More than 100 worshippers gathered at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Newtown to celebrate a farewell mass and party for retiring parish priest Father Peter Maher OAM.
Parishioners, colleagues and friends gave thanks for Fr Peter’s 20-year witness to gospel values of faith, hope, love, justice and compassion. Fr Peter expressed special thanks to ministry colleagues including Patricia Purcell.
The University of Technology, Sydney esteems Fr Peter as a chaplain and alumni.
“A vocal advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights, for the last 10 years he has provided a weekly mass for LGBTI Catholics. He has spoken out on behalf of victims of sexual abuse at the hands of members of the Catholic Church, and his view of the institution’s inadequate response.
He’s also provided support and pastoral care to people following abortion experiences, and advocated justice for Indigenous people as a long-serving member of the Aboriginal Justice Support Group.”
