00:00For 23 years, parishioners at Perth's St Mary's Cathedral have marked Christmas Mass to the
00:12sound of Jacinta Jakovsevic's masterful touch of the church organ, but there'll be a new
00:18set of hands on the keys this year, following the shock departure of the highly renowned
00:23musical director.
00:25Has there been a genuine, really a genuine redundancy?
00:29The question, that's the question for me.
00:32Ms. Jakovsevic was dismissed in late October after a review of the Cathedral's music program
00:37recommended she be made redundant, but choristers and parishioners have questioned the nature
00:42of that review.
00:44Bena Masbate, among those who feel the Cathedral's dean, Father Sean Fernandez, hasn't adequately
00:49explained the decision.
00:51Who are the experts that you've consulted with?
00:55Who did you reach out to?
00:56In protest, she's walked away from her roles in the parish, while her children are among
01:00at least 13 members of the choir to boycott the Cathedral.
01:04Frustrated choristers have taken to the internet to voice their displeasure after their efforts
01:09to speak to the dean were rebuffed.
01:11It does make me personally feel very dejected and not really important in the situation.
01:20They say the decision to boycott St Mary's is a moral necessity and one that comes at
01:25a financial cost.
01:27It's been relatively severe, particularly at this period where there would be a lot
01:31of masses, a lot of services coming in to be paid.
01:37Parents of young choristers have also withdrawn their children.
01:40You know, without Jacinta being there, it's been very hard to even think of the future
01:44of our family, continuing as parishioners there.
01:48Ms. Jakovsevic declined to speak to the ABC and is understood to be considering legal
01:53action.
01:54In a statement, St Mary's said it would not comment on the circumstances of individual
01:57employees and it's assured parishioners its Christmas masses will go ahead as planned,
02:02with music featuring both long-standing and more recent choristers and musicians.
02:08But for the growing number of exiled parishioners, their faith in the purpose of the church has
02:12been shaken.
02:13To protect the least of your brethren, what happens to faith, hope, charity, love, if
02:19we were not to stand up for that?
02:22It happens to justice.
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