+ Monday 29th June – Feast of Sts Peter and Paul – plus Refugee care invitation

29 June 2020

Dear friends – The content for this post has been kindly prepared by parishioners Kay Walker and Carol Burke. Sincere thanks to Kay and to Sue Mouthaan who spoke at our live stream Masses on the weekend of this parish opportunity to support refugees in this COVID time:

Today is the day we celebrate the Feast of Peter and Paul, those two pillars of the church who took up the challenge to spread the Good News throughout the world. Both of them travelled through many countries experiencing different cultures and sharing the word of God wherever they went.

And so it’s a fitting day to talk about displaced people from other countries and the hardships they face in today’s society. Statistics tell us there are twice the number of displaced people in the world as there are Australian citizens.

(Image credit: from a De La Salle publication on refugees) – A contemporary take on Jesus and his parents fleeing from danger. Many thousands of families share this experience right now – very often with members apart from each other in the process, through separation whilst fleeing or through death

WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES – POPE FRANCIS

Here’s a piece of what Pope Francis shared during Mass in Rome on the World Day of Migrants andRefugees in Sept 2019:

“Loving our neighbour as ourselves means being firmly committed to building a more just world, in which everyone has access to the goods of the earth, in which all can develop as individuals and as families, and in which fundamental rights and dignity are guaranteed to all. This means being a neighbour to all those who are mistreated and abandoned on the streets of our world, soothing their wounds and bringing them to the nearest shelter, where their needs can be met.”

COVID-19 has greatly impacted people seeking asylum. There are many refugees in our Diocese who are facing destitution and we have been contacted by The House of Welcome, a charity run by St Francis Social Services at Granville and the Jesuit Refugee Service at Westmead requesting our help to meet the increased demand on their services. Many of those seeking asylum, along with their families, have lost their jobs and are excluded from JobKeeper, JobSeeker, Medicare or income assistance. They cannot pay their rent and are facing homelessness and destitution. Some refugees have even been evicted from their homes. Many are struggling to feed their families and facing a winter without heating.

(Image credit: Unsplash collection) – Hands and hearts together achieve remarkable things

A PARISH RESPONSE

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND SUPPORT PEOPLE IN DESPERATE NEED

At Our Lady of the Way Parish we are running a food drive to assist refugees in our Diocese. And we are being invited to donate as follows:

ITEMS NEEDED

New winter blankets
Basmati Rice
Cooking Oil
Long life milk
Tinned tuna, red kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas and fruit
Biscuits & muesli bars
Oats & cereal
Tinned tomatoes
Tea & Coffee

TOILETRIES

Nappies (large sizes)
Toothpaste & toothbrushes
Shampoo
Sanitary pads & napkins
Razors & shaving foam
Deodorant (male & female)
Soap

You may drop off items to the parish office on this coming Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday 9am-3pm, or to the church foyer during Mass times through the week and on the weekend.

PLEASE PUT YOUR ITEMS IN STRONG RECYCLED SHOPPING BAGS

A parish group will then deliver your items to the ‘House of Welcome’, a wonderful support ministry in our Diocese and to the Jesuit Refugee Service, a very special outreach also with a team located in our Diocese.

WITH THANKSGIVING FOR OUR SHARED PARISHIONER GENEROSITY

For further information and other ways to donate contact:

House of Welcome www.StFrancis.org.au

Jesuit Refugee Service www.jrs.org.au

For further reading:

The Australian Bishops speak out on Asylum and Refugees www.catholic.org.au

(Image credit: Unsplash collection) – What incredible hope is created when gifts of welcome and of accompanying people in their stories are given by fellow human beings