Weekend evening masses at St Vincent\u2019s are usually attended by one or two dozen people. While parish priest Prindiville remains adamant that they are parish masses, the Neocat presence is oppressive and out of all proportion to the size of the congregation. In attendance there are typically two priests and a number of seminarians, who actively discourage any attempts by non-Neocats to contribute to the masses, by, for instance, talking over anyone who dares to offer a Prayer of the Faithful, and denying community members \u2013 even qualified Eucharistic Ministers \u2013 the right to distribute communion.<\/p>\n
All this despite the fact that for at least three decades under Ted Kennedy Redfern was a most inclusive parish where the all were unconditionally welcome to play a very active role. Surely the vitality of any parish is dependent upon the meaningful engagement and participation of its members.<\/p>\n
A meeting – attended by St Vincent\u2019s community members, Prindiville, assistant Sudla, and sundry followers of the way – was held after today\u2019s 10am mass to discuss community concerns over the alien (and alienating) liturgy being imposed by the Neocat clerics. <\/p>\n
It was hardly surprising that the meeting quickly turned into a passionate display of the intense feeling between the two groups when Prindiville condescendingly told the community that whilst HE \u201cgave us the freedom\u201d to do what we wanted in the morning mass, he \u201ccontrolled\u201d the evening ones . He also stated that it was because of the community’s behaviour that people were dropping away from St Vincent\u2019s. <\/p>\n
He again confirmed that these were parish, not Neocat, masses and there was to be no input from the community. The community was also advised that they were no longer permitted to acknowledge that they were on Aboriginal land before these masses. <\/p>\n
In response to the community\u2019s outburst, Prindiville retreated from the lectern to where community member Len was standing, making a photographic record of the meeting. He proceeded to try to seize Len\u2019s camera, demanding that no pictures be taken in the church. There was a brief struggle, with Len warning that he would \u201csue the collar off\u201d Prindiville if he damaged the camera, and demanding that the \u201cmiserable wretch\u201d stop the assault. Immediately several Neocats surrounded Len, including GianPietro and Sudla who, apropos of God knows what, chimed in with \u201cyou needn\u2019t talk \u2013 look at your hand\u201d. (Len\u2019s right hand was damaged in a school accident over 40 years ago.) Sudla has on many occasions demonstrated a capacity for base and cowardly behaviour especially towards women of the community \u2013 it appears now anyone with a bit of a disability is fair game as well. THIS IS A PRIEST??? <\/p>\n
The confrontation was defused by the approach of several non-Neocat males, whereupon Sudla commandeered the lectern, and shouting into the microphone berated the community that its prayers of the faithful were not prayers but statements, and political ones at that, and that the motives behind the prayers were not Christian. One member of the congregation switched off the public address system, and Prindiville promptly and angrily turned it back on again. Mary Lou, chairing the meeting, several times tried to ask Sudla to let someone else have a say, but he maintained his blanket accusations to the refrain of \u201cthat’s true! that’s true!\u201d from Prindiville. Mayhem broke out and another member of the congregation, frustrated with his insulting accusations, went up and swung the microphone away from Sudla. <\/p>\n
The Neocat contingent stormed out of the church amidst angry, frustrated cries of derision and disbelief. As Prindiville and Sudla passed Len, who was still reeling from the verbal and physical abuse administered by the pair, cried out \u201cGet out of my church, Satan!\u201d and Prindiville spat back \u201cWhat do you think YOU are!?\u201d <\/p>\n
The discussion that ensued in their absence tried in vain to make sense out of what had happened. No one was left in doubt at that point of the futility of any further attempts at exchange. It would seem that dialogue with these people is impossible on any terms other than \u201cI am the priest – shut up and do as I say\u201d. <\/p>\n
Some time later Prindiville and one of the seminarians returned, presumably to lock up. Realising as they approached that most of the community was still in the church, they beat a hasty retreat to cries of \u201cShame! Shame!\u201d from a group of Aboriginal members of the community gathered outside.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Weekend evening masses at St Vincent\u2019s are usually attended by one or two dozen people. While parish priest Prindiville remains adamant that they are parish masses, the Neocat presence is oppressive and out of all proportion to the size of the congregation. In attendance there are typically two priests and a number of seminarians, who actively discourage any attempts by non-Neocats to contribute to the masses, by, for instance, talking over anyone who dares to offer a Prayer of the Faithful, and denying community members \u2013 even qualified Eucharistic Ministers \u2013 the right to distribute communion.<\/p>\n
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