April Week 05

Wednesday

St Joseph’s Parish Vinnies Group :Theme : Vulnerability —–Monthly Dessert Evenings

This group of Vinnies young adults turn up faithfully each month to prepare meals and dessert for the residents of James Liston Hostel. This group is from St Joseph’s Parish in Hellensville and drive all the way into the city each month to carry out their labour of love. This week they prepared freshly baked brownies, banana cake, crumble and bought in some ice cream. The residents and staff are very grateful for what these young people do. 

 

 

 A Message from Serco Prison in Mt Eden

 I want to take this opportunity to thank you and the Vinnies young people for the excellent work that you do unceasingly in support of those on the margins of society. On behalf of the Inmates and their families at Mount Eden Corrections Facility, I thank you sincerely for providing the Easter Eggs, Hot-Cross buns, Chippies and sweets which were well received and appreciated by the Inmates and their families.Thank you for your acts of kindness, especially the Easter eggs so lovingly prepared and packed by the students of Sancta Maria, meant a lot to the men in the Mount Eden Corrections Facility.

We pray in turn that you’d be blessed by the loving hand of God, and with God’s awesome grace be blessed always.

Best wishes for the work that you do.

God Bless,
Bernadette Pereira
Community Liaison Serco Prison

 

 

 

April Week 04

Wednesday

Kingsland Vinnies Center : Thank you for all the Donations

It is awesome to meet up with generous people who have loads of enthusiasm and just want to help out…A big thank you to Paula and Ella for the van loads of donations that were picked up this morning…Thank you!!

St Patrick’s Cathedral – The weekly pick up of donated food.

Extra morning pickup from the St Pats Cathedral today..a lovely parishioner has committed herself to purchasing a boot load of food for the Vinnies foodbank each month. May God bless you Tash..thank you for your generosity.

West Auckland Area Council Vincentians 

These Vinnies soldiers picking up van load of food supplies to service the West Auckland food banks..these guys are the real deal..where the rubber meets the road…they even worked though Easter!

 

Thursday

St Mary’s College – Theme : Homelessness

The residents at James Liston hostel wish to say a BIG THANK YOU to all the wonderful young people you have been coming in twice every week over the past months to volunteer in the kitchen and spend time with them.

They are particularly grateful for the positive energy the banter, the delicious desserts , the music and the wonderful connections and friendships made.
Today they received handmade cards and treats that were gifted by the St Marys College Vinnies. The residents were really moved and stoked and have been asking when the students are coming back. They can’t wait till after the school holidays to have you all back 
A special thank you to St Marys, Marist and St Pauls College and St Jos Hellensville Vinnies for your commitment to this ministry. Well done 

 

St Dominic’s College- Theme: Food Insecurity

Quietly, quietly in the background the St Dominics Vinnies have been working away on their mammoth collection of food for families that seek assistance from the local food banks. St Dominics Vinnies in the last term have been working on their chosen theme which focuses on Food and Resource Insecurity for families in New Zealand .
It is such a hard hitting fact the at least 280,000 children throughout New Zealand go hungry each day…Thank you to these students for trying to make a difference. God Bless you. 

 

St Benedict’s Parish – Theme : Food Insecuirty

Did you know that every Sunday without fail the parishioners of St Benedicts Parish collect food for the Kingsland St Vincent de Paul Centre? In the past year through their food contributions we were able to assist an additional 132 families with food for 4 days and prepare around 600 hot meals for those who are homeless. They also prepared around 150 gifts for the Christmas Appeal for the children of residents of the local prison. We are very grateful for the generosity of this parish
May God continue to bless this wonderful parish and its leaders.

 

Saturday

Kingsland Vinnies Center – Assisting schools and families in our Partner countries

Thanks to Lavrenti and the big boys for your hard work today transporting and reassembling the giant retail pieces of furniture ready for auction to raise funds for our service work…and also prepping another load freight to support families in need. We really appreciate the help and all the hours you put in. Without the generosity of our volunteers we couldn’t do the work we do. May God bless you.

 

 

April Week 03

Sancta Maria College -Caritas Challenge

Sancta Maria College have completed the 24hr Caritas Challenge …these guys are amazing check out all the rosaries they assembled.

Congratulations Mr Gorman and the students of Sancta Maria.
Uncanny timing given the most recent developments in the Solomons. 

 

Ignite 2014 Team : Formation for the upcoming Secondary School Homeless Retreats

Cool to connect in with these I-14 leaders in the city to plan out the process for the upcoming Secondary School Homeless retreats for the year. Thank you Helen for leading the process. 

 

St Patrick’s Cathedral : Weekly Food donations for the Vinnies foodbanks

To all the wonderful parishioners and staff of St Patricks Cathedral THANK YOU for your generosity each week. This really makes a difference to all the families that come in seeking assistance.May God Bless you all 

St Peter’s College : (Quest Retreat) Theme: Food Insecurity

St Peters College hosted their awesome Quest Retreat on Saturday and Sunday. Mad respect for Mr  Kingdon , the staff and student leaders and students who helped coordinate it all. As part of this retreat they organised a mega food collection where they went into the community collected food. The Vinines crew who came out to collect the food were blown away and had to work really hard to get it all in..The Society of St Vincent de Paul is really grateful for the HUGE VANLOAD of food !! 3000+ items that will be distributed to Vinnies foodbanks right throughout Auckland. May God Bless you all !!

 

 

Tuesday

St Mary’s College – Theme : Vulnerability ( Women’s Refuges and Emergency Housing)

A massive thank you to the Vinnies of St Mary’s College for all their works of mercy this term! Such a blessing to see you all putting the Gospel into action… Whether it be writing beautiful Easter cards, or putting together care packs for residents of Emergency Housing; you can definitely see the Spirit at work. Well done SMC!

 

St Paul’s College- Theme : Homelessness

A solid service experience with the young men from St Pauls College tonight at the local emergency housing center! It was fantastic to see you all working together as a team to serve the meals… as well as using this time to connect with the residents. Throughout the course of this term they have been visiting the center, and developing a connection with the residents… a connection that has only become stronger with each visit. Malo St Pauls College Vinnies!!

 

Wednesday

Kingsland Vinnies  Center – Theme: Prisons

Lest we forget during this Easter Season those in our Prisons, on the streets, in hospitals and hospices and refuges. Spare a thought for them. 
A special Thank you for all the generous donations Easter goods that have been donated through the week.There will be a vanload of goods going out to many of the people in these places.God bless you.

 

St Peters College – Theme : Food Insecurity

Tulua from the Marist sisters sorting all the donated cans to go out to the different Vinnies area foodbanks throughout Auckland.
Thank you St Peters College for your generosity. The food donated by you has been distirbuted to:
6 Vinnies Foodbanks in South Auckland, 2 in West Auckland, 1 in North Auckland,
1 in Central Auckland

 

Tertiary Young Adults Vinnies Group – Theme : Homelessness and Vulnerability

Tonight Tertiary Vinnies had their first training session at the Auckland City Mission. A massive thank you to Helen who ran the training and all those who attended. Looking forward to seeing these superstars in action in a couple of weeks time.

 

St Peter’s College – Theme : Food Insecurity

Some of today’s distribution of cans from St Peters College. All hands on deck at Otahuhu and New Lynn, North Shore Vinnies and Mother of Divine Mercy Refuge Thanks again St Peters your cans are going a looong way…tomorrow 3 more stops….

 

Thursday

Marist College – Theme: Prisons

Today , we heard passion, we saw tears..the Holy Spirit moved in these women….We held a really ‘full’ session with the Marist students today..unpacking justice values..catholic social teaching, the Gospel, the sacredness of people, .telling stories of people ..of real people struggling and crying out….dialoguing and trying to understand and hold the tension of the different sides…trying to understand the reality and lives of those who are in our prisons..it was hard….and we are really really proud of these ladies…..they ‘get it’….

St Paul’s College-  Theme: Homelessness

These leaders and students from St Pauls College prepared a real treat for the residents of James Liston as well as the homeless who went down to the City Mission for something to eat tonight. These young men brought in enough yummy homemade chocolate cake and loads of ice cream to feed an army! And feed an army they did indeed! They said they just wanted to do something special for these brothers and sisters on Holy Thursday. The huge crowd of people that gathered at the City Mission were so appreciative of their generosity and thoughtfulness
After dropping the dessert off they went back to serving meals and cleaning up after everyone at James Liston Hostel. Such an awesome crew !
Thank you Gloria for the pics, for supervising the crew and taking them up to the City Mission

Sancta Maria College – Theme: Prisons

Thinking of all the partners and children who will be visiting their,dads, moms, partners, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters in prison today on Holy Thursday.
Thank you to Sancta Maria College for all the Easter packs made for the families of these inmates. Know that you have brought some joy to someones life. 

St Paul’s College-  Overnight Homeless Retreat 

Around 20 Vinnies and leaders at St Pauls College on this cold, windy night of Holy Thursday are sleeping rough in support of all of our streeties who sleep rough every night.
They spent part of the evening preparing and serving food at the homeless shelter, attending Mass at St Jos, building shelters and learning about homelessness and then sharing reflections..Just as we were leaving them, they were washing each others feet…God bless you brothers..and May God bless all God’s people who are sleeping rough tonight.

Friday 

St Paul’s College – Theme: Homelessness

Carrying the Cross on Good Friday from St Paul’s College to St Patrick’s Cathedral.

…”for the first time ever…I felt like I could feel a little of what Christ felt…the pain…the drops of blood and sweat….” (quote from St Pauls Vinnies Homeless Retreat)

Tertiary Young Adult Vinnies Group- Theme: Vulnerability

Young Adult Vinnies setting up for lunch at the City Mission on Good Friday

Hotcross buns ready for dispatch to families…

 

 

 

Grace Worship Ministries – Snip-it before Commissioning Mass

Check out ths snippet of the music you will hear at the Vinnies Mass this Saturday

 

 

St Mary’s at James Liston Hostel – April 2014

St Mary’s College

The much anticipated performance by St Mary’s College Vinnies at last nights service project!!! The residents absolutely loved your gifted voices. Definitely lifted the roof!

 

 

 

April Week 02

Tuesday

Marist College

A very moving session into the theme of “Homelessness” with Marist College Vinnies today. Today they watched a film based on Homelessness in Auckland city with personal testimonies of homeless people..
Reflection by the students afterwards of what they felt and thought…
– ” ..Not every homeless person is a druggie..” ” It made me feel sad that some people don’t have anyone one to turn to and have nowhere to go..” “…It make me grateful for what I have…” ..Everyone has a story…” “….I learnt from the story of the woman that although she was not abused or addicted sometimes people end up homeless because they don’t meet a criteria and don’t have options…”
– “…The story of the young man who was kicked out of home at age 14 made me sad…and how his friends built him a tree hut to live in …he was so young”
We asked them how many of them were 14 years old and around 20 students put their hands up.
..

 

St Mary’s College

With laughter, song and smiles all round, these young women offered up their time tonight to volunteer at the local emergency housing center. So wonderful to see the ease at which they formed a genuine connection with those they were assisting – serving food, and listening to the wisdom of the residents and the staff Gloria. The staff and students of St Mary’s College can be proud of what was achieved today… truly a blessing!

 

Wednesday

Grace Worship Ministries

What a beautiful and dedicated group of musos..thank you Grace Ministries for all your mahi over the past weeks in preparation for the upcoming Vinnies Mass this Saturday

 

Thursday

Ignite 2014 Team

A big shout out to our Vinnies I-14 for coming in today and helping prep for the upcoming commissioning mass!!!

St Mary’s College

A huge thank you to the Vinnies of St Marys for their heart of service for the residents of James Liston Hostel..bringing energy into their work, service with a smile and humility to connect and listen to the stories shared with them during dinner. Living out their Mercy values and learning to build the relationship with whom serve. 

 

Friday

This Friday afternoon exec school leaders, parish and tertiary representatives and all those involved in the Commissioning Mass for 2014 gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Was great to see everyone again and the positive energy that was evident as we prepared for Saturday night.

 

Saturday

We are very grateful for God’s grace. Tonight was a celebration and a poignant reminder that God hears the cry of the poor. We are very moved by these young leaders and their school groups who have committed themselves to the call to love and serve others the poor this year.

Photos from Commissioning Mass can be found by following the link: 

https://www.facebook.com/stvinnies/media_set?set=a.650629038339176.1073741909.100001762584868&type=1 

 

 

 

Marist College at James Liston Hostel – April 2014

St Mary’s College

As well as helping cook meals for emergency housing centres, these young women cooked up a song to share with the residents! Shout out the sisters at Marist College for sharing their gift. Consider this the Jamnomination for their Vinnies group!

 

 

 

April Week 01

Tuesday

Marist College – Vulnerability

Excitement is a bit of an understatement for what we were feeling today when a group of 9 Vinnies of Marist College rocked up to serve meals at an emergency housing center in Auckland….and also help cook up 150 hot nutritious meals for the homeless down at the City Mission….and start planning a documentary based on the lives of those who are homeless……While 2/3 of the team stayed back to prep, serve, sing and prep dessert …two of the team went with Del to deliver the 150 hot meals to the homeless people gathered at the City Mission for dinner.
These young ladies also took this time to connect with the residents. .. learning the importance of person to person contact, and that everyone has their own unique story. 

 

Marist College – School visit to discuss the theme for upcoming term.

Great to catch up with the staff and leaders of Marist College today! Our Vinnies Youth Team really appreciate the staff taking this time to meet up to plan the Vinnies programme for the rest of the year. So far it looks like its gonna be a big one!! Thank you for your commitment to this work. Much respect

 

Tertiary Young Adult Vinnies  Group Elections for 2014

We wish to congratulate the new Exec Members of the Vinnies Tertiary Conference. May the Lord give your strength and wisdom.
President: Lima Lui 3rd Year Business Student , Vice President: Lucia Tavite 1st Year Arts Student,  Secretary: Daniel Mar 3rd Year Business student ; Treasurer: Sara Wadee 1st Year Science student and First Year Rep: Pelasio Iaseto 1st Year Theology and Arts Student.

 

Marist College – Theme: Homelessness

Marist prepping bulk (150) hot meals for the homeless of the City Mission…It was so awesome to have the support of these wonderful students. Shout out to Gloria and management of James Liston Hostel (JLH) for letting us use your kitchen facilities it made a world of a difference!!

 

Thursday

St Peter’s College-  Theme: Poverty /Lack of Resources

The youth team travelled out to St Peter’s College to deliver a session on Poverty. They used the Abraham Maslow theory to teach the young men about the implications of ones needs not being met at a very basic level. Together they  unpacked the significance of providing the basic needs in life, and how this allows for one to reach their full potential. The students really took on board what was learnt during this session and understood the significance of the food drives they were carrying out at school. The youth team were very grateful for the commitment and care expressed by this group.

In the following week, the students collected 2 truckloads of clothing from their fair and donated this all to St Vincent de Paul.

 

Liston College – Session on the 7 Works of Mercy and the Charism of Vinnies – Theme: Poverty 

The youth team enjoyed their session at  Liston College today.  They spent time in discussing the different Corporal works of Mercy. The Vinnies youth team were really encouraged by their motivation and enthusiasm for the task at hand.  As they discussed the Charism of Vinnies it was awesome to see it resonated with the spirit of many these students. In the next few weeks Liston College will be focussing on the theme of Poverty with a special emphasis on food insecurity. The youth team will meet with them again to unpack some of the causes and consequences of food insecurity as they launch into their ‘mammoth can drive ‘to support  families who seek food assistance from the local SVdP foodbanks. Thank you Liston College.

 

Baradene College-  Food Insecurity

Thank you to the students of Baradene College for your contribution on canned food today. Thank for your ongoing commitment to supporting families who live under the poverty line.

 

Marist College – Theme: Homelessness and Vulnerability

Thank you to the Marist Vinnies for their time, energy and compassion to serve this weekat JLH. We are always moved by the gift that you bring to the residents through your efforts and good nature. Continue to keep the flame alive and ignited through your fellow sisters! Bless Up!

 

Vinnies Ignite 2014 Team debrief the Secondary School Camp

The Vinnies Ignite-14 team played a significant part in facilitating the recent Vinnies Secondary Schools Leadership Camp. On Wednesday evening they gathered at Newman Hall at the University of Auckland to debrief their experience at camp. They were so grateful, insprired, fired up,  moved and somewhat grounded in the whole experience. The one thing everyone agreed on is that God moved on camp and they were all blessed to be part of it . The Society wishes to thank the Ignite -14 team for all their hardwork and commitment and also a special thank u also to Helen for her wisdom and expertise in preparing the team and facilitating the debrief.

 

Kingsland Vinnies Centre Volunteers spring clean.

Van washing time…the calm before the storm…then furniture pickups, Trademe, Mass prep, financials , administration, school visits, referrals, meetings, in design, databases food parcels…freaky Friday …is well and truly done and dusted…thank you team for another week of commitment and hard work.

 

Friday

Rosmini College : Re-establish there Vinnies group.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul wish to congratulate Steve Mills, the staff and its Vinnies leaders and members for re-establishing their Vinnies group. It has been close to 5 years since Rosmini College has had a Vinnies group. The Youth team were really impressed to walk into a room of close to 30 students who had turned up for the first meeting. During the session the staff shared about Vinnies , the Charism and some of the work carried out by Vinnies throughout Auckland. The response for the students was very positive and the youth team expressed that it was such a  privilege to be a part of Rosmini’s first meeting for 2014.

 

Saturday

Marist College-  Theme: Vulnerability –Capturing the other-side.

The chief Peter Courtney met up with Marist Vinnies at the Kingsland Centre today to work on a documentary about how Vinnies was established and the work it seeks to do in support of families.
We are really impressed with these young women and their commitment to the cause.