cappie Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 EMBATTLED priest Father Peter Kennedy collapsed and was rushed to hospital last night. It was only hours after leading an emotional final Mass at St Mary's South Brisbane. With St Mary's full to overflowing during the 5pm Mass, 71-year-old Father Kennedy again exhorted his followers to continue as a congregation. However at some point after the service Father Kennedy fainted and was taken by ambulance to hospital about 7.45pm. It is understood he was taken to Brisbane's Mater Hospital but was not admitted. The fall was not serious but is indicative of the ageing priest's fragility as he enters the most trying week of his pastoral life. Father Kennedy last Thursday told The Courier-Mail he intended to continue attending services at St Mary's after his termination date but said Dean Ken Howell, appointed interim administrator by Archbishop Bathersby, was "welcome" to lead the Mass. "I don't intend to lead the Eucharist, I would simply be there," he said. A statement released from Archbishop Bathersby's office last night said he was sad to hear Father Kennedy was unwell. The priest's administration was terminated over complaints it was no longer "in communion with the Roman Catholic Church". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 He forgets Jesus also said "go and sin no more" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappie Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 Newly appointed St Mary's South Brisbane administrator, Fr Ken Howell, says he plans to visit the parish this week to plan for a "smooth transition" and hopes to launch a "process of healing" in the parish. Earlier, outgoing administrator Fr Peter Kennedy, 71, fainted and was rushed by ambulance to Brisbane's Mater Hospital on Sunday night, but was not admitted and is now resting at home. Administrator Fr Ken Howell said he intended to visit the parish this week to plan for a "smooth transition". He said he would also celebrate Mass on Sunday, the day after Fr Kennedy's termination is effective. "I look forward to visiting the parish during the week, so that there can be a smooth transition which ensures the celebration of Mass at St Mary's this weekend and the continuation of important parish activities such as its outreach to people at a social or economic disadvantage in our community," Fr Howell said in a statement. "As the new pastor of St Mary's I will be leading the parish in Mass this weekend and will be working to ensure that there is a process of healing. "My hope is we can move forward as a vibrant united community." He said he was alarmed to hear Fr Kennedy had taken ill and hoped he was recovering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappie Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby is expected to revoke Fr Peter Kennedy as St Mary's administrator today after Fr Kennedy said he would not meet a deadline to submit his resignation. LiveNews quoted Fr Kennedy as saying he had received a letter on Tuesday giving him until noon Wednesday to resign or be removed from the parish. "We received a letter from the Archbishop this morning (Tuesday) to say that unless I resign by midday tomorrow, then he would revoke my position as administrator of St Mary's," Fr Kennedy told ABC TV. "I am not going to resign and I am not going anywhere either." "We are not angry with the Dean and we are not angry with Archbishop Bathersby, I mean they are who they are and we are who we are I guess, and I am who I am," Fr Kennedy said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone _ Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 [quote name='cappie' post='1782109' date='Feb 15 2009, 08:31 PM']EMBATTLED priest Father Peter Kennedy collapsed and was rushed to hospital last night. It was only hours after leading an emotional final Mass at St Mary's South Brisbane. With St Mary's full to overflowing during the 5pm Mass, 71-year-old Father Kennedy again exhorted his followers to continue as a congregation. However at some point after the service Father Kennedy fainted and was taken by ambulance to hospital about 7.45pm. It is understood he was taken to Brisbane's Mater Hospital but was not admitted. The fall was not serious but is indicative of the ageing priest's fragility as he enters the most trying week of his pastoral life. Father Kennedy last Thursday told The Courier-Mail he intended to continue attending services at St Mary's after his termination date but said Dean Ken Howell, appointed interim administrator by Archbishop Bathersby, was "welcome" to lead the Mass. "I don't intend to lead the Eucharist, I would simply be there," he said. A statement released from Archbishop Bathersby's office last night said he was sad to hear Father Kennedy was unwell. The priest's administration was terminated over complaints it was no longer "in communion with the Roman Catholic Church".[/quote] Ploy to garner sympathy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I'm still having trouble with the idea that any Catholic Priest is teaching that Mary wasn't a virgin. I very definitely remember in Creeds class something about that being one of the things you had to believe, if you wanted to call yourself Catholic. You know, Nicene Creed basic. From the sounds of it, they may never be able to rein this parish back in. Example #1 of why these kinds of problems need to be nipped in the bud. When you allow them to continue, it seems to breed and replicate. Fr. Kennedy says this is sacred aboriginal land. Maybe the Archbishop should just tear down the church and give the land back to the aboriginals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 [quote name='Veridicus' post='1775997' date='Feb 8 2009, 04:30 PM']Haha. That is fantastic. We apologize for the interruption of the reinstitution of proper theology in your diocese. Those responsible for the sacking have now themselves been sacked.[/quote] A Bishop once bit my sister... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 [quote name='Winchester' post='1783783' date='Feb 17 2009, 07:15 PM']A Bishop once bit my sister...[/quote] Before or after he became a bishop? You forgot to offer the guy lunch or what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone _ Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 [quote name='Winchester' post='1783783' date='Feb 17 2009, 04:15 PM']A Bishop once bit my sister...[/quote] Was she carving her initials on him with an intergalactic toothbrush? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappie Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 The Saga continues: A REBEL Catholic priest who is facing the sack by the Vatican has described the man sent in by Brisbane's archbishop to replace him as a religious scab. Father Peter Kennedy, the parish priest at St Mary's in South Brisbane, said he had been given until noon yesterday to resign or be removed. But Fr Kennedy last night said there had been no sign of a decree from the Archbishop of Brisbane, John Bathersby, announcing his sacking. He is adamant he will not resign and remains determined to conduct weekend masses. The 71-year-old rebel says the Dean of the area, Father Ken Howell, who has been appointed by Archbishop Bathersby as the new administrator of St Mary's parish, intended to say Mass at 7am on Sunday. "But I'm not sure who's going to be there because we've never had Mass at 7am on Sunday before," he said. "I'm a bit afraid a rent-a-crowd like the Burpengary Opus Dei type possibly could turn up. "I'm hoping they won't come because they could cause conflict, and we don't want conflict. "I intend to have our liturgy at 9am as normal on Sunday morning and there'll be a thousand people there, I'd say. "The people are not going to receive Fr Howell. He's naive enough to think he can walk in there on Sunday and the people will welcome him. "Well, they won't. I know the people, I've been there 28 years - the people want me there and I've helped build that community into what it is today. And then this guy comes in, like a religious scab." Fr Howell yesterday said he would preside at all masses at St Mary's this Sunday and would "not be standing in the way" of two concerts that had been previously booked in the church for this weekend. "If Fr Kennedy is present at the masses, I would like to invite him to concelebrate with me," he said. "I have sought to contact Fr Kennedy over the past few days, however I've yet to speak with him. I'm hopeful that we can speak before the weekend." Fr Howell said he had retained his responsibilities as Dean of St Stephen's Cathedral, as well as taking on St Mary's, and he would not be able to lead all the masses in the historical church. "My position is to ensure that there are priests who will be leading mass at St Mary's and I will, from time to time, be there," Fr Howell said, acknowledging a succession of priests might not be welcomed by the congregation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 +J.M.J.+ wow. just wow. this guy is so full of pride, it's unbelievable. not to mention just slight uncharitableness to a fellow priest. whomever said it in this thread is right. maybe the diocese should just demolish the church and give the land back to the Aboriginals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Wow, 28 years. This is a very good example of why priests should be moved around more often than that. I did a bunch of mediations in Protestant churches where a huge disintegration happened after a long time pastor died or retired. He considers this church his and not the dioceses' because he's been there too long, more than half his adult life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 [quote name='CatherineM' post='1784946' date='Feb 18 2009, 07:42 PM']Wow, 28 years. This is a very good example of why priests should be moved around more often than that. I did a bunch of mediations in Protestant churches where a huge disintegration happened after a long time pastor died or retired. He considers this church his and not the dioceses' because he's been there too long, more than half his adult life.[/quote] Wow, I'd never even considered that........... I'm often sad when our priests move on to different churches, but now I see that it makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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