Catholic Identity & Mission News

MCKEF Newsletter article – 4/11/26

Christmas really is coming! At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, our Saviour, who lived and taught the Corporal Works of Mercy: to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the sick, and welcome the stranger (Mt 25:35-46). (They are called “corporal” works of mercy because the word "corporal" comes from the Latin word corpus, which means body, and these actions specifically focus on meeting the physical and bodily needs of other human beings.) Our annual Christmas Appeals, coordinated by our Social Justice groups with support from our Youth Ministry classes, provide an opportunity for us to express our compassion, support, and solidarity with those in need through our donations.

The generosity of our College community enables the Cranbourne Conference of St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) to provide hampers, food items, gifts, and financial assistance to individuals and families in our local community experiencing financial and social hardship. We are all aware of the challenges created by rising living costs and recognise that many people continue to face both short-term and long-term financial pressures.

Vinnies plays an active and practical role in offering meaningful support to those who are doing it tough. Central to their mission is a commitment to seeing the face of Christ in every person they assist, an approach inspired by Jesus’ Works of Mercy. As we respond thoughtfully to our Christmas Appeals, let us keep this message in mind. When we reach out to help those in need, we become instruments of hope, compassion, and care, living out the example that Jesus calls us to follow.

Ably led by our Social Justice Leaders, Ms Cathy Michael and Ms Melanie Bell, and our Social Justice Captains, Simon Santos and Paulette Ruiz, each Social Justice group will be collecting food items and toys.  I invite you to peruse their promotional materials and if possible, contribute to this very worthy cause via collection boxes placed in each House area. While they suggest a focus area for each House to consider, all contributions will be very gratefully received!

Our annual theme has called for us to do all that we do in love - let us give thanks for the volunteers at Vinnies who do God’s works of mercy in the world. We pray that we can support them in prayer, solidarity and through our generous support of our Christmas appeal this year, Amen. 

Fiona McKenna

Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity & Mission Leader