Our ‘Stories’

I am involved in many Ministries here and love every moment. I have made wonderful friendships and my self-confidence has grown 100 percent. It is so important to belong to a community and I have found mine here.

I believe that by prayer, silence and discernment we are led by God.God speaks so strongly to us through stories, our own, others.

I like the thought-provoking homilies/ sermons and great care from our Jesuit Community; carrying the Cross thru the “Cross” on Good Friday (powerful); happy social events and rooftop or kitchen get-togethers---all are part of this special place. And I know miracles happen here.

It’s a privilege to be here in St Canice with its inner-city attractions and challenges so different from my last parish, Sevenhill, centred as it was in a vineyard in the beautiful Clare Valley of South Australia.

My mother was involved in just about everything in my hometown in country NSW, and I guess I’m following in her footsteps. We never have a dull day or moment in the Parish office, so just love coming back. St Canice’s is so much bigger than Cooma, but the community here is still very warm and welcoming.

I was ordained a priest at Loyola College, Madras, South India in 1982. With the late General Father Pedro Arrupe SJ’s invitation for the "option for the poor", I did work in remote educational institutions of the province, especially in St. John de Britto School and Shrine, Oriyur, South India for quite some time.

I was very grateful to visit East Timor and have the chance to stay in our sister parish in Railaco. Highlights included: feeding the children; visiting the villages; and visiting the prison with Fr Bong when he said Mass for the prisoners.

St Canice's is a place of prayer, a place that sustains my faith, a place where I meet a lot of wonderful people.

When Lourdes' parents passed away in Goa, she was sent to live with Mother Theresa. There she looked after the street children and has very fond memories of that special time. Now, Lourdes is devout, honest, fun, humble, loving, sometimes mischievous and cares for all. She loves the Eucharist and Mass. She is a friend to everyone and an exceptional member of the St. Canice Family.

For me St Canice's is a parish where differences exist but tolerance and dialogue retained helped I believe by a critical mass of parishioners/ stalwarts who are wise enough (and good/wickedly humoured enough) not to sweat the small stuff but who hang because of what matters.

I embrace the opportunity to live my faith guided by Ignatian principles; the great sense of welcome and friendship that I feel from others in the St Canice community; and a feeling that I am part of a parish that truly ‘lives the teachings of the gospels’.

Serves on Parish Pastoral Council and St Canice's Kitchen Committee