On 14 November, hundreds of Sydney’s homeless celebrated an early Christmas in St Mary’s Cathedral Forecourt with food and music at the seventh annual Street Feast.
The St Merkorious Charity provided a BBQ for the cheery celebration. Its founder and president, Paula Nicolas, was also awarded a Dempsey medal by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP for her years of providing meals and friendship to the disadvantaged.
“I was shocked to receive the award,” Nicolas told The Catholic Weekly. “Everyone kept it a secret from me today, but it was a lovely surprise,” she said.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to share love and compassion to all these people because regardless of whether we’re doing our outreach services, or coming out here to provide food, it’s one small step towards helping people to get into the spirit of love and happiness.”
The Dempsey medal is awarded annually by the Archbishop to recognise outstanding contributions to Catholic parishes or the local community.
The annual event is a highlight of the archdiocese’s year, thanks to the support of founding sponsor, PAYCE Foundation.
“The turnout for this year’s event was fantastic and it was so good to see so many people sitting together and sharing a meal,” said PAYCE Foundation director Dominic Sullivan.
“That’s why we’ve supported this event from the outset. It’s inclusive and not only about sharing a meal but reaching out to assist people who may need other support services.”
Archbishop Fisher told the crowd before lunch that they were all “in the prayers and hearts of Sydney.”
“I’m delighted to be able to share lunch with you all today and to spend some time with you in the sacred heart of Sydney.”
Other notable attendees included NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and NSW opposition leader Mark Speakman MP.
“Sydney’s poor and vulnerable are an integral part of our society, and the measure of how decent our society is how it looks after its most marginalised, and I think we just have to remind those who are that there are people who are looking out for them,” Speakman told The Catholic Weekly.
“The church is a great part of showing that they’re not forgotten, they’re loved.”
The day was full of music, from flamboyant Joe Trueman, who regaled the crowd with classic covers, and the Sydney Street Choir, who embraced the “Christmas comes early” vibe with carols, including a rejigged version of “Jingle Bells” which got some of the crowd into a dance.
Mark Butler, a member of the choir, told the crowd before its performance that the Street Feast continues to provide “people like you and me” with hope there will be brighter skies.
“Today we all come together in the hope that maybe we can all have a bit of joy in our hearts and lives,” he said.
Mark Purchase, a Vinnies volunteer, said the Street Feast showed the power of community.
“The whole idea of us coming out here and providing a bit of support is to show how we’re all a community, and the diversity of everyone who has come out here to help people going through tough situations,” he said.
Alec Dean, a volunteer from Thread Together, a charity which provides clothing for the poor and vulnerable, said the Street Feast was “a demonstration of dignity.”
“I believe the courage to walk up and grab a shirt or some socks or a coat is one of the forgotten parts of those who are in need daily, and it just helps to give them a little dignity and a bit of warmth in their lives,” he said.
Marcel de Maria from Gift of Bread, who handed out 150 muffins and about 800 loaves of bread, said the Street Feast was a moment of thanksgiving.
“Eucharist in the Greek means thanksgiving, it’s a wonderful word,” he said. “And that’s what we do, and that’s what everybody who has been involved today has done. They’ve shared a gift and a part of themselves to help others in need.”
