Come along to David’s Place, attend Mass celebrated by Bishop Terry Brady and enjoy lunch with new friends.

When:  Saturday, 26 November at 1:00 pm

Where:  David’s Place, 17 Little Albion Street, Surry Hills.

You can read more about David’s Place from a recent Act Justly article below.

Originally created to meet the spiritual and social needs of homeless and disadvantaged people, David’s Place is a shining, practical example of how the Catholic preference for the poor can be imple-mented. Located in Surry Hills, mass, celebrations of important events and prayer are regularly included in the life of the community, along with outreach to people in prisons, hospitals and homes. All sorts of people are welcome to stop by to say ‘hello’ and spend time helping out.

When you arrive at David’s Place, you are welcomed with kindness, accepted for who you are and in-cluded in the life of the community. All people, espe-cially the marginalised, find fellowship and accep-tance. Sue Buckingham (who is one of the founders of David’s Place) and the many and varied visitors model how to live one’s faith in relationship with others – in the real world. They remind us that:

“The Gospel tells us constantly to run the risk of face-to-face encounter with others, with their physi-cal presence which challenges us, with their pains and pleas, with their joy which infects us in our close and continuous interaction” (Para. 87, Evangelii Gaudium).

Being in fellowship with and reconciled to those around us is central to our lives as Catholics. When we hold in our hearts those who are suffering or bur-dened, we are able to recognise their innate dignity and value. Our actions become consistent with this care and regard, ensuring those who are suffering are

at home within our communities (para.199 Evangelii Gaudium). This immeasurably enriches our lives and the lives of those around us. Pope Francis describes our calling thus:

“We are called to find Christ in them, to lend our voice to their causes, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them and to em-brace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us through them...” (para. 198)

How important it is that we go to the margins!

You can read more from ‘Act Justly’ by clicking here.