A big thank you to all students who attended the Colleges second Sleepout last Friday night in the gymnasium. On a night where the temperature dropped to -1 degrees our boys and staff shared their knowledge and understanding about how to best cope with surviving a night in the elements. The boys participated in a number of activities in which they had to work in a small team to pack their backpack with appropriate items and then had to build a shelter using refrigeration boxes. Our young men displayed great empathy, compassion and were able to critically analyse the challenge that is homelessness in our world.
Thank you to Ms Kylie Rose, Mr Joe Zavone, Mr Kenneth Beaton and Ms Bridget Cusack for their support of this great initiative.
Prayer for Homeless People
Dear Lord,
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 those who are afraid and hopeless.
For those who have been betrayed by our social safety net.
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.
Michael Monagle (Assistant Principal – Mission and Identity)