From the APRIM

Dear Families

Many years ago, when I was part of a different school community, our classes were collecting food for the Vinnies Christmas Food Appeal just like we do here at Nativity. Our Early Years students were asked, “Who do you think would need this food?”

“Oh, poor people.”

Our Religious Education Coordinator told us about one of the families that Vinnies wanted to help that Christmas. A grandmother and her grandson had emigrated from another country due to racial tension and violence. They had lived in constant fear. In Australia, they felt safe, they had a home, they had food and they had each other. They were content.

When a parishioner went to check on how they were settling in, she was invited to sit on the one chair as the grandmother made her a cup of coffee. The parishioner was shocked to find out that they owned a fridge, two mattresses and the prized chair. They were their only possessions. “So, what are you going to do at Christmas?” the parishioner asked.

“Oh, we will celebrate Christmas in a small way, go to Mass and then have a lovely lunch.”

The parishioner knew that the lovely lunch wasn’t going to be turkey, pudding, bon-bons and the trimmings. There would be no Christmas tree and there would be no presents. Their money just didn’t stretch that far.

There was a happy ending as my class decided to do something about it. The students found a Christmas tree, they made decorations and some parents made sure that Father Christmas knew where that little boy lived. As each of those students and their families sat down to their Christmas lunch that year, they knew that they had made someone else’s Christmas even better.

So the grandmother and her grandson had a home, food, each other and now, a community who cared for them. Caring for this little family didn’t stop at Christmas and the parish continued to watch over them.

Thank you to those people who have brought in donations for this year’s Christmas Food Appeal. This food is given to those in our own community, families who may not look as though they are finding it tough, but they are.

Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others.
2 Corinthians 9: 7- 8

Please continue to give to Vinnies Christmas Food Appeal as we will present our donations to Vinnies next week at assembly.

Blessings

Sharyn Black
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission