Category Archives: Our pastors

The recently-appointed parish priest of inner-city Redfern has had to stand over a female parishioner to demand she "swallow" the communion wafer.

Press reports indicate growing hostility between Fr Gerry Prindiville and parishioners of the largely aboriginal St Vincent’s Parish.

Earlier this month, Fr Prindiville provoked the ire of congregation members by removing a photograph of the late Mum Shirl Smith that he claimed was inappropriately placed behind the altar. A co-founder of the first Aboriginal medical service, Mum Shirl is a mother figure to many local Aborigines.

A Neo-catechumenate priest has been appointed to the Redfern parish of St Vincent de Paul.

Fr Gerry Prindiville, an Australian priest on loan to the Sydney archdiocese from his home diocese of Newark, New Jersey, celebrated his first Mass at Redfern on Sunday, July 20.

A Neo-catechumenate deacon, Clesio do Nascimento Mendes, a Brazilian who is preparing for ordination for the Perth archdiocese, will assist him in parish ministry.

Fr Gerry Prindiville, a member of The Neocatechumenal Way, yesterday celebrated his first mass as parish priest of the high profile and largely indigenous inner Sydney parish priest of Redfern, following Archbishop George Pell’s Friday announcement of his appointment.

Fr Prindiville, an Australian who grew up in Perth, was ordained in 1995 as a diocesan priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, USA. For the past four years Fr Prindiville has been working in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the West Indies. He is on loan to the Archdiocese of Sydney for missionary work.

St Vincent´s has the largest … Continue reading →

Archbishop George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, has today announced the appointment of Fr Gerry Prindiville as Parish Priest of St Vincent’s, Redfern. Fr Prindiville will say his first Mass in the parish on Sunday 20 July 2003.

Fr Prindiville is an Australian who grew up in Perth. Later he moved to Canberra. He was a public servant for many years before deciding to pursue the priesthood, offering himself as a diocesan missionary priest after being formed through the Neocatechumenal Way.

Fr Prindiville was ordained in 1995 as a diocesan priest of the Archdiocese … Continue reading →

The Catholic community of Redfern, with the largest indigenous congregation in Australia, prays without a resident parish priest. But this could not stop yesterday’s celebration.

The state MP Linda Burney told the congregation of the historical significance of their church, St Vincent’s: "We celebrate the truth of Australia here, warts and all. This is the history we share. This is an honest place."

Ms Burney, the first indigenous member of the NSW Parliament, said the church was a bridge between the Aboriginal community and the church, and a welcoming place open to all people.

The Catholic community of Redfern, with the largest indigenous congregation in Australia, prays without a resident parish priest. But this could not stop yesterday’s celebration.

The Sydney Morning Herald this morning reports on the situation at St Vincent’s Parish, Redfern in inner-suburban Sydney which has been without a resident parish priest for a month.

State MP, Linda Burney, the first indigenous member of the NSW Parliament, told the congregation of the historical significance of their church, St Vincent’s: "We celebrate the truth of Australia here, warts and all. This is the history we share. This is an honest … Continue reading →

Fr Bob Irwin, provincial of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, has asked the parish priest of St Vincent de Paul Church, Redfern, Fr Peter Carroll, to withdraw from the parish.

“I believe Fr Peter has been placed in an intolerable position that is most unreasonable for any parish priest,” he said.

Fr Bob said he had asked the priest to withdraw “after much careful reflection and prayer, and conversations with many people, including the archdiocese”.

One of Australia’s largest and most historic indigenous church congregations wants its parish priest of eight months dismissed because he allegedly alienates Aborigines.

The dispute began when Fr Peter Carroll MSC demanded the removal of Aborigines gathered on the footpath outside St Vincent’s Catholic Church in Redfern, Sydney, before Sunday mass.

Under his predecessor, the legendary Fr Ted Kennedy, it was a tradition to disburse collection money to those waiting outside the church.

Father Robert Irwin
Provincial
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart

Dear Father Irwin

We have been authorised to write to you on behalf of those members of the community of St Vincent’s Redfern who attended the meeting on May 4, 2003 to discuss the future of St Vincent’s, and in particular the role of Father Peter Carroll as parish priest. Father Carroll was invited to attend but declined to do so. We understand that you were also invited.

The meeting was convened in the context of increasing concern for the spirit and charism of … Continue reading →

Guidelines for Appointment of Religious to Ministry with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

Prepared by a Sub-committee of the Founding Forum in consultation with ACLRI Aboriginal Issues Task Force. 1999.

Introduction

These guidelines are offered to Congregational Leaders for use in the appointment of religious to Ministry with Indigenous Australians. They are intended as support and assistance in this task, rather than imposition while at the same time reflecting and strongly asserting a shift in our manner of working with Indigenous Australians.