Situation At Redfern Painful

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
1/8/2006

The situation at Redfern continues to be painful.  Those who want a situation of peace are unable or unwilling to control the extremists.

The parish clergy continue to have my full support.  They have been subject to regular abuse, harassment and provocation, often during Mass itself, which I have never encountered anywhere else.  This usually does not occur when the press is invited to be present.

When Father Ted Kennedy resigned as parish priest at St. Vincent’s Redfern he was replaced by Father Peter Carroll, M.S.C.  Despite receiving Father Kennedy’s blessing prior to his appointment, Father Carroll was driven from the parish by a small group, most of whom were not locals and none of whom were indigenous.  During Father Carroll’s time at the parish, and during the latter years of Father Kennedy’s administration, only four indigenous people came to Mass.

Following Father Carroll’s departure, the priests of the Neo-catechumenal Way were appointed to care for the parish.  They are fully Catholic and orthodox and there is also in addition currently one missionary family living and working in the parish with them, soon to be joined by a second resident missionary family.

The role of the few aborigines who come to Mass is not one of the issues of contention, but the challenges presented by the human suffering in Redfern are enormous.

The most precious thing the parish has to offer is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the regular service which must accompany this.