Program Leader: Campus Ministry | Mr Andrew Stormonth
Over the past three weeks, we have been looking at how we, as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition, foster and encourage members of our community to be called to mission. To walk in solidarity, be agents of change and be present. This week, we celebrate all of our wonderful teachers who have walked with our students. In our Years 8 and 9 Retreat programs, we focus in on our Emmaus and Micah people – the people who guide us and mentor us to be the best version of ourselves. We give thanks to our teachers, who are our Emmaus and Micah people.
From this week, we move our focus to the annual Vinnies Christmas Appeal. For most of us, Christmas is a time of celebration with family and friends, with the joy of exchanging gifts, making precious memories together and enjoying delicious Christmas treats. However, for 2.2 million Australians, including families and 750 000 children living below the poverty line, Christmas can be a time when meeting their most basic needs, like putting food on the table or a place to call home, is a real struggle. The Vinnies Christmas Appeal is all about bringing joy and festivity to families and individuals who may require extra support.
This year, the Terrace Family are again supporting the Vinnies Christmas Appeal by collecting items in our Pastoral Care Groups to make hampers for families and individuals who are doing it tough. After everything that has happened this year, there are many more individuals and families who are experiencing poverty and deserve more. In Houses and at Waterford Place, you will be asked to bring in items to help create the hampers we will donate to Vinnies at the end of the term. Your effort with this means a family in our community is being supported during this time of the year. House Deans will let you know when and where to bring in the hamper items. Last year we were able to create a 100 family hampers and 50 individual hampers. Let us continue the efforts and see how many people we can support this year.
On behalf of Vinnies, thank you for your donations, and we look forward to presenting these hampers at our Thanksgiving Liturgy at the end of the Term.
Lord our heavenly Father,
We pray for those who are experiencing difficulty or hardship at this time.
May they be helped to find a place where they are safe,
A roof over their head,
A companion to help them emotionally,
good health
A satisfying meal
May they find strength and healing in God during this difficult experience.
May we seek to be forgetful of ourselves so that we can be in service to others.
Live Jesus in our hearts…forever.