ST. CANICE NEWS
June 2022
Confirmation Gathering 2022
A beautiful parish gathering this morning for so many reasons - Bishop Richard Umbers visits to confirm five our own young people . We bid Fr Paul Fyfe SJ adieu as he goes on sabbatical this week, and welcome Fr Sacha Goldman SJ to the parish to 'mind the fort' with Fr Dave.
The Bridge Community Bathurst
Greetings from a chilly Bathurst. This Newsletter will focus on Nancy’s Place, the house Marie Bourke runs for vulnerable women, especially those coming out of prison. Marie returns to Melbourne at the end of the year, and I want to acknowledge her time here. I am going to miss her terribly; we share the faith and have been a good team. The only thing that makes it easier for me is that I know it is right for Marie to move and I know the Lord with provide for next year. After all, it is His work. Please keep us in your prayers. Thank you for your friendship and support. Without that support we would not be able to go on. Be assured of our prayers when we gather in the morning at mass, Steve and Marie
+RIP Gerard Brennan
Long-time St Canice's parishioner, Sir Gerard Brennan, the former Chief Justice of the High Court, died in Sydney on Wednesday. He was 94. When it came to St Canices, the humble man preferred that we drop the honorific, Sir. He was Gerard Brennan, parishioner. We extend our sincere condolences to all of Gerard‘s family in particular to Fr Frank Brennan SJ, who has been a major part of our parish for many years.
May 2022
Special Liturgy St Ignatius Feast Day 31 July
The captivating aspect about our St Canice special liturgies in the past is that they have been well-choreographed, unique local expressions of this cultural aspiration - quality music and congregational singing, indigenous tribute, local educational involvement – and as one with our near neighbours at the Railaco Jesuit Mission in East Timor.
The Provincial Fr Quyen Vu visits
Jesuit Provincial Fr Quyen Vu SJ had the opportunity to meet some of our parishioners including from David's Place and others on the Parish Pastoral Council after the 10.30 am Mass today.
NOSSEF 20th Anniversary Video
Fr. Hyoe Murayama SJ Director of NOSSEF shares a special video marking the 20th anniversary of the Secondary School in our sister parish of Railaco. It highlights the St Canice’s connection, and the foundational role that so many of our parishioners, past and present, have played. Thank you.
March 2022
2021 End of Year Report Railaco Jesuit Mission
The Jesuits and the people of Railaco are most grateful for the continuing support of St Canice parishioners, but perhaps more importantly in the knowing that we continue to stand in solidarity with them in such challenging times.
Canice’s Conversations – Fr Steve Sinn SJ
It’s wonderful to be back here at St Canice’s and see so many people I love, and have come to love, to know their stories. It’s such a privilege. I’ll try to hold myself together. Up to now, I've not gone back and looked at my time here, I've not unpacked the stories, it’s hard to do that.
February 2022
𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕘 𝔸𝕕𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕤 𝕄𝕒𝕤𝕤
The parish’s Young Adults Mission team launched a Sunday 6:00pm young adults mass this week. This will be happening every week from now on. We enjoyed supper afterwards with pizza and drinks. This first mass was celebrated by Franciscan priest, Fr Francesco Basnayake OFM, who concluded his homily by saying that the future of the church in Australia is no longer in the hands of the priests like him – 'it is with you, the young people'.
My “Best” Christmas and New Year Celebrations – Philip Heng SJ
Fr Phillip Heng SJ, a Singaporean Jesuit, has recently arrived in Timor from Singapore to join the Jesuit Mission.He celebrated Mass at Christmas in one of the Railaco villages and has written a description of his experience. The story illustrates how important our sister parish relationship is in helping these people to obtain an education that will enable them to improve the quality of their life and improve the living standard of their nation. Your donations make this possible.
January 2022
Visit of Fr Chris Jenkins SJ
It's some years since Fr Chris Jenkins SJ left us to take up a new 'mission' at Sevenhill in South Australia. He has now been transferred as parish priest in the large Adelaide Jesuit parish of Norwood (where Fr Gaetan is also now serving).We were pleased to welcome Fr Chris back to Sydney for a well-earned break.
‘Update from Nossef Railaco’ 2021
To our Friends and Benefactors, This past year 2021 was also marked with the pandemic. Timor-Leste also faced the destructive power of natural disasters such as heavy rains and flash floods. Since October there have been fewer or sometimes no cases of COVID-19 in the Timor-Leste daily report, but attention still needs to be paid. Our academic year 2021 ended peacefully in Railaco, and we’d like to express our gratitude to all our collaborators and supporters who have helped our teachers and students in this difficult time in various ways through scholarships, teacher salary grants, generous donations of supplies, and prayer messages. Since mid-September, NOSSEF Secondary School has resumed its regular campus activities. The students express their joy of studying together.