Category Archives: Our pastors

The 1992 papal exhortation, Pastores Dabo Vobis , (meaning “I shall give you shepherds”) can be found on the Vatican web site. The evidence suggests that at least the following sections might have been overlooked during the selection of pastors for the parish of St Vincent’s Redfern.

They are Part 43, under the subsection heading Human Formation, the Basis of All Priestly Formation:

… priests should therefore cultivate a series of human qualities, not only out of proper and due growth and realization of self, but also with a view to the ministry. These qualities are needed for them to be balanced people, strong and free, capable of bearing the weight of pastoral responsibilities. They need to be educated to love the truth, to be loyal, to respect every person, to have a sense of justice, to be true to their word, to be genuinely compassionate, to be men of integrity and, especially, to be balanced in judgment and behaviour. A simple and demanding program for this human formation can be found in the words of the apostle Paul to the Philippians: “Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8). It is interesting to note that Paul, precisely in these profoundly human qualities, presents himself as a model to his faithful, for he goes on to say: “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do” (Phil. 4:9).
Of special importance is the capacity to relate to others. This is truly fundamental for a person who is called to be responsible for a community and to be a “man of communion.” This demands that the priest not be arrogant, or quarrelsome, but affable, hospitable, sincere in his words and heart, prudent and discreet, generous and ready to serve, capable of opening himself to clear and brotherly relationships and of encouraging the same in others, and quick to understand, forgive and console (cf. 1 Tm. 3:1-5; Ti. 1:7-9). ….. Today this is one of the most eloquent signs and one of the most effective ways of transmitting the Gospel message.


And Part 72, under the subsection heading Different Dimensions of Ongoing Formation:

The People of God should be able to say about the priest, who has increasingly matured in human sensitivity, something similar to what we read about Jesus in the letter to the Hebrews: “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning” (Heb. 4:15).



Contact details for the appointed pastors at St Vincent’s:

108 Great Buckingham St Redfern, NSW Australia, 2016
PO Box 1067, Strawberry Hills, NSW Australia, 2012
Phone: +61 (0)2 9698 3030 or +61 (0)400 335 220
Fax: +61 (0)2 9699 9808
Email: stvinred@bigpond.net.au

Warning – these individuals are Neocats!

The Canberra Times, Thursday Aug 26 2004 p18

Not a Catholic

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Ralph has recently returned to St Vincent’s after an absence of many weeks following a particularly unpleasant encounter with the Neocat clergy in which Clesio Mendes told him in no uncertain terms that he was not a Catholic, and that he was allowing himself to be led astray by the community. This was not the first time that a member of the community has been attacked in this manner.

On January 30 Ralph wrote this letter to the bishops of Australia:

To date he has received … Continue reading →

Neocat paparazzi

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For years now, many at St Vincent’s have been unable to take communion from the Neocat clergy who despise the community so, and have elected to share only in the Blood of Christ from the solitary non-Neocat Eucharistic minister.

This seems to have recently come to the attention to the ever alert Clesio Mendes, who queried communicants a week or two ago as to why they weren’t queuing up for the Eucharist from the Neocats.

So today parishioners were intrigued by a dark haired woman who appeared to be using her mobile phone to photograph those receiving the Blood of … Continue reading →

Thanks be to George

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Well folks, in the absence of any notification to the contrary – or any notification at all, despite numerous attempts to contact the presbytery about the matter over the last week – the customary Sunday Mass was celebrated at St Vincent’s today.

Before saying Mass, Clesio Mendes read out the following letter from Cardinal George Pell:


Message to Redfern Parish – Cardinal George Pell, 20/12/2008

The Church Mouse welcomes this even-handed request for peace at Redfern from one who has in the past given the Neocat … Continue reading →

Sunday Mass denied and Christmas Meal threatened

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Notice that appeared on the church door today Clesio Mendes, and, it would appear, Cardinal George Pell and Bishop Julian Porteous, have unilaterally found the St Vincent’s community guilty of interrupting the Mass.

In fact, the Mass was interrupted by Pelle and Mendes, who tried to stifle the Prayers of the Faithful – see Denied Sunday Mass Again.

Their action precipitated numerous letters from the community to Bishop Porteous, administering the archdiocese in Cardinal Pell’s absence

The following email was received on Friday night:

Date Fri, Dec … Continue reading →

Denied Sunday Mass again

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At the prayers of the faithful this morning, Len started with the following:

I came across some words on the internet the other day:

“Everyone has a place in the church, every person without exception should be able to feel at home and never rejected”

They were on a banner outside St Mary’s church in South Brisbane.

Some might describe these as words of “pretend christianity”, but they were actually spoken by Pope Benedict XVI.

I pray for a church where positive words like these are put into action.

He got as far as “pretend christianity” (a phrase borrowed from … Continue reading →

Sunday 2nd Nov – No Souls’ Day

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The gospel for All Souls’ Day spoke of Jesus as the compassionate and loving one, inviting the burdened and laden to come to Him. The readings were ones of joy and celebration. After mass the community was invited for a “cuppa” at the Gathering Place on The Block. It was looking like a great Sunday.

At the Prayers of the Faithful, Clare opened her heart about her grief at the recent passing of her uncle.

A priest of the Canberra/Goulburn Diocese ordained some 60 years ago, he served the people of God in a quiet, unassuming manner. She spoke about … Continue reading →

George’s “power of good”

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The following article appeared in last weekend’s Sunday Telegraph column by George Pell.

Porto San Giorgio

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
28 September 2008

Last Sunday I travelled with a group of Aussies for a unique ceremony to Porto San Giorgio, a small holiday resort on the Adriatic coast north east of Rome.

250 young men were assigned to 72 seminaries of the Neo-Catechumenal Way around the world to begin their studies for the Catholic priesthood. 56 were from Italy and 35 from Spain, the largest groups.

Australians are used to something of the immense … Continue reading →

Respectfully yours

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The following was sent to the parish priest, Clesio Mendes, today, by a community member. The pp and his assistant refused to speak to Sr Marnie Kennedy when she approached them after the 10am Mass. They simply ignored her, refusing to engage in any way at all.

Dear Clesio,

I trust this e-mail will find you in good spirits.

I am writing to address my concern with regards to what transpired after Mass today.

Sr Marnie had approached you and was ignored. When Sr Sheila brought this to your attention, you asked that respect be shown to you.

Respect – … Continue reading →

Neocats eject priest

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On Sunday, August 24, 2008, Fr Peter Maher, an accredited InterPlay leader, was to conduct a workshop entitled “Holistic Spirituality Can Be Fun” at St Vincent’s. Peter has conducted similar workshops at many venues, including overseas. He was specifically invited by the community, with which he has been associated for  about 25 years, to hold one at Redfern. Details of the workshop had been announced at Sunday Masses for several weeks, and all were invited to attend.

The workshop never happened – Clesio Mendes had his cronies eject Fr Peter Maher from St Vincent’s Church after lying in wait by … Continue reading →