NEWS FROM OUR ACTION GROUPS
PAX APPEAL FOR SAHSSI
During our Week 3 assembly, we welcomed a guest speaker from the SAHSSI (Supported Accomodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra) organisation to speak about the need for donations to assist homeless women and children to maintain their dignity and hygiene.
Students in our PAX (Peace & Advocacy Group) have respond to the need by organising an appeal, requesting the donation of various items to make care packs to donate to the organisation.
Students have been donating their lunchbreak to create cards and messages of hope to accompany the care packs. We are forever grateful and proud to have so many compassionate students at our school who are always willing to assist others.
We also received an incredibly generous package of 7 large boxes filled with baby and toddler nappies, arriving from an anonymous donor. What an incredible community we have! We thank you for your support.
COOKING FOR THE COMMUNITY
We would like to acknowledge our staff and Year 11 students who have volunteered to cook for the homeless and less fortunate in our commercial kitchen after school on Wednesday afternoons. We are really proud of the compassion and care you show for others.
YEAR 12 HOSPITALITY SUPPORT VINNIES WINTER APPEAL
Last week our Year 12 Hospitality students were busy cooking in our commercial kitchen with some students making a delicious soup to sell and raise funds for the Vinnies Winter Appeal.
This year's theme for Laudato Si week is Journeying Together. This week (Week 4) is Laudato Si Week but what is it, what does it mean and what is our school doing to honour the Laudato Si goals?
Laudato Si’ Week began as a way to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ world-changing papal encyclical letter,
“Laudato Si’, On Care For Our Common Home.”
Since then, the annual celebration has become a way for all Catholics to unite and rejoice in the progress we’ve made in bringing Laudato Si’ to life and to commit ourselves to further prayer and action for our common home, planet earth.
This year, with the theme of 'Listening and Journeying Together' Catholics on six continents will work on 'bringing the human family together to protect our common home'. Catholics across the globe will unite their communities in action and learn more about how Laudato Si’ offers a blueprint on how to tackle the climate crisis. Globally, Catholics will come together as one family in prayer and action.
Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' was issued in May 2015. It emphasises on caring for the natural environment and all people, as well as larger questions about God, humans, and the Earth.
The earth is our common home. We should respect it and God's creations. Climate change is coming faster than we would like, but together we can make a change. We need to help those that are in need or are being affected by the ever growing impact of climate change. By respecting and protecting as well as using the gifts we were given by God we can make the earth a peaceful place.
This term, our Johnnie’s Action Group goal is to honour the goals of Laudato Si by reinvigorating our school’s sustainable garden.
Due to covid and all of the wet weather, unfortunately our garden has seen better days. So we need all the help we can get! Through the course of winter, we will be working to weed and tidy up the sustainable garden to get it ready for spring planting next term. We encourage all students to get involved, get their hands dirty and reap the benefits of being out in nature whilst contributing towards our school’s sustainability.
Ms Amy Freshwater
JAG Coordinator
SUPPORTING OUR FRIENDS IN TIMOR LESTE
As our major fundraiser for the year, Foundation Day, fast approaches, it is timely to remind the community of the support given to our friends in Timor Leste.
From its inception, one of the main goals of the St John’s Immersion Program was to develop meaningful and ongoing partnerships with the people that we visited in Timor Leste. This goal has been, and continues to be, successful.
Once again, due to COVID, the 2022 Immersion is unable to travel to Timor Leste, however, our support of our friends there will continue thanks to the donation of a portion of the funds raised on Foundation Day.
The two communities that we have supported since 2013 are the Missionary Dominican Sisters of the Rosary Orphanage in Dili and the Railaco Parish Feeding Program.
DOMINICAN ORPHANAGE, DILI
We recently received correspondence from Sr Belen, the Superior at the orphanage;
RAILACO FEEDING PROGRAM
Our past Immersion trips to Timor Leste have included visits to the small town of Railaco. The parish and Jesuit secondary school, NOSSEF, have hosted many groups from St John’s.
During our stay, we participate in the medical clinic and feeding program based in Railaco parish. At the medical clinics, our students help process patients as they prepare to see Dr (Father) Bong.
Also based in the parish, the Railaco Feeding Program provides weekly meals to children in small, mountainous villages around the town. While at the feeding program, our students lead singing and games for the children prior to assisting in the distribution of food.
This program has other major supporters, but our donation goes specifically to the Railaco Feeding program, through Jesuit Mission, helping ensure the continuation of the program.
For more information, follow this link;
https://jesuitmission.org.au/nutrious-meals-railaco/
Mr David Muller
Immersion Coordinator