Thank you from Woorabinda

A huge thank you from Sr Cecilia Prest from the Woorabinda Mission to everyone who donated to our call for linen, dress ups and football boots.  Woorabinda is an Aboriginal Community in our Diocese and Sr Cecilia is alone in her ministry and was so very appreciative of all the donations she received.  Lynelle McAtee and I drove out to Woorabinda to deliver them Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 November. We had a huge ute full of donations of linen from parishioners and our school community.  We also received toys from the Shalom College Giving Tree plus multiple other donations.  This was a great opportunity to continue to support Sr Cecilia in her mission to the people of Woorabinda.  

Sister Cecilia has been in Woorabinda for approximately 18 years, as she says, being a ‘presence’ in the community.  She has built up a store in her time there and provides secondhand items which are donated by various people and groups, sometimes bought by her if there are items in need that she is unable to source through donations.  The shop is open on Thursdays and people of the community can then buy what they need.  As Frederic Ozanam who founded St Vincent de Paul says, ‘This is not a handout, it is a hand up’ and they pride themselves in being able to support themselves. 

Linen is an ongoing necessity, such as tablecloths, sheets and towels, as well as shoes and at Christmas time gifts for the families who have no transport to travel to Rockhampton to purchase Christmas presents. 

Shalom College and the Catholic Parish of Bundaberg will continue to support Woorabinda Mission and are planning two trips a year to deliver needed goods. 

If ever you wish to support this worthy cause, please let me know and we can deliver your donations when we go. 

Thank you once again for your very generous donations.  

Wishing you all Blessings for a very Happy and Holy Christmas. 

Cheryl Petersen
Campus Minister