“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” Matthew 25:35
This Friday we will hold the College’s second Sleepout in the school gym. Last year fifty boys and a number of staff roughed the cold nature of the gym, without any heating, to experience what many Australians of all ages are experiencing every night. According to census statistics 116,000 people are experiencing homelessness in Australia each night. We keep these people in our prayers, especially during the cold winter that is currently upon Canberra. We will raise money for HOME in Queanbeyan and look to purchase some material provisions under the guidance from Anne the manager. Last year we bought 30 hygiene kits to be handed out to those people who would benefit from receiving these. This empathy task is an opportunity for our boys to gain some understanding about what it would be like to be homeless and not have anywhere to sleep. Please find attached consent form.
Sleepout form 2019 1Prayer for Homeless People
Hear our prayer today for all women and men, boys and girls who are homeless this day.
For those sleeping under bridges, on park benches, in doorways or bus stations.
For those who can only find shelter for the night but must wander in the daytime.
For families broken because they could not afford to pay the rent.
For those who have no relatives or friends who can take them in.
For those who have no place to keep possessions that remind them who they are.
For all these people, we pray that you will provide shelter, security and hope.
We pray for those of us with warm houses and comfortable beds
that we not be lulled into complacency and forgetfulness.
Jesus, help us to see your face in the eyes of every homeless person we meet.
Empower us to work for justice and peace through words and deeds.
Give us open hearts to greet and meet the homeless people in our neighbourhoods.
in your name we pray. Amen
Blessed Edmund Rice
Pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts forever
Amen.
Sign of the Cross
Michael Monagle (Assistant Principal- Mission and Identity)