dear Gerry

I am disgusted with your behaviour in not allowing Marnie Kennedy to distribute communion at our Easter Ceremonies. I have tried to be patient with both you and Clesio but you have shown that you are determined to shut out as much as possible our community. Your letter of appeal read out to us about six month ago is just an outward sign of reconciliation that means nothing when at every turn you shut us out or exclude. You do not like our values of concern for the world. Your concern is for a personal spirituality that is … Continue reading →

Gerry,

On Saturday night after the Easter mass, a group of parishioners followed Marnie into the Sacristy, wanting to know why you had refused her the right to minister the Eucharist. I went in with my nana Eileen who, like all of us, had been shaken, disturbed and deeply hurt by the whole incident. In typical Eileen style, I’m sure she had wanted to give you a piece of her mind. After the arguing that took place in the room, one of your offsiders said something along the lines of: “Now everyone go away. Happy Easter. Go away.” … Continue reading →