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.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
In this Google Photos Album, we share the happy photos from the beautiful liturgies for the Christmas Vigil masses. Christmas . Community . Choir . Families . Flowers . WE CELEBRATE! Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
David’s Place Annual Mass. Parishioner and Parish Pastoral Council member, Daphne O'Brien says, "It was a privilege to witness such genuine warmth, loving friendship, respect and inclusion amongst the 80 + mass goers. One of the special highlights was Bishop Danny Meagher, (well known to many of the David's Place people from his former role), took the time to greet everyone present personally, ably assisted by Sue Buckingham. His presence, participation and very natural manner clearly made the day for many.
Julieta, 18, is a Grade 10 student at NOSSEF Secondary School Her story combines the commendable traits of kindness, deep faith and action. It’s an example of how a good Catholic education can lift poor children living in desperate rural circumstances and provide them with opportunity in life.
𝕴𝖙’𝖘 𝖇𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖋𝖊𝖊𝖑 𝖆 𝖑𝖔𝖙 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝕮𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖒𝖆𝖘! But here at St Canice's on Gaudete (Joyful) Sunday, it was beginning to feel a lot more like ‘community’ once more. Being ‘joyful’ Sunday, a catered ‘morning tea’ 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.
