From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 19th November, 2023

Hi everyone!
The Good Lord asks of us, in the Book of Isaiah:
"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." (Isaiah 1, 17).

And I am pleased to announce that, after nearly 18 months of fundraising, and 'behind the scenes' work - with the initial "Let's Build a Vinnies Van" fundraising (which netted over $162,000), then the long 'pilgrimage' of the new Van from overseas, get it fitted out, and move through all the bureaucratic hoops'... The Good News is that our collective efforts are now coming to fruition, because:


Our Ryde Area Vinnies Van Service Begins on Wednesday 6th December (2023)!
Yes, I know ... I have been saying that the Vinnies van would be 'up and running' in July ... then August ... then September, and then ... silence! (I kind of felt like 'Peter and the wolf'). The truth of the matter is that our friends at Vinnies really had to 'go the extra mile' to get this service up and running, as there were a lot of administrative requirements imposed on us to make it happen.

But 'make it happen' they have. And I thank Josie Charbel and the team at Vinnies Van Services for their dogged determination in getting to this point.

The local Ryde Vinnies Van Service will begin on Wednesday 6th December. There are now enough participants to run the service three nights a week, (instead of two), including sandwich making teams, which is a marvellous start. We would love to see the Van running day and night, 6 days a week if possible, on multiple runs and to different areas of needy people in our midst. This is a magnificent way of being able to 'give back' to our wider community, and do our best to "look after the widow, the poor, the orphan and the stranger in your midst".

I would like to thank you for all the support you have shown to this new branch of our Ryde Gladesville Catholic Parish's outreach to the poor and needy. For they are there in our midst, even though you may not have seen them. We are also now working in conjunction with the Hunters Hill Vinnies Conference as well in this work, which is a wonderful sign of unity and "shouldering the load" among parishes, as together we extend and consolidate our outreach both within our Parishes, as well as to the surrounding areas as well.

I understand that the new teams have already been organised and notified of their nights/runs. If you have not yet been sent an email to advise you of this, rest assured, we still very much need you. Please send an email to the following email address Viniana.Tamanitoakula@vinnies.org.au to get in contact with Viniana or visit our website www.rgcp.org.au/rgcp-vinnies-van.

Good bless!

Your brother in these 'good works' of the Lord.

Fr Greg