This outdated model of the Catholic Church's structure no longer incarnates the reality of the lived experience of believers, the staggering majority of whom live in societies that are becoming more and more, and to varying degrees, participatory and representative democracies. A Church where the most important decisions are made almost exclusively by a celibate male clergy, and where bishops are held to little or no accountability, is unsustainable in a world where patriarchal and monarchical societies – begrudgingly, but steadily – are ceding rights and duties to those who are not part of the nobility, the clergy or one specific gender.

Working with communities that face significant disadvantage takes a holistic approach. At Canice’s Kitchen, this is our vision for the future. We want to ensure our community have access to crisis support and then the next step services which can assist in stabilising their lives. Education is a key part of the this process, one which we ensure is at the forefront of all we do. This covers education for our street community, our volunteers and the young people who are connected to our services. We seek to educate others to understand the power behind giving and the community that can be created when we walk beside someone in need.

Since September last year, the PPC has been working hard to make St Canice’s a truly thriving Catholic community. This newsletter contains various articles on the great work that the team has led and initiated in the last few months. I hope you will enjoy our newsletter as much as we enjoyed creating this communication.