๐•ด๐–™โ€™๐–˜ ๐–‡๐–Š๐–Œ๐–Ž๐–“๐–“๐–Ž๐–“๐–Œ ๐–™๐–” ๐–‹๐–Š๐–Š๐–‘ ๐–† ๐–‘๐–”๐–™ ๐–‘๐–Ž๐–๐–Š ๐•ฎ๐–๐–—๐–Ž๐–˜๐–™๐–’๐–†๐–˜!

But here at St Canice’sย on Gaudete (Joyful) Sunday, it was beginning to feel a lot more like โ€˜communityโ€™ once more.๏ฟผ

Fr Nico Lariosa SJ and Fr Dave Ryan SJ concelebrate

Young, old and newcomers alike enjoyed the music. Our thanks to Claudine playing our wonderful organ (gifted by the JC Williamson family back in the 1920s); and Graham beautifully playing his violin. Being able to sing the hymns led by todayโ€™s Cantor, Robyn, was also a most welcome towards normality.๏ฟผ๏ฟผ
Being โ€˜joyfulโ€™ Sunday, a catered โ€˜morning teaโ€™ was put on by the idefatigable Lynelle and her band of helpersin the hall under the church. So many of the community trundled down the street to join in the Christmas merriment๏ฟผ.
Our Mass today was celebrated by Fr Nico Lariosa S J from St Aloysius๏ฟผ assisted by Fr Dave Ryan SJ. Many of the old-timers were very pleased to see parish manager of many years Elizabeth Strutt accompanied by her son, Mark, sitting next to her old partner in crime, Fr Steve Sinn SJ.
The Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council, Brian Anderson, presented an outline of the parish pastoral plan for 2022๏ฟผ. He also acknowledged the work of Helen Campbell, who has been a catechist at the Darlinghurst public school for many years as well as preparing children for the sacraments here at St Caniceโ€™s.๏ฟผ We now seek somebody to step into Helenโ€™s very big shoes.
In Fr Nicoโ€™s homily he reassured all that the Lord is in our midst rejoicing over us with gladness, renewing us in his love.
Here at St Caniceโ€™s, the Lord renews us with love as we walk with the excluded in St Canices Kitchen providing meals and a welcome . The marginalized have a home here with us in Davidโ€˜s Place. And, we continue to engage as good neighbours do with the people of our sister parish in Jesuit Railaco Mission in East Timor.