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Last Saturday (23 July), the Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service - built on land adjacent to the Church - opened its gates to provide a space for a 6pm Community Mass celebrated by Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO. Frank is also a lawyer, and the Director of Uniya, the Jesuit Social Justice Centre in Sydney.

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At least 25 community members shared in a wonderfully tension-free Eucharist on a site almost as significant as St Vincent’s itself.

[Image] Frank entrusted to the Community the hand woven stole he acquired recently in Jerusalem and wore to say Mass, with a request that the worsening plight of the diminishing number of Christians in the Holy Land be kept in mind whenever it is used. Shireen - Just a Closer Walk with Thee [Image] [Image] Petals for peace - the wattle flowers used during Mass left at the locked Church door

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Several weeks ago the 6pm Saturday and Sunday Masses were moved out of the church and into the presbytery around the corner, unannounced other than by way of a subtle timetable change in the church bulletin at the beginning of July. [Image] The Community has been advised that this may be a breach of canon law. A candlelight vigil was held on the church steps outside the locked door on the following two Saturday evenings. [Image] [Image] Despite the cold weather, the vigil attracted up to 20 of the "frozen few", including 5 or 6 Aboriginal people. [Image]