St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol
During this challenging time our friends at St Vincent de Paul are trying their best to continue to provide services to the vulnerable in our community. However due to COVID-19 they have experienced a significant decline in vital winter clothing donations. St Vincent de Paul are still accepting donations and are following quarantine procedures to ensure that these items are safe for distribution. We understand that we had planned our annual St Benedict’s Winter Woollies Day for Term 3, but considering there is a current urgent need for donations we are encouraging all of our St Benedict’s families to do a clean out of their wardrobes to donate unwanted winter clothing. Of course donations of new clothing items are also welcomed. The Night Patrol Van is specifically seeking the following items in adult sizes:

• Jackets
• Gloves
• Sleeping bags
• Blankets
• Beanies
• Socks
• Scarves

These items should be donated directly to St Vincent de Paul Warehouse (32 Buckland St, Mitchell ACT) and on depositing these items you should let the volunteers know that you would like your donations to go specifically to the Night Patrol. Alternatively, you can make a financial donation online https://donate.vinnies.org.au/donation-hub

Thank you for your continued support.

Community Meals Program: HELP NEEDED! THE FREEZER IS EMPTY!
The Community Meals freezer is one way we can assist families who are experiencing hardship. Unfortunately we are currently unable to accept donations of homemade meals, but we are seeking donations of store bought frozen meals and vegetables, and non-perishable can items. All frozen and non-perishable donations can be brought to the Front Office. If your family requires temporary meal assistance, you can speak in confidence to any of our staff members.

National Sorry Day
On Tuesday our students reflected on the meaning and purpose of National Sorry Day within their classes. Classes listened to stories, accounts, interviews and documentaries which expressed a deep spiritual and cultural loss, and engaged in thoughtful discussion about the significance of the day.

Prayer
God of love and compassion.

We thank you for the survival of Indigenous cultures. 

Our hope is in you because you gave your son Jesus to reconcile the world to you. 

We pray for your strength and grace to forgive, accept and love one another as you love, forgive and accept us. 

Give us the courage to acknowledge the realities of our history so that we may build a better future for our nation. 

Teach us to respect all cultures. Teach us to care for our land and waters. Help us to share justly the resources of this land. 

Help us to bring about spiritual and social change to improve the quality of life for all groups in our communities, especially the disadvantaged. 

Help young people to find true dignity and self-esteem in the ways of your Spirit. 

May your power and love be the foundations on which we build our families, our communities and our nation.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.