Fr Ted Kennedy

Edward Phillip "Ted" Kennedy (27 January 1931 – 17 May 2005) was a prominent Australian priest and activist.

Ted Kennedy was known throughout Australia as the priest of St Vincent's Roman Catholic church in the Sydney inner-city suburb of Redfern.

Kennedy was born 27 January 1931, the son of Jack and Peg Kennedy, in Marrickville and entered St Patrick's Seminary, Manly, at age 16.

Before he went to Redfern, Kennedy worked in the Sydney parishes of Ryde, Punchbowl, Elizabeth Bay and Neutral Bay. He was also chaplain to the University of Sydney. He befriended, influenced and introduced artists and intellectuals such as the poet James McAuley and musician Richard Connolly.

Kennedy arrived in Redfern in 1971, appointed to head a team ministry by the then Archbishop of Sydney, James Freeman (later a cardinal), with colleagues John Butcher and Fergus Breslan. He served also as parish priest in Redfern continuously under archbishops Edward Bede Clancy and George Pell. This remains unusual by contemporary diocesan standards which limit the duration of tenure. By 1974, Kennedy was the only parish priest at Redfern.

The Redfern area has a significant Aboriginal population. Kennedy was initially somewhat insensitive to Aboriginal Australians but over time he identified with the many social problems and challenges the Aboriginal community faced and worked to bring justice to them. His presbytery and church community became a place of refuge for Indigenous Australians travelling from all parts of the nation. He befriended Aboriginal activist Mum (Shirl) Smith and worked closely with her until she died in 1998.

Kennedy promoted reparation and reconciliation with Indigenous Australians. Through his personal contacts, he established networks of influence through the local community, and through the indigenous communities of the nation. He preached and taught against what he perceived as exclusion and marginalisation of all kinds, whether because of race, income or sexual orientation. Progressive Catholics from all over Sydney travelled to Redfern weekly to be part of the parish community.

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