Especean

Faith, Justice and Formation 

Fathers’ Day Mass RSVP

On behalf of Dr Lavorato and the College, all fathers, father figures and grandfathers are invited to join us for Mass with their sons on Friday 2 September.

 

All parents/carers of the College were emailed the details for the Fathers’ Day Masses and the link to RSVP last week from my email address. We really hope as many as possible can attend, especially after the two-year hiatus.

 

All families in Berg, Coghlan and Crichton will have Mass at 7:45 AM in the Gym.

 

All families in Hanrahan, Hickey and Rice will have Mass at 9:30 AM in the Gym.

 

We really need your help in planning so request that those who are attending RSVP with all required details by Monday 22 August at 4:00 PM.

 

You can find the form to RSVP here. 

 

More specific details will then be sent to all attendees prior to the Masses.

 

God bless all the men and male role models in our lives. 

Parent Involvement in St Vincent De Paul Night Patrol

At last week’s Parents’ and Friends’ Forum, we looked at the role of service and justice in our lives. Part of the evening looked at ways our parents/carers can be more involved in the justice work of the College should they wish. Aside from serving alongside their sons in a myriad of ways, we have many opportunities that will be outlined over coming months.

 

One of our most successful and authentic programs is our holistic commitment to Sydney Night Patrol run by St Vincent de Paul. This service is about giving people a ‘hand up rather than a hand-out’, as we serve food and hot drinks while engaging in conversation with those who live on the margins.

 

St Patrick’s College looks after three nights (and four runs with food) per month. For decades now we have had staff, students, Old Boys, ex-staff and parents/carers work together for the success of the program. To continue this now and into the future, there are three ways our parents/carers can be involved:

  • Donate food (already largely supported) – we cannot do this without your support. Thank you! Please keep this going.
     
  • Delivery – volunteer to be on the roster to deliver the made food from school to the homebase for Night Patrol in Lewisham. Having a larger car/van would be beneficial. Food (approximately 20 loaves of sandwiches, bags or boxes of fruit and five large garbage bags full of snack packs; times two on Wednesdays) needs to be picked up after 4:45 PM and delivered prior to 6:30 PM, and the nights we go out are Wednesdays and Fridays. We are in desperate need of assistance with this. With lots of volunteers you may only need to do this a couple of times per year.  To get on the roster please email frances.spagnuolo@spc.nsw.edu.au. 
     
  • Van volunteer – if you are already trained to do Night Patrol and would like to join our Team OR if you would like to volunteer to go out on Night Patrol but are not trained, please email me at gillian.daley@spc.nsw.edu.au. You will need to do the online training and then you will be able to join our team which goes out two or three nights per month. You will need to do three to four times per year to help build relationships with the people we serve and meet.

Thanks for your ongoing support.

 

Gillian Daley

Director of Identity

IPSHA Justice Expo 

Last Wednesday 10 August, five students from the Junior Justice Group took part in the Justice Expo facilitated through IPSHA (Independent Primary School Heads of Australia). Hosted at The King’s School, Parramatta, we firstly heard about effective ways to fundraise through the SchoolAid online platform. 

 

Next was an inspiring story of hope as the Arndell Anglican College community rallied after a tragic loss, to spread the message of kindness. ‘B Kinder Day’ evolved from this and has spread worldwide. This is just one of many opportunities we are exploring about how we promote wellbeing throughout the Junior School.

 

Finally, we looked at the many stalls set up by schools to show the justice activities running all across Sydney. The boys found it an eye-opening day about the many possibilities out there in serving the community.

 

Stephen Cooper

Junior Justice Group Coordinator