Today the team of Sancta Maria College Vinnies took part in a safety training session on how to work with vulnerable young people. These sessions are crucial for these students to be able to carry out their service work in the community.
A massive thankyou to all the young men and women who came into todays session for your continuous support. We look forward to seeing the amazing service you have planned for the year.
TERTIARY VINNIES
Awesome turnout from tonight’s Tertiary Vinnies meeting. Thanks to those who came tonight and looking forward to connecting in with some of you at WYDAK this weekend.
REFLECTING ON HOMELESSNESS
St Mary’s College are back at it again. Today we discussed the theme of Homelessness and the various projects of service these young women contributed to last term. The hype of events such as the ‘We Belong showcase’ & ‘WYDAK16’ this weekend filled the girls with excitement and have given them new ideas of projects they will be doing this term. We look forward to all your hardwork unfolding . Keep it up girls !
THANKYOU IGNITE TEAM
Shoutout to this amazing family of leaders. Without this group of talented and hardworking people, today’s showcase would have not flown as smoothly.
Also special shoutout to Troy and Leki our Meeeean-as MCs who held it all together and worked their magic and also our dear brother Epine Bob Savea for doing the hardyards over the weeks. Thankyou!!
Today we had the opportunity to connect in with some of the amazing Vinnies Leaders of Sancta Maria College. Their was a profound sense of excitement and pride in the air as each reflected on their faith journey – erupting in smiles and laughter at the mention of the good times, and nodding heads of understanding at the mention of the not so good times. In acknowledging all of these, the leaders discussed how to best put their gifts and talents to use, as well as to find ways of allowing those they lead to do the same. We look forward to seeing their journey unfold as 2016 rolls on!
Sancta Maria College Vinnie Leaders
RENOVATIONS AT KINGSLAND VINNIES CENTRE
Renovations for a New Youth Room!
A massive shout out to Epine Bob “the builder” and all the team and volunteers that are helping to shape up this old kitchen into a new activities/training room for the youth. Really appreciate your Mahi.
BLESS OUR DEAR BRO TUTANGATA
Today we asked God for a special blessing over our dear brother Tutangata as he heads to Poland for the World Youth Days. We pray for God’s protection over him and also when he makes his way over the Cook Islands to where he will spend 6 months working with the local youth and serving the local church. We love you Tuts and pray you have an amazing time.
Lucia, Peter, Gene, Delphina, Tutangata, Mary
Mary blessings Tutangata
LEADERSHIP TEAM ALL THE WAY FROM NZ
A special shout out to these amazing people Martin (Volunteer Coordinator),Fatima, Ann-Margaret, Mary and Auimatagi Joe who are all volunteering for WYD 2016 in Krakow Poland as part of the Oceania team!
Safe travels to the brother Auimatagi Joe Moeono-Kolio as he prepares his journey to World Youth Day 2016. Joe will also be representing both Caritas & Vinnies at the International Gatherings held in Poland. All the best Joe, we will definitely be keeping you in our prayers. Hope you enjoy your time overseas and can’t wait to hear all your stories.
Back to Front: Delphina, Joe, Bob, Lucia
SPREADING THE LOVE IN THE SOLOMONS
Way to go Chloe-Rose Vinnies Young Adult /Baradene Vinnies Leadrrship Alumni spreading the love in the Solomon Islands with the children. She had an opportunity whilst travelling to connect in with local St Vincent de Paul whanau.
VISITING OUR PRISONS
Tonight the Chaplaincy of Mt Eden Corrections Facility held an Induction for the Sunday Ministry teams that will be going in to run church services for the residents.
Members of the combined West Auckland group led by Yvonne Lincoln Purcell attended. We wish to commend this awesome West group for their commitment and compassion for our brothers and who reside in this prison and also their loved ones who are affected by their incarceration. Also we pray for families who are victims of crimes committed Lord.may you be with them. Lord we pray you bless and guide this Prison Ministry Team.
MOVIE NIGHT FOR RESIDENTS OF EMERGENCY HOUSING
An amazing crowd gathered for the St Dominics and Liston Vinnies Movie Fundraiser and it was a real success. A heartfelt Thank you to the organisers and all the those who came along to show their support for this work of Mercy . All the proceeds of this fundraiser will go towards the annual Christmas Funday as well gifts and food for the residents of local emergency housing.
SHARING IDENTITIES; BRIDGING THE GAP We Belong PreEvent
“WHERE THERE IS NO PEACE and where there is POVERTY it is because we have forgotten WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER”- Mother Theresa.
AVSSC 2016
Acceptance, Trust & Care for One Another. These were few words from tonight’s discussion amongst the Vinnies from 13 Catholic schools and Tertiary that gathered.
Tonight was the #WeBelong Pre-Event. The purpose was to prepare the youth for the relaunching of the #WeBelong Social Media Campaign during World Youth Day 2016.
#WeBelong is a COUNTER-CULTURE movement that strives to UNDO DISCONNECTION by genuinely building relationships through the bringing of people together through the telling of stories, sharing of difference through social media, performing arts and service projects.
It is a movement about MERCY and JUSTICE and the call to serve. It is movement about PEACE and EQUALITY. It is a movement about LOVE.
IGNITE TEAM
Tonight’s purpose was to provide a platform of positive socialization, as well as to celebrate our uniqueness and difference – differences that in a sense make us the same. Over the next 30 days, these young men and women will be preparing stories, presentations and other expressions of performance to share diffference.
We look forward to seeing this journey unfold.
GENEROSITY
We LOVE Fr Kev Murphy. He faithfully supports the work of St Vincent de Paul all year round. When he’s not saying Mass, praying for people or looking after the flock. He is continually bringing in generous donations or turning up with a carload of clothing, food or recycled plastic bags for the OpShop and Foodbank. Today was one of those days. Fr Kev you’re a legend! Thank you so much!
Fr. Kev. Murphy & Delphina Soti
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Over the years we get to know people quite well who frequent our shops. It is common for the shop volunteers to strike up beautiful friendships with the most unlikely people. Pictured below is Mae a lovely 80 year old Cambodian lady with Kili one of our shop volunteers.
Mae & Kili
FEEDING OUR COMMUNITIES
Shout out to the Vinnies of Sacred Heart College who recently conducted some fundraising for the Glen Innes community food bank, as well continued support with Brother Humphry and the children of Samoa.
EVERY BIT COUNTS
Gathering & packing boxes of clothing that will be going to SVdP in Samoa to support families. Thankyou to our amazing volunteers Shirley, Kili, our Igniters Graycee & Hulu and staff member Victoria for helping out and for continuing to serve with great passion.
SANCTA MARIA LEADER COMMMISSIONING
Today the Sancta Maria College Vinnies leaders were formally commissioned and presented their Vinnies badges. Gene Paul Kiely (Schools Coordinator) also took this time to thank these students on behalf of SVdP. He also acknowledeged the service work of this group and also the compassion and dedication of these young men and women to live out the Vincentian charism in the service of others. Well done Sancta Maria College Vinnies!
KEEPING CONNECTED
The boys from De La Salle College have once again visited Monte Cecilia. The purpose of Monte Cecilia is to build relationships within our local communities. Thankyou De La Salle College for your continuous service in living out God’s word.
VOLUNTEERING @ VINNIES CENTRES
The Students are given the opportunity to volunteer at the Vinnies centre to understand the different works that take place to empower the students to serve in the community.
Thank You Marist College for coming into the centre over past several weeks from sorting through the back room to working in the food bank, helping in the shop or building relationships with those who walk into the shop. It was also awesome to have former Marist students supervise the work being done. We appreciate the time and continuous effort that you ladies have given.
CLOTHES SWAP
Congratulations to the Sancta Maria College ENVIRO/VINNIES for SWAP CLOTHES DRIVE! Thank you for getting behind this initiative and striving to serve in any way possible. All the remaining clothes will be given to the families of Monte Cecilia so it’s great that we have been able to help not only our school community but also our wider community .
HOMELESS ARE NOT NAMELESS
Shout out to those who are coordinating the PARK UPS all over Auckland in solidarity with those without a place to call home. A special shout out to this little guy Kolbe son of Sio Laumatia and Briggitte Phab and his siblings for their commitment to the cause.
DESTINATION SVDP SAMOA
Today another shipment of clothing and personal affects made its way to the Pacific Forum Line ready for despatch to Samoa. This stock will go a long way in supporting the families SVDP Samoa work with.
A special thank you to Manager Mike Swan for sponsoring the cartage. We are always so grateful. A thank you also to the team who worked hard to get it all organised.
KIWIHARVEST FEEDING FAMILIES
Each week without fail the crew at KiwiHarvest (An organisation committed to recycling food from supermarkets and donating it to foodbanks) always drops off fresh produce and dairy products for our foodbank. These donations are awesome as they really enhance the nutritional value of the food parcels. The families that receive the parcels are grateful for fruit and vegetables as well as dairy goods.
FOOD INSECURITY
The students of McAuley High school focused on the theme “Food insecurity” this term. They spent their lunchtime unpacked some of the stories and reality of the families that are struggling to put on the table. The Students were informed about what goes into a food parcel and how it can have an impact on others.
CONNECTING IN WITH THE GRACE FAMILY
Connected in with Grace Ministries earlier tonight as they came together to prepare for WYDAK16. We thankyou for continuing to inspire people with your many talents and your love to serve. We continue to pray for you all during your preparation leading up to WYD and can’t wait to see it all unfold.
Shout out Yvonne Lincoln Purcell for instigating, coordinating the whole Park Up West and Peter Tanginoa Jnr and Christina Isa Masae and Co for totally making it happen.
IGNITE RETREAT
Retreat theme: How God is present in US and OTHERS and how God SPEAKS to us in the EVERYDAY and in the ORDINARY and EXTRAORDINARY events of our lives.
Throughout this week how has God spoken to you? What is God saying?
JUST BEING THERE
Today Gemma Nash and Erica are volunteering alongside the faithful Auckland City mission staff to make and serve food care for those who genuinely don’t have a place to call home.
One young man who often frequents the City mission mentioned he didn’t come for just the food but especially to meet the volunteers and staff. He said when times got rough and he was feeling really down and isolated, being greeted, having the chance to chat with these volunteers/staff and feeling their warmth really lifted him and reminded him that someone still cared.
Thank you also to the awesome city mission staff and also Volunteers Lave ,Yasith, Sonya, Taka, Mikey, Daniel, Jola, Julian, Sarah , Florence, Grace,Lincoln , Loretta, Peter, who have volunteered through the months.
‘WE BELONG THINK TANK’
We Belong teams coming together to collect stories.
