Fundraising

When did the St Vincent de Paul Society come to Australia? 

The first Society Conference in Australia was established in Melbourne in 1854, led by Father Gerald Ward. Since then, the Society has spread to every State and Territory and continues to serve thousands of Australians every single day.  

The work that we do to support St Vinnies during their Winter Appeal is so important.  Please donate generously next Friday when we are raising funds and making donations for St Vincent de Paul.

How are we supporting St Vincents at St John the Apostle?

From Monday we will be accepting donations of warm clothes, blankets or sleeping bags at the front office. Please leave them near the crucifix. They will collected on Friday by St Vincent de Paul.

On Friday please send children to school with a gold coin and wearing blue, white and yellow.

On Friday we would also apprecaite a donation of any non perishable food item.

Chips and zooper doopers will be for sale for $1 at the canteen at recess and lunch.

All proceeds of the day will be donated to St Vincent de Paul.

Catholic Life and Reflection

As we focus on St Vincent de Paul next week Pope Leo comes to mind. This address is a powerful indication of the type of Pope he will be.  A Pope who understands the reality of faith in our time.  To be honest, I got a little teary when I read it.  Please take some time to share this with your family. 

God knew we need him next.

Pope Leo XIV:

"Brothers, sisters…

I speak to you, especially to those who no longer believe, no longer hope, no longer pray, because they think God has left.

To those who are fed up with scandals, with misused power, with the silence of a Church that sometimes seems more like a palace than a home.

I, too, was angry with God.

I, too, saw good people die, children suffer, grandparents cry without medicine. And yes… there were days when I prayed and only felt an echo.

But then I discovered something:

God doesn't shout. God whispers.

And sometimes He whispers from the mud, from pain, from a grandmother who feeds you without having anything.

I don't come to offer you perfect faith. I come to tell you that faith is a walk with stones, puddles, and unexpected hugs.

I'm not asking you to believe in everything. I'm asking you not to close the door. Give a chance to the God who waits for you without judgment.

I'm just a priest who saw God in the smile of a woman who lost her son... and yet she cooked for others, and that changed me.

So if you're broken, if you don't believe, if you're tired of the lies... come anyway. With your anger, your doubt, your dirty backpack. No one here will ask you for a VIP card.

Because this Church, as long as I breathe, will be a home for the homeless, and a rest for the weary.

God doesn't need soldiers.

He needs brothers and sisters… and you, yes, you... are one of them?."

Robert Prevost (Leo XIV)

God bless,

Stephanie Stewart