Sydney
14 July 2002
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School defies terrorism
Pope ‘force for freedom and good’
Vinnies reaches out: a new generation
Abuse allegations ‘devastating’
Caritas renews call for help as southern Africa faces food crisis
Jason scores with ‘no sex before marriage’
‘Return to the scapular’ call for feast day
Medjugorje visionary calls off visit
‘Boundless plains’ to share with refugees? - Spirituality in Pub
Health care ‘not a commodity’
Fr Pat goes back to St Pat’s for jubilee Mass
Queensland search for men to teach
St Vincent’s clocks up 1000
IVF baby farming banned - Govt ‘no’ to sale of eggs
Witchcraft move under fire
Editorial: Tangled web
Letters: Catholicism and the Royal Family
Conversation: Never say never - always hope - Larri Hayhurst, nurse educator
Reflections: Justice: what it means to me
Earthcare - a call to ‘expand our vision’
Opinion: Where young and old share the joy!
Comfort zone
Embryos used to find ‘morning after’ pill
Stem-cell research: Warning of embryo use in human tests
Stem-cell research: Legislation provides for ‘destruction of embryos’
Stem-cell research: ‘Key principle’ at stake
Stem-cell research: Risks to egg and sperm
Resurrection and ‘last things’ in Catechism series
Sing? Yes! Sing-along syndrome? No!
Inspirations: Joseph, 8, gives up toys for Cebu kids
Vinnies reaches out: a new generation
Students take part in the Vinnies Mass in Parramatta
By Alison Bryett
The helping hand of the St Vincent de Paul Society becomes more and more vital for those in need as the chill of winter continues.
To meet this need, the Society has to grow, expand and move forward.
Young people are the present and the future of the Society.
They have the courage to live out a Vincentian mission in all that they do and to challenge our traditional ways and create new ways of loving our brothers and sisters and of being God’s giving hands here on earth.
Students from schools across the Parramatta Diocese have taken part in a mass and forum to celebrate what it means to be a Vincentian.
Rebecca and Kimberly, students at Redbend College in Forbes, and Patricia O’Donnell, president of the Wilcannia/Forbes Diocese, also attended.
Our city students wanted to learn what country schools in NSW do to serve the poor in their local area, and how that differs from the work of youth conferences in the city.
After sharing their different experiences, these metropolitan students have chosen to keep in contact with their Vincentian brothers and sisters studying in Forbes, to continue to share their ideas, and work together towards a common goal.
The students also had the opportunity to ask questions during the forum about various issues that concern the Society in our contemporary world.
The panel was made up of youth, young adult, and senior members, as well as members of Parramatta’s Diocesan Council.
Some issues discussed included approaches to recruiting young people, how young members’ spirituality may be different to that of older members, the image of the Society, and how senior conferences can work in partnership with schools and young adult conferences.
From this discussion, we found that what is important is the power of prayer, and the role of God in any work we do serving the poor.
Just as a building needs firm foundations, otherwise it will come toppling down and harm those in its way, strong spirituality is the essential foundation stone for serving the poor in our community.
Having celebrated and shared with others their experiences and hopes for Vinnies, these young members walked away with their minds full of new ideas, their bodies overflowing with energy and enthusiasm, and most importantly, with their hearts open and searching for God in the poor.
If you are interested in volunteering, or would like to make a contribution to the Winter Appeal in the Parramatta Diocese to support their fantastic work, please contact the diocesan council office on (02) 9689 1900.
You can also make a credit card donation to the appeal statewide by calling 13 18 12.