A hearty thank you to all the organizers of this year's Sharing the Meal Christmas party, and to the many who contributed their time and/or resources to make it possible.

According to Clare
You can view photos of the occasion here.

The following arrived today from Fr David Lancini, p.p. of Kirwan in Queensland. David, a great friend of Fr John's, comes to Sydney for his annual holidays and helps out at The Meal for the two weeks that he is here. Over the many years that he has been doing this he had got to know Mary and Trevor.

He intends to put the following story on the front of his Parish Bulletin

Trevor's funeral service will take place at St Vincent's, Redfern next Monday at 11 a.m. It will be a combined service with the Salvation Army in accordance with the wishes of his mother, Mary.

The following letter was sent today:


Although there were Spanish/Portuguese speaking pilgrims in attendance at St Vincent's for catechesis sessions during WYD week, none were present on Tuesday or Friday morning to witness or participate in Sharing the Meal.

You might then ask how did the pilgrims come to be so impressed with the Meal that they made this generous, unsolicited donation?

Perhaps they were moved by the photos of past meals hanging at the back of the church, for it seems highly unlikely and totally out of character that the Neocat parish clergy would have sung its praises.

Mendes and Pelle (and their predecessors) have steadfastly avoided any involvement with this, or any other, community activity. They can't even find the time or inclination to help 70+ year old volunteers carry the occasional crate of food or piece of equipment when asked. Furthermore they have heaped scorn and discouragement on the Meal and its volunteers, even describing it as the sort of thing that an atheist could do (no doubt the worst kind of curse that a Neocat could muster).

The volunteers work under difficult conditions. Despite numerous requests to the parish clergy over the years for basic facilities, water still has to be brought into the back of the church from outside, and the Aboriginal Medical Service makes its toilets available for those who partake of the Meal. So imagine the surprise when a toilet block was constructed adjacent to the church in recent weeks. How can the archdiocese justify building temporary toilets for WYD pilgrims while not providing running water for its own disadvantaged?

Or has the Spirit moved, in some inscrutably strange way, to have the Neocats experience a change of heart? Dare the community hope that a new era of co-operation has dawned?

Sharing the Meal co-ordinator Kate Gavan was presented with a green bag this morning after the 9am Mass by Clesio Mendes and Joe Pelle. They told her that the World Youth Day pilgrims who attended St Vincent's saw what was being done for the poor and wished to offer some support.

So impressed were the pilgrims with the Sharing of the Meal that they collected $1600 in loose coins and notes - the contents of the bag.

They also offered their assurance of continuing prayers for the poor, and for peace in our community.

Bishop David Cremin came to St Vincent's this morning to show his support for the community and dedicate a photo of Fr Ted Kennedy mounted in the church foyer as a sign of welcome to all.

The bishop chose Naidoc Day in post-Apology Australia to visit Redfern, unveiling the picture of Ted as another gesture of the community's recommitment to Reconciliation with Aboriginal brothers and sisters.

Aboriginal member of parliament Linda Burney last week said that many Aboriginal people regard that Apology in a manner similar to the "coming-down" of the Berlin Wall.

The community also wanted to make a gesture of welcome to the WYD pilgrims that the parish clergy has tried so hard to keep secret.

The bishop mingled with those who had come for the Sharing of the Meal - diners and helpers alike. Mendes and Pelle were, as usual, not in attendance, despite being advised by Bishop Cremin that he was coming on a "peace mission".