St Canice’s Parish is pleased to announce that Fr David Braithwaite SJ has been appointed as the next Parish Priest of St Canice’s starting in November. Fr David is currently in Boston researching and writing his doctorate in fundamental theology on the topic “Memory, Body and Trauma: a Fundamental Theology of Tradition”. Earlier this year he spent Michaelmas Term at Oxford.

Before commencing his doctorate, Father David was Founder and CEO of The Cardoner Project, the Jesuits’ ministry to university-aged young adults in the centre of the university precinct in Chippendale, in an old bank building at 202 Broadway. This involved a residence for 20 young men, missioning up to 50 volunteers to live and work in Asia, Central America and Africa for 12 months, as well as organizing shorter immersions for another 120 young people each year. It also saw Fr David as the licensee of a 90-seat bar and restaurant called The Two Wolves Community Cantina which had up to 200 volunteers on the roster fortnightly, so he is very well-acquainted with volunteer-driven enterprises. 

Apart from his degrees in theology and philosophy, Fr David has postgraduate degrees in public policy and international relations. He is also currently the Asia Director of The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and Chaplain to the Australian office. He sits on several not-for-profit and charitable boards and committees. Fr David will be at the Volunteer Thank You Evening in December and is looking forward to connecting with you. In his own words:

“I am delighted and deeply grateful to God to be joining the team at St Canice’s and continuing the great work done in the Kitchen over the decades by so many.”

Fr David Braithwaite SJ