Mercy girls in action
FOUNDED on the Mercy traditions, St Patrick’s College Townsville’s mission program allows students the opportunity to engage in humanitarian, outreach and social justice causes through the Mercy Girls in Action and Mcauley Ministry groups.
In 2021, the Community Service Prefects have focused on opportunities to support several causes including Vinnies (St Vincent de Paul) and Eat Up Australia.
One of the college’s biggest fundraisers for Vinnies is the annual Fashion Friday.
Clothes are repurposed, selling for just $2 each. Held close to camp and retreat days, students often purchase clothing that will be suitable for cold nights and active, fun-filled days.
The fundraiser ends in an impromptu fashion parade where staff and students showcase their new purchases.
This year, Fashion Friday raised nearly $700.00 for Vinnies.
Recently, students and staff sacrificed comfort and a good night’s sleep to experience a little of what it would be like to be homeless in the Vinnies
Sleepout initiative.
Led by the college Chaplain Harriett Veukiso and Vinnies Youth Engagement and Development Officer Mary Mcauliffe, students were informed about the realities faced by members of the community with no place to call home.
They were given a glimpse into the hardships and complex issues faced by thousands of Australians every day, and challenged to make choices between necessities and comfort.
Year 11 student Jamie Mohr said taking part in the Vinnies Sleepout helped put their own challenges into perspective.
“While it was difficult to give up some of the comforts
we are used to, it was extremely rewarding,”
“We realised that many people in our community do not have their basic needs met, and often go unnoticed.
“I would absolutely recommend the Vinnies sleep-out to others, as the personal growth you experience, and the insights you gain, prepares you to be able to act on the issue of homelessness and create positive change.”
Throughout the year, donations for various ‘basic needs’ products have been collected, and the latest drive is for socks.
The college has worked towards the target of 1000 pairs socks and will pass on the donation at the end of the term.
Next term, the college will host a Buddies Day which aims to provide children from lowincome backgrounds with an opportunity to experience recreational activities they would otherwise miss out on.
Given the college’s unique location and proximity to the beach and waterpark, this day is something everyone is looking forward to.
It’s hard to imagine that one in five Australian children experience food insecurity, but children frequently arrive at school without the food they need to fuel the growing bodies and brains.
The Mercy Girls in Action group meet twice each term on a Friday morning to make hundreds of cheese sandwiches which are then delivered to Eat Up.
Eat Up is Australia’s only organisation providing free lunches to students on a national scale. So far, they have donated over 2000 lunches.
The student volunteers are now a well-oiled machine and production targets have been smashed each time.
These mornings reinforce Catherine Mcauley’s words, “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us”.