“Never see a need without doing something about it.” St Mary of the Cross Mackillop
With this year’s extended lockdown and the continuing restrictions placed on the operating of schools, it has been a challenge to offer our usual outreach to our local communities. Thankfully we have been able to carry on our Term 4 tradition of donating items to create Christmas Hampers in support of the Campbelltown Chapter of the St Vincent de Paul Society. On 13 December the hampers will be distributed to families in our local area and they will be delivered with the assistance of St Pat’s girls who volunteer for the task.
Limited by ongoing restrictions, we have sought other ways to reach out to those in need in our local communities which do not involve direct contact. For example, the Year 10 Community Service groups have this term created Christmas cards which will be distributed to the residents of Carrington Aged Care facility in Grasmere. Carrington is one of the Community Service sites that the Year 10 girls have been attending over the past seven years and it has been difficult during the past two years to be restricted from entering their facility. A typical message on the Christmas cards is:
Greetings from the St Patrick’s College community!
We wish you a very happy Christmas.
We have missed seeing you but we hope that we can start our
Community Service again in the New Year.
We hope and pray that 2022 is a good year for everyone.
Best wishes from the St Pat’s community.
Similarly, the Nagle Centre has requested that St Pat’s supplies 120 drawstring bags filled with toiletries for distribution to the homeless in our local area. Year 10 girls are to be dearly thanked for their generosity in not only decorating the bags but for also donating the items to fill the bags. Nagle Centre is another of the Community Service venues the Year 10 girls have not been able to attend due to the pandemic. However, the St Pat’s community has found alternative ways to reach out to those needing some help from us. We are proud of our St Pat’s girls who give generously in whatever manner they can, especially in difficult times.
Angelo Gattone - Mission Coordinator
