The
Catholic Weekly
Online
Sydney
21 September 2003
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Heaven
scent floral feast
Welcome
strangers’ call
Bishops:
Fight racism
Bishop
Mayne dies at 75
Senate
‘yes’ to gay bid
Benedictine
nuns gather in Sydney
Tears
of joy at Marriage Sunday Mass
Donor
club
His
Holiness, the poet
Concert
to mark Pope’s jubilee
It’s
‘weakness of faith’
Still
a need for Catholic voice: Dr Pell
Editorial:
Spectre of fear
Letters:
Christian values
Conversation:
Amanda McKenna, Catholic singer and songwriter - ‘God’s messenger’ on a journey
of faith
Opintion:
‘Good mother of all ...’
Voice
of Youth: ‘Most wonderful day’
Insights:
Biblical ancestors?
Religious:
Spirit-ualities are everywhere
North
American, Irish, Australian sisters in historic Loreto reunion
Education:
Decade a day at school
Social
Work degree course at Strathfield
Balmain
kids hit right note
Catechism:
Daytime course
New
bishops ‘help God’s light shine in darkness’
Capacity
to forgive ...
‘Heroic
witness’ to the Gospel of hope
‘Kids
worth dying for’
Inspirations:
‘Schoolies’ faith patrol
Donor club
By Ciara Rocks
Kim married young and had two children within a few years. Her marriage was happy at first, but things soon deteriorated after her husband lost his job and his drinking increased.
Being married to an alcoholic isn’t easy.
Money was spent on drink instead of on basic food and clothing for their children. This made Kim angry.
Then her husband began avoiding coming home. When he did come home, an argument ensued and the physical abuse would start.
When her husband threatened the children, Kim had had enough.
She packed one bag of clothing, took the children and left.
She had nowhere to go. She was alone and without hope.
Kim was helped at a St Vincent de Paul Society family refuge and eventually referred to a Vinnies Conference which provides her with long term support.
She has not seen her husband since the night she left.
Kim, and many like her, could not do without the support of the St Vincent de Paul Society which
provides the family with financial assistance and moral support.
The St Vincent de Paul Society in NSW and the ACT provides services for families in crisis, the homeless, frail aged and the lonely.
About 20,000 Society members and volunteers assist 45,000 people every month of the year, distributing $1.2 million in furniture, clothing, food and cash to people in need.
The Circle of Hope is a donor club that was created with respect and compassion for those in need.
Members of the Circle of Hope are caring people helping those like Kim in times of crisis.
They are people who recognise how they can combine their gifts with others to make a real difference, through the St Vincent de Paul Society, in the lives of socially isolated, marginalised or needy people.
People join the Circle of Hope by pledging an annual gift. Members can choose a gift level that suits their budget and their commitment to supporting the Society’s work.
Members of the Circle of Hope receive a lapel badge and Vinnies’ bi-annual newsletter and are invited to a morning tea at one of the Society’s Special Works so that they can see first hand the work they are contributing to.
We recently spoke to our Circle of Hope members about what being a part of this group means to them.
They talked about their sense that they had been blessed by God with many things and that they wanted to share their good fortune with those without hope.
The single purpose of the Circle of Hope is to restore hope to those who have lost it.
By donating through the Circle of Hope, you can help people like Kim move through crisis to live happy and supported lives.
The St Vincent de Paul Society is inviting people to be a part of the Circle of Hope - helping to assist people through crisis. Let us share our blessings.
For further information about becoming a member of the Circle of Hope please call me on (02) 9568 0225.