Guest Speaker

 

Today's Guest Speaker, Fr. Paddy Sykes was introduced by David Foster who told us that Fr.Paddy was born and raised in Humula NSW. He spent 12 years with Australian Navy as a chaplain and is now the Parish Priest of the Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Fatima South Wagga. It appears the young Paddy was allegedly put on the straight and narrow by our very own 

Frank Fuller who was a Sergeant of Police responsible for the Humula district when Paddy was a young boy.

 

Fr. Paddy was here to deliver a Christmas message and his theme was Goodwill. Drawing on his own experiences of hospitality received, Paddy elaborated on this theme giving examples of people opening their hearts and homes to others.

 

Because this is Christmas our thoughts turn to the family of Jesus searching for a place to stay in Bethlehem and finding hospitality in a stable. Goodwill is about  opening our hearts. lives and mattresses to the person of Christ that we encounter in others.

 

Fr. Paddy reminded us of the plight of displaced persons who are in need of goodwill, particularly those fleeing the conflict in Syria. He said how proud he is to live in a City which is willing to accept a number of those refugees. He cited the example of the new Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, who has welcomed refugees into his country on behalf of his people. His stance has been one of leadership, generosity and goodwill.

 

Fr. Paddy said how much he appreciated talking to a different audience. A couple of his parishioners in the audience, Pat Ingram and Jim Gibson were referred to by Paddy as regular listeners to his sermons.

 

A vote of thanks from our newest member Daniel Byrnes was supported by our members who appreciated Fr.Paddy's words of wisdom at Christmas.