The
Catholic Weekly
Online
Sydney
18 January 2004
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Lunch at the Talbot
Christmas Day at the Talbot began with a Mass, followed by breakfast and lunch
By Damir Govorcin
Br Dan Stafford was eating Christmas lunch at Matthew Talbot Hostel when a man in his early 20s asked if he could have a quick word.
“
He just wanted to say thanks for the lunch and gifts he had received, and by
next Christmas he hoped to get his act together and reconcile with his parents
and family,” said Br Dan.
“
The man comes from Western Australia and had spent time in jail overseas.
“
His parents helped him to get back to Australia and he was going to ring and
tell them how much he loved them.
“
It makes Christmas Day so worthwhile when you know some joy on a difficult
day has entered into someone’s heart.”
Br Dan has spent the past nine Christmas days at the Matthew Talbot Hostel in his roles as volunteer co-ordinator, committee member and fundraising co-ordinator.
He says he has never walked away from any Christmas without feeling gratitude
that he could
be surrounded by “God’s special people”.
The men who go to the Talbot are among the most marginalised and destitute in our community.
This Christmas 35 volunteers prepared and served Christmas lunch for
more than 350 men.
Each of the men also received a bag of essentials, which included
clothing and toiletries.
Christmas Day at the Talbot began with a Mass, followed by breakfast
and lunch.
“
Our goal is to make the day memorable for the men, but the atmosphere is quite
sad and solemn,” said Br Dan.
“
Most of the men have children or family elsewhere so Christmas hits home that
life has gone wrong for them.
“
It’s not uncommon when we sing the Christmas carols at Mass to see some
of the men with tears in their eyes.
“
It brings back memories of better days.”
Throughout its 110 special works, the St Vincent de Paul Society catered for thousands of disadvantaged people throughout the Christ- mas period.
It sought to bring some Christmas cheer to the people on the streets and in its refuges and hostels throughout NSW.
The St Vincent de Paul Society in NSW/ACT has a network of more than 21,000 members and volunteers who worked tirelessly over the Christmas period.
The Society visited thousands of families in need, as well as elderly and lonely people in their homes providing food, gifts and moral support.
At the Vincentian Village – a care and support centre in East Sydney – more than 100 men, women and children were catered for on Christmas Day.
And 100 homeless people were catered for on New Year’s Day.
In the lead-up to Christmas, the Society’s Youth Reach in Dee Why held a party for more than 70 disadvantaged young people and gave out presents and hampers.
Owen Rogers, the Society’s chief executive officer, said: “Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for people in need.
“ We reach out to a growing number of people to provide support and assistance in recognising their importance in society and to bring them some hope for the future.”