Our Team
Our Team
Parish Priests
Since 1990, St Canice’s Parish has been conducted by the Jesuits on behalf of the Archdiocese of Sydney. Our Parish Priest, Fr David Braithwaite SJ, and Assistant Parish Priest, Fr Dave Ryan SJ, lead our team of staff, parishioners and volunteers in serving the community.
Fr Dave Braithwaite SJ
Fr David Braithwaite SJ has been the Parish Priest at St Canice’s since November 2022. Before that, he completed doctoral studies in fundamental theology in Boston and Oxford. He was the Founder and CEO of The Cardoner Project, a Jesuit initiative for university-aged young adults that combined international volunteering, local immersions, and a volunteer-run restaurant in Chippendale. This experience gave him deep insight into the power of community and the potential of social enterprise.
Fr David brings to St Canice’s a clear vision: to build a compassionate community of care, sustained by volunteerism and social enterprise, that actively works to disrupt the cycle of disadvantage. His hope is to create not just a place of service, but a model of inclusion, dignity, and long-term impact.
In addition to his academic background in theology, philosophy, public policy, and international relations, Fr David serves as Chaplain to The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network in Australia and sits on several not-for-profit and charitable boards.
Fr Dave Ryan SJ
Fr Dave Ryan SJ has been Assistant Parish Priest at St Canice’s since November 2021. A Jesuit since 1976, he spent many years in Melbourne but grew up in Wagga Wagga after being born in Paddington, Sydney. His deep interest in social justice took him to India, working with Indigenous communities, and later to northern Australia, where encounters with Aboriginal people on Palm Island and beyond left a lasting impact. Back in Melbourne, he remained connected to those on the margins—many of whom had travelled the Hume Highway, including some who found their way to meals beneath St Canice’s Church. Life, he says, has a funny way of bringing people together.
Vicki Bell
Kitchen Operations
Vicki has been an integral part of St Canice’s Kitchen for the past three years, volunteering seven days a week to keep daily operations running smoothly. With a background as a chef, hotel and nightclub licensee, and warehouse manager, she brings a wealth of experience and energy to the role. Known for her efficiency and straight-talking kitchen advice, Vicki is driven by her deep compassion for the guests: “They need our laughter, our friendship—but most of all, our compassion.” She hopes to see the kitchen grow to serve even more guests in the future.
Davey Strickland
Caretaker
Davey, our caretaker at St Canice’s, is always on site — and exactly where he’s needed. Davey brings a strong presence and a big heart to the community. With a background in security dating back to the tougher days of Kings Cross, he’s a powerful force when needed. Whether he’s keeping an eye out for safety or tidying the grounds (often with a leaf blower in hand), Davey plays an essential role in maintaining the welcoming and well-run environment that defines St Canice’s.
Baker Atuatika
Caretaker
Baker, our much-loved front of house presence, is affectionately known around St Canice’s as “The Rock” — and not just because of his striking resemblance! With a calm and watchful presence, Baker plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone on site. He diffuses any signs of bad behaviour always keeping an eye out for guests, and caretaking across the kitchen and parish grounds. Strong, steady, and deeply compassionate, Baker is a quiet force behind the welcoming and safe environment at St Canice’s.
