NSW priest criticises children after no-show at Mass

Primary school students in the NSW Riverina have been told by a priest that they had brought the community down after none of the school’s families showed up to Mass last Sunday, reports The Border Mail. 

Father Terence Mahedy berated the students at an assembly at St Joseph's Primary School in Culcairn, on Monday , saying they have 'brought the community to its lowest level ever,' before sending a newsletter home to parents.

The newsletter said that as a result of no-one attending church, all Book Week activities – including a costume parade scheduled for Wednesday – would be cancelled. 

Despite an instruction from the Bishop of Wagga, Gerard Hanna, for the priest to apologise, the Wagga Catholic Schools Office said it did not have the authority to discipline the priest, even if the event occurred on school grounds. 

The actions have upset parents and families at the school, who considered the priest’s actions an overreach.