REFLECTIONS
Father Ted Kennedy
St Vincent's Redfern 1971 - 2002
 
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A compilation of reflections by Community members presented to Ted Kennedy on his retirement as parish priest of the St Vincent's Catholic Church in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern.
 
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Fr Ted Kennedy

Reflections 1
Reflections 2
Reflections 3
Reflections 4
Reflections 5
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Who is Worthy?
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When I first went to Redfern in the early eighties I felt as if I was hearing the gospel for the first time. It was as if I was seeing with new eyes. I felt very challenged by it. Ted's homilies made me look at the words of Scripture from another place altogether. Redfern was connected with the Forbes St Community where I lived with the Blessed Sacrament Sisters. A place where people were welcomed especially Aboriginal people and where Street Retreats were run.

Redfern takes in a wide circle of people from Wilcannia, Dubbo, Wagga, Toowoomba, Mittagong etc, etc. People who live away from Redfern but are still a part of it.

I think of the time of the launch of Ted's book and the people who were there and there would have been lots who weren't. That says a lot about Ted Kennedy I think. Most of all Redfern is the faces of people, Aboriginal people who were so welcoming and ready to share.

Redfern is memories of Mum Shirl and the children.

I feel when you are away Redfern is like a well where you return to drink in the spirit of the place to be nourished and resourced.

It has changed and yet in another way it is the same; you still find the same spirit there - a spirit of welcome, challenge, trust, ordinary life, commitment to justice for all people especially Aboriginal people, a home where people feel they belong, are part of Something. This I believe is Ted's legacy.


by Sheila Quonoey
 

 

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