Annual Mini Vinnies Social Justice Day

The Annual Mini Vinnies Social Justice Day was held on Friday 22 November at the Australian Catholic University. It was the biggest yet to be held In our Archdiocese with over 200 students from 13 primary schools. This year, students rotated through workshops where they learnt about Vinnies services such as the shops, Night Patrol, Family Services and Street to Home. Students were challenged to consider how they might personally engage to address poverty and injustice in our society. Sophie Neighbour, Annabelle Graham and Lachlan Jaensch were all excellent spokespeople in a television interview for WIN News Canberra. All STM students who participated in the day were great ambassadors for our school. Thank you to Mrs Bramanathan for her supervision on the day.

Mini Vinnies Christmas Show at Southern Cross Care

STM Mini Vinnies visited Southern Cross Care on Friday 29 November to put on a Christmas Show for the residents. The comedies brought smiles to faces, the energetic dances kept everyone captivated and the songs and Christmas Carols created a lovely festive spirit. Isabella Gibb’s Christmas Quiz was a great activity for the children to interact with the residents. We had some laughs making Christmas decorations with pipe-cleaners. The residents appeared to really enjoy our visit. Well done Mini Vinnies for your efforts to share Christmas joy with others. Thank you to Mrs Poole who accompanied and provided supervision.

Mini Vinnies Christmas Hampers for St Vincent de Paul

Thank you very much to everyone who donated items towards the Mini Vinnies Christmas Hampers. The hampers were presented to Kym Duggan and Monica Phelan from our parish St Vincent de Paul Conference after the Kinder Nativity last Friday, 6 December. These hampers are distributed to families in our local area who are in need. Often these families are living in hardship due to disability, sickness or old age or because of circumstances such as single parenting, loss of work or low income. Before assembling the Christmas Hampers, Mini Vinnies prayed that the recipients would feel our good will and best wishes for them and have a joyful Christmas Day.

Donation to SVdP Night Patrol Van

Fundraising from Hot Chocolates in Term 3 amounted to $99.70. We learnt at the Mini Vinnies Social Justice Day that the Night Patrol Van were in need of water and toothpaste. These were purchased and donated to the Night Patrol Van this week.

Thank you to everyone for all your support and contributions throughout the year.

It has been my privilege and pleasure to work for and be part of the St Thomas More’s community. Wishing everyone all the best for Christmas, the New Year and beyond. One of my first memories of coming into St Thomas More’s was being addressed by classes with “Good morning Mrs Mingay and may God be with you.” The first time it happened, and each time afterwards, I have felt I was receiving a special blessing to help me in my work at St Thomas More’s. So, on leaving, I finish with “Goodbye the Community of St Thomas More’s and may God be with you.”

Sonja Mingay
School Chaplain