Thank you for helping to make a difference

Thank you to all our parishioners who generously donated to our Advent Giving Tree supporting our partner organisations: the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP), CatholicCare and our three St Vincent de Paul Conferences.  Your generosity and continued support not only made this project successful but also helped to brighten the Christmas season for many.

Following are notes of appreciation from our partner organisations on the impact your generosity has had:

Sr Brigid Arthur, BASP

Blessings to all who contributed – an amazing number of gift cards and other goods were delivered to us.  Gift cards are such a boon to people who can sometimes get cans etc of nonperishable goods but don’t get fresh food at all.  Please thank everyone in the parish for their generosity.  We really appreciate the help on behalf of the many who don’t have enough to survive.  Our asylum seekers do it tough with no source of income (unless they have work rights and can get work).

Christmas blessings on all who contributed.

To learn more about the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project or to donate online visit BASP.

From CatholicCare

Your generosity is so greatly appreciated.  What a glorious time we had enjoying sharing your gifts with our families.  This is what Christmas is really all about and your generosity is a wonderful reminder to us all, of this important message!  

Please find below some heartfelt words from our Dandenong Case Manager, who so beautifully expresses our appreciation and the impact on our clients.  I think you will enjoy reading Farida’s words……..

“As a Case Manager who works with newly arrived refugees and their families, I had the privilege to hand out the big bags of toys, toiletries, books, puzzles, chocolate boxes, clothes, bags, arts and craft materials, soap, shampoo, perfume, face cream, soft toys, colouring books, diaries, pens and colouring pencils, and so much more –  there were so many bags and boxes of giveaways.  All the staff from our Dandenong office were surprised to see the massive rows of gift bags to be given away to families with young children and some disadvantaged elderly and single persons.  As I made calls to parents and individuals to come to our office to collect their gifts, I greeted them with their big bags of goodies, their faces were shining with joy and they kept saying “wow!”, “oh my gosh”, and they were so surprised to be nominated to receive the big bags of gifts.  I am so glad that I was able to hand out all the gifts before Christmas; the families also felt included in the celebration of Christmas and for these families, this was the first time they received a Christmas gift and the feeling of joy they experienced upon receiving gifts during this Christmas season.  

I would like to say a big thank you to Our Lady of Pentecost Parish, and extend my appreciation and also on behalf of all my clients and families who received the beautiful gifts, I would say thank you so much for making these families feel happy and included”. 

To learn more or to donate online, visit CatholicCare Victoria.

St Vincent de Paul Conferences

Thank you to all parishioners for their most generous contributions to our Christmas Appeal.  Our three conferences raised over $27,000.  In the face of escalating cost of living crisis, which is gripping our country, we confront the harsh reality of increasing vulnerability among many individuals and families.  The rental crisis, coupled with soaring essential costs, has plunged many into dire situations.  For 170 years now the Society has supported vulnerable Victorians, but we cannot do this alone.  Your support transforms compassion into tangible action and is vital in our mission to provide a brighter future for the families who need it most.  Thanks to you, so many people have been supported.

Our Conferences are always looking for new members to assist in our work.  If you are interested in joining or finding out more about our works, please contact the Conference President(s) via the Parish Office.

To learn more visit Vinnies 

By Kate Baines 

 

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