Auckland City Mission – “Speaking for Ourselves”
Date: Thursday 10th July
On Thursday night our Vinnies team along with all those who attended the launch revisited stories of people…stories so powerfully moving and deeply upsetting… stories we have grown to know only too well …of parents who go without food so their children can eat…of mothers who store their babies formula in the neighbours fridge because they dont have electricity…of parents who dont let kids go to school because of the shame of not having anything to put in their lunchbox..stories so stark yet so true…
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The Vinnies team were invited along to the Citymission launch of its publication of stories of 100 families it had traced over the last 2 years. The findings although alarming confirms what organisations that work in support of struggling families have been saying for years. Our current system IS NOT working …the poorer are becoming poorer under the current regime…and we can no longer turn a blind eye
Thank you to the Auckland Citymission for this work of the Gospel…..having the stories and voices of these people documented and published takes it to another level…You have given a voice to the voiceless…Our prayer is that we will honor these stories with a just response.
Sunday 13th July 2014
World Youth Day Auckland Experience – Youth come together, united in faith.
The Auckland Catholic Youth Ministry team of the Auckland Diocese hosted a wonderful weekend in celebration of World Youth Day. Youth groups from Catholic parishes from all over Auckland and as far north as Whangarei congregated in the city to celebrate being youth and Catholic. Vinnies from across Auckland also came together for this occasion to connect with one another and celebrate their faith.
As part of the pilgrimage, the youth Auckland took part in a reflective walk that encouraged participants to learn more about the needs of the wider community and contemplate whether they are ‘Fit for Mission.’In the evening the Grace Ministries led Praise and Worship followed by the Passion of the Christ by the Ta’imua Malaeola group. It was quite a powerful performance. The night was a combination of youth testmonies of faith journeys and a beautiful mass celebrated by the Bishop Pat Dunn and priests of the Auckland Diocese.
World Youth Day Auckland Experience – Preparing meals for pilgrims
The Vinnies young adults found themselves in a support role during the World Youth celebrations. Around fifteen volunteers assembled in the carpark of the Pompallier centre in Ponsonby to cook up over 2000 sausages for the pilgrims. It was a mammoth task and they thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and the time spent together.
Saturday 12th July 2014
St Josephs Parish Vinnies – Preparing meals for families in the community
The Hellensville St Josephs Parish Vinnies crew worked hard today preparing crumble, casserole and curry to distribute to families struggling to make ends meet in their local community. This conference of volunteers faithfully cares for the vulnerable families in their community. They make a real point of connecting with the families and spending time building relationships.
St Pauls Parish & Liston College Vinnies – Preparing meals for residents in emergency housing
There is a huge need in Auckland for supported living accommodation for those who have been institutionalized and those who society cannot cater for due to not “fitting a criteria” in terms of their vulnerabilities. We thank God for inspirational and faithful people who are dedicated to setting up homes for these people.
The members of the St Pauls parish and Liston College Vinnies spent Friday night preparing numerous desserts and hotmeals to deliver to men residing in transitional housing.
SVdP – Working alongside schools in Samoa
A letter arrived today from our dear friends in Samoa!!
Dear Vinnies in all of NZ we at Fiamalamalama are so honoured and privileged to be friends of the SVdP Auckland you have taught us so much about caring and helping others. We are so grateful to such a wide range of people from young children to adults who all play a very important part in finding ways to help others. We are at our school looking at how we could start something similar. Because we have been so blessed by you we would like to do the same for others. We are starting by looking at what we have that could benefit someone else. We are going to try and get the newsletter on a DVD so the whole school can watch and learn more about the work you wonderful people are doing. Thank you again.
VINNIES NEWS 