ST. CANICE NEWS
May 2020
Railaco mobile medical clinic
The mobile clinic was started in 2004 by the Jesuits in Timor-Leste with support from the benefactors and donors of St Canice's Parish in Sydney, Australia. Jesuit priest and doctor Fr Bong Abad Santos SJ and his team travel to different remote villages to attend to the sick and to preside over Masses.
Mass for The Solemnity of Mary, Our Lady Help of Christians
Welcome to this special Mass from the Lady Chapel of St Canice’s Church in Elizabeth Bay for the Solemnity of Mary, Our Lady Help of Christians.. Our intention this morning, through the Covid-19 crisis, is to ask for Our Lady’s help.
Mass of Intercession in times of Covid-19
This special Mass for the Feast Day of Our Lady Help of Christians will be brought to you from the Lady Chapel of St Canice’s in Elizabeth Bay. The Lady Chapel has been at the heart of our church for generations. . . . and at this time of Covid-19 concerns, it seems to be the appropriate place to ask Our Lady to intercede, and care for us as a Mother . . . . The Special Liturgy will be available for you to join on YouTube by the end of the week.
Bonifacio’s First Vows – the fruit of our longstanding relationship with Railaco
Among the many good fruits cultivated by the two parishes is Jesuit scholastic, Bonifacio Bano Lay Ribeiro SJ. This 23-year-old Railaco parishioner has just taken his first vows as a Jesuit. Bonifacio first experienced the St Canice / Railaco relationship as a child benefitting from the Children’s Feeding Program, and also studied and graduated from the Railaco Jesuit Secondary School, NOSSEF.
April 2020
Downloadable publication of Pope’s prayers and homilies now available
The Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See is making available a downloadable book entitled “Strong in the Face of Tribulation”, containing prayers, supplications and the Pope’s homilies as “a sure support in time of trial”. “A little help offered to all, so as to know how to discern and experience God’s closeness and tenderness in pain, in suffering, in solitude and in fear,” writes Andrea Tornielli, the editorial director of Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, presenting Strong in the Face of Tribulation: The Church in Communion – a Sure Support in Time of Trial.
Farming and Leadership in Railaco – ‘True Grit in Spades’
Some years ago, the Jesuits were offered ten hectares of land about seven kilometres from the school. In October of 2019, taking the initiative and drawing on his family background in agriculture, Br Apu was able to organise the ‘dormers’ (as they are affectionately known) to begin work on a farm. This would provide food not only for the ‘dormers’, but for the Railaco Jesuit community, and other students in the NOSSEF canteen.
Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) – Homily by Fr Frank Brennan SJ
Fr Frank Brennan SJ Rector, Newman College, University of Melbourne
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week.These palm branches at the front of St Canice's are the symbol of Christ’s triumphal entry into the hearts of believers and are a reminder of salvation.
March 2020
Mass in times of Covid-19
We apologise that St Canice Church (only) is closed for all services . . .Please see post.
December 2019
Christmas Masses 2019
It's encouraging to see that it's possible to reach beyond our dedicated parish community and attract even more people from the surrounding area to come and celebrate Christmas at St Canice's. The attendance at all four Masses over Christmas exceeded previous years. We pray that we might refine our social media message to appeal to even more people to come to St Canice's at times other than Christmas and Easter.
Fr Brendan Byrne SJ – Advent
Advent is a season of waiting; the time when the Church longs for the coming of the Lord. In his homily, Fr Brendan explains that In this longing the Church looks in two directions, so to speak. Backward to the Lord’s first coming as a child born to Mary in Bethlehem. Forward to his second coming as Son of Man at the end of time.
November 2019
David’s Place gift to Railaco
When a ‘widows mite’ adds up to an incredible $4,500 donation for the boys dormitory at Nossef in Railaco, it’s time to celebrate. We heap loads of thanks on the wonderful community of David’s Place for this effort. Personal contributions ranging from only a matter of cents, to asking friends to support a good cause, and even creating paintings that were sold to raise additional monies.