February Week 05

Monday

St Pauls College First Vinnies meeting for 2014

This morning a couple of the i14s went to St Paul’s college to meet with this awesome bunch of men! Such a great welcome! Sounds like they are ready for a great year! Thanks heaps to Mrs. D’Souza and the team! Looking forward to our next visit!

Carmel College first meeting for 2014

Such an awesome reception at Carmel College! So many girls and such a great vibe! Lots of ideas and events coming up so look out Carmel! Looks like it’s gonna be a good year! In fact it already is!!! 

Tuesday

Marist College first meeting for 2014

Today over 100 Marist students packed into a classroom during morning tea. It was so great to share with them what Vinnies is all about and see what’s in store for 2014. There was a really strong sense of service and leadership in the group and sounds like this year is going to be a goody for Marist Vinnies! 

 

St Peter’s College – Theme : homelessness

These young men from St Peters have just spent a good part of their evening preparing dessert, serving meals and cleaning dishes for the residents of James Liston Hostel…they even managed to buy a whole heap of cake and ice cream and get to Liston by bus without it all melting. We really appreciate all the care and thought that went into tonight. Well done team (pictured with Liston Staff) 

 

Wednesday

Kingsland Vinnies Centre cooking hotmeals for the homeless

150 hot meals dispatched for our homeless brothers and sisters who have been sleeping it rough throughout the night…
Today maybe spare a thought for those sleeping in manholes, under motorways, in the domain, under buildings. Those who because of different reasons cannot be housed.
Those who cannot afford to commute long distances to work so they sleep in their cars near the fish market and around city all week only to return home to their families in the weekends…there is a lot of this happening in our city these days…Lord give us the wisdom and courage to respond…Lord hear us…

 

Thursday

St Peters College – Theme: Homelessness

Shout out to our awesome Vinnies crew at St Peters College. We totally look forward to working alongside you in actioning your service plan for the year. Thank you also to your team that have put their hands up to prepared the meals tonight for our brothers who are homeless.

 

Liston College first vinnies meeting for 2014

Big ups to the students at Liston College who met with us today! Despite our technical difficulties we managed to have an awesome session! Such an fantastic bunch! Great buzz for this year! Bring on 2014 for Liston Vinnies!

 

Friday

St Mary’s Colllege first meeting for 2014

Even though it’s crazy hot there was a fantastic turn out at St Mary’s College this afternoon! There’s a real passion for service in the school and sounds like there is lots in store for 2014! We are very excited about working with you this year!

 

 

 

February Week 04

Wednesday 

Baradene College

Baradene Vinnies are amping to get their service programme for this year underway. Our team received a wonderful reception from the Special Character, Liturgy , Vinnies leadership and not to mention the Head prefect and the lovely Mrs Everitt… thanks for taking the time to meet with us to lay out some of the programme for this year. We are very excited about working alongside you all. Thank you for your commitment.

 

Thursday

McAuley High School

Catherine McAuley would be proud of the McAuley students who have said yes to serving their community this year!!
Visiting the McAuley High School Vinnies today was absolutely awesome. This group of young women are ready to roll out their service programme for this year. The energy and passion is totally here. Thank you to our wonderful McAuliian staff and Vinnies leaders for coordinating this meeting. We look forward to journeying with you this year!

 

Young Adult Vinnies Group

Some of the team headed to the Radio Samoa studio today to record a promo for “Journey with the stars”! Listen out for it on 1593AM! A huge thanks to Joe Maeono-Kolio and the team at Radio Samoa! 

 

Friday

St Pauls College

Two of our Vinnies i14 Team members heading out to St Paul’s College to meet the Vinnies leaders to introduce the Schools service programme for 2014

 

Saturday

Young Adult VInnies Group

Some of the “Journey with the Stars team who turn up daily to practice and sort logistics for the Journey of the Stars concert…

 

Tom prepping us for the interview…Sio is amped…Del’s got the giggles… Joe Moeono-Kolio working the studio next door. A massive tanks for all the support!

 

 

 

February Week 03

Monday

Vinnies staff volunteer in Samoa at partner projects

Welcome back to Jola Lynch who have just arrived back from her mission trip to Samoa…Jola spent 10 days in Samoa volunteering with St Mary’s College and Fiamalamalama IHC school and also visiting the local retirement home.

Jola’s pictured below with students of the Fiamalamalama IHC school and St Mary’s College 

 

 

Wednesday

Marist College : Assist a school Project

 Thank you Marist College for the amazing truckloads of refurbished school furniture destined for struggling schools in the Pacific.

School desks destined for Chanel College in Samoa

Over 140 set of good quality refurbished school furniture destined for the Assist a School project.

 

 

Thursday

St Patricks Cathedral

We just picked up another 2 car loads of food donations from St Patrick’s Cathedral. Thank you to all the organisers and the teachers and schools who attended the Dedication Mass staff for Catholic school teachers at St Patrick’s Cathedral. 
What would we do without our teachers?!! 
Much respect to you all and the work that you do. 

 

 

Friday 

Kingsland Vinnies Center : Assist a School Project

Come join this Vinnies CROSSFIT team..They do lots of upper body work outs, box lifts, desk press,pushing stacks of chairs down grassy banks, cardio, core workouts, leg workouts, carrying your body weight in heavy boxes, banana box bicep workouts..you name it they do it all!! And its FREE!
Really thankful to our team who worked really hard today…really appreciate all your commitment and hard work to support the all the schools that have sought assistance. God Bless the little ones… Big hearts = Big change…oh and big muscles
Life is like a freight container…you never know what you gonna get..Vinnies Gump

 

Auckland Vinnies Secondary School Executives first meeting for  2014

It was good to meet up with all the new Vinnies Exec from 12 Colleges …and the members of the i14 Team who will supporting the new leaders this year. Such a great crew! Looking fwd to meeting your school Vinnies crews. 

 

 

February Week 02

Monday

Kingsland Center

We would like to officially introduce the 2 new staff members of the Auckland Vinnies youth team. Jola Lynch and Gene Kiely have been employed as youth workers to support the Vinnies Secondary School programme and Young adults programme alongside Sam and Del.
Both Jola and Gene are both undertaking tertiary studies and were leaders in their Vinnies groups whilst at school. Over the years they have have shown their commitment and passion for the mission of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Jola is currently in Samoa working with children with disabilities and Gene is currently working with Sara on the Journey with Stars fundraiser concert to raise money for Vinnies foodbanks.
We are excited to have them on board and look forward to the energy and gift they bring to this ministry.