A lonely visitor

Sydney
11 November 2001

Court strips ex-student of $3m award

Caritas needs help to raise $100,000

Archbishop Pell chosen

Kudos for Catholic Health head

Muslims at Mass

Gleeson Auditorium

Getting to ‘know each other better’

Stall in a good cause

School targets kids with poor attendance record

Centacare: it’s just right for the job

Knights answer Pope’s call

A lonely visitor

Crime does pay for Brookvale Vinnies

Call for code on Internet

ACU in business course

Editorial: A time for prayer

Letters: Abstinence and sainthood

Conversation: ‘Give Muslims a fair go’ – plea to media - Faruk Chowdhury and Amjad Ali Mehboob of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils Reflection: Understanding our own behaviour

Pastoral care: priests are facing greater pressure

Murwillumbah welcomes son

A Meddling Priest makes a return in time for Christmas

Cowra’s weekend of reconciliation

A horse and buggy and stained-glass windows

Sister Gen – mother to the boys of St John’s

Feature: New research shows euthanasia targets women

Inspirations: A suitcase of prayer and love of Jesus

A lonely visitor

At masses over the Christmas season last year, Fr John Sullivan was moved to talk about a little-known visitor to the presbytery of St Patrick’s, Sutherland.

John Franklin lived a largely anonymous life on the streets, but he was certainly known to Fr Sullivan and to the Rev Rod Harding of nearby St John’s Anglican Church.

He would often drop in on one or the other of them for coffee, sandwiches and a bit of a chat.

One day he mentioned to Fr Sullivan that Christmas day was very lonely for people like him.

But he wasn’t entirely friendless.

“He always seemed to have a little trail of other people behind him (when he’d visit),” said Gail Anderson, St Patrick’s parish secretary.

John Franklin died a few days before last Christmas in tragic circumstances on the streets of Cabramatta. He was 35.

When parishioners heard the story of John Franklin, they were spurred into action.

Now both parishes are busily planning a special Christmas lunch for those who have nowhere to go on Christmas Day or who are alone and would like to spend part of the day with others.

It’s called the John Franklin Christmas Lunch.

The Rev Bill Crews of Ashfield’s Uniting Church has offered his advice from 20 years of hosting similar lunches in the Ashfield area.

More than 75 enthusiastic volunteers from both churches and all across the Shire are helping organise a two-course meal with all the trimmings, decorations, entertainment and gifts to add to the special spirit of Christmas day.

If you would like to be involved in the preparations, or on the day, or to inquire about donating for the lunch, please call St Patrick’s parish office on 9521 2356 or St John’s Anglican Church on 9521 2414.