Category Archives: Our pastors

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

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 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 a ‘culture … Continue reading →

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 →

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.

21 June 2004

Dear Gerry,

I am writing in response to your open letter in the bulletin. I felt the need to respond both, as a member of the Community of St Vincent’s Church, Redfern and, also as a Religious sister who has worked for the church for many years as a teacher and in Social Justice. I have been involved in different ministries – Teaching, A Shelter for Homeless Men, Women’s refugee, Forbes St House in Redfern, lived with the people of Wilcannia and more.

I feel that in some of your comments you do not really understand … Continue reading →

The Saving Word, 20 June 2004

Reply to Open Letter

I note the points made in your open letter of 10th June, 2004. Not everyone in the parish agrees with your views on the carpets and the desirability for an austere church.

I disagree that any changes made to the church including the carpets are ostentatious in any way. Any changes made to the church have been to work towards a dignified and spiritual environment in which all are welcome and find spiritual uplifting. I, personally, and many others to whom I have spoken find the church, as … Continue reading →

Thursday, 10 June 2004

Fr. Gerry Prindiville,
Parish Priest,
St. Vincent’s Catholic Church, Redfern

Dear Fr. Gerry,

Re: Open Letter re St Vincent’s Church Buildings and Furnishings

A few weeks before Easter, you approved the installation of two carpets within the Church, the larger square spreading under the Altar, the smaller "runner" going up under the Magisterial Chair-on-a-Podium/Platform, also installed since your arrival. While no announcement was made about these carpets, on request you mentioned to some of the community that they "had been a gift". Perhaps the gift was meant as a sign of paying respect to … Continue reading →

Online Catholics Issue 3, 9 June 2004

A plea for intervention by Cardinal Pell in the increasingly fraught situation in the Aboriginal parish of St Vincent’s, Redfern, was apparently withheld from him for two months.

Br Michael Gravener, a St John of God Brother and a social worker at the Block, wrote to the Cardinal in April. Br Gravener believes that Aboriginal people are being denied basic justice by a model of ministry offered by the Diocesan Neo-Catechumenate priests. "There is a failure to acknowledge Aboriginal spirituality by our current parish priests, and a … Continue reading →

Online Catholics Issue 1, 26 May 2004

Australian Bishops have failed to show regard for Aboriginal people by refusing a request to draft Guidelines for Clergy who work with indigenous Australians, according to Sr Marnie Kennedy, rscj.

Marnie Kennedy is the sister of the now ailing Fr Ted Kennedy, who was parish priest at St Vincent’s Catholic Church in Redfern, Sydney, for 30 years. Her statement comes as a response to the decision by the recent Bishops’ Conference to turn down a request from that parish, which was directed to the Secretary of the Bishops’ … Continue reading →