I remember when I came back regularly to St Mary’s in 2004 (1990-2003 I only came to half a dozen events a year, prior to that I was heavily involved), and I saw the terrible state the church was in, I set about after talking to liturgy co-ordinator Joan Mooney to volunteer my time to wash down the church, do as much of the high cleaning as I could, and remove the black grime off the paths, and make the place look nice. Peter walked in one day and said “What are you doing – they’ll just close us down, and put in someone else!”. I told him that made no sense, given the way South Brisbane had been growing in population over the last few years… and that’s turned out to be true – a substantial number of the old St Mary’s congregation now are locals.

I remember at the same time (2005) a ‘heritage’ group a few of us tried to start to help maintain and restore the meeting – we had a meeting, Marg Ortiz told us that Terry wouldn’t stay – and that was the end of the heritage group – no more meetings. As someone who’d been involved with St Mary’s for so long, and being a musician at a venue which is one of the best I know for music, heritage really mattered to me, and still does – a big reason why I’m back at the old St Mary’s.

So from the above paragraphs, I guess you get a picture of how things panned out – it certainly wasn’t just 2008 were all the issues happened – there is the element of ‘protest’, but yes, other alternatives which still allow for SMX members to express themselves, even perhaps as one part of their name, to retain “St Mary’s”, but not claim to be St Mary’s at Merrivale street, although the majority of their congregation did originate from there, but that is not all of SMX.

If you haven’t no knowledge about how contemporary science can enhance and increase our understanding of the orthodox Catholic faith then I’m sorry that your science and theology are out of date, all I can suggest is perhaps find a good priest and go to mass in a good Catholic church more? (there are plenty around).

But in any case I’ve made this point before, but you will never, never, never, never, never, never acknowledge it – even a single word – the blog site on which you contribute here, there there is a theological discussion, yes.. BUT, this blog thread (and St Mary’s) is not JUST about theological and intellectual debate as important as that is – St Mary’s is about PEOPLE (yep, you may need to pause for a second to say that slowly “PE…O… PLE”.. human beings… remember them Perry? Not just the priests, or the paid church workers, but the very good PEOPLE who make up the 2 St Mary’s communities now – who come along and arrange the flowers, help prepare the music, and make people feel welcome. Good people Perry.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love,
I have become sounding brass or a tinkling symbol.

And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing…..”

- an so on and so on.. (Corianthians chapter 13).

That bible passage sums up your contribution to this website, there is absolutely zero attempt on your part in your purely intellectual arguments here to in any way grasp the human dimension and hardship of what St Mary’s has been through in recent years.

What I humbly suggest is you Perry is whatever your disparaging thoughts about Peter Kennedy (and they are pretty irrelevant because the guy is mid 70s and retiring soon anyway absolute, but I know you like attacking old men, given what a fine character you are)) that you humble yourself and go meet some of the SMX people – particularly the older ones, retirees, in their 60s, 70s, and try to listen to them and see what their story is in regards to their many years of contributing to their local church. Maybe then you’ll have the wisdom to contribute to this site.

Of course, there will be a reply to this message from you below in several hours, or days, that will entirely discredit me, proove me wrong, show me what an evil person I am for caring about the human story – about people (not just the priests or church workers but the entire community), and having discredited me, you’ll advance your theological arguments, and prove to us all you are the wiser, more learned theologian among us.

What is it that seems to compel all speakers here, no matter what the ostensible topic, to throw in some disparaging remark about other people’s beliefs?

As a matter of objective fact, the Nicene Creed is proclaimed around the world every week by hundreds of millions of Christians – Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants. Some disappearance!