New Vinnies store for Bathurst
O
n 29th July 2011, Bishop Michael McKenna blessed and officially opened the new St. Vincent de Paul store in Keppel Street Bathurst. The new store has been some time in the making, but now boasts a wonderful retail shop along with Conference and Welfare facilities. Once a butcher’s shop, the building has a long history. Used as a Vinnies store in the past, at one stage it was condemned, but a lot of work to repair and refurbish it in line with a Heritage listing, has seen the building given a new life. Around 140 people attended the Opening, including Mayor Paul Toole. Vicar General of the Diocese, Father Aeneas (Hugh) Delaney, led the prayer
saying he hoped the building would “….enliven our faith and make us grateful”. The new store has clothing, home wares, furniture and shoes and accessories. “The quality of donations is amazing and it is not just for people who are disadvantaged, Retail Manager Billie Kirkland said. “We want all cross sections of the community to shop here. All the clothes I wear are purchased here - we have really good items of clothing”. The store is on the look-out for more volunteers - if you can help, please call Billie on 0428 193 672. Right: President of the Bathurst Diocesan Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, Gillian Ferguson, cuts the cake with Bishop Michael McKenna.
Palms on the road
S
everal parishes and schools in the Diocese last month had a visit from some Palms Australia volunteers. They are part of the Palms Jubilee Roadshow travelling around the country to celebrate 50 years of service. Palms recruits, prepares, sends and supports skilled volunteers to reduce global poverty, at the request of partner communities in Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and the Pacific. Over the past half century, Palms Australia has met over 1,400 requests from their partners. Volunteers depart with Palms values - to live humbly, love tenderly, walk humbly - and as such
often are the last to blow their own trumpets and remind us of the value they have given. Since its beginning, this has amounted to over $200 million to the communities they have served. Our own Father Greg Bellamy, Assistant Priest in Mudgee, once volunteered with Palms and served in Kiribati. Palms aims to engage Australian and partner communities through Global Volunteers so that each increases their awareness and enthusiasm to encourage just, sustainable, interdependent and peaceful development. If you’d like more information, go to their website: http://www.palms.org.au.
Shop for Life - Visit Vinnies
Visit
When you shop at Vinnies you assist us to provide services to those in the Community who need a helping hand. Money spent in a shop goes directly back to the local Community. There are so many treasures just waiting to be discovered in our shops…. clothing, linen, bric-a-brac, books galore, toys and furniture and more. The list is endless. It is no secret that wonderful styles can be created by shopping at Vinnies at a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere. When you are donating to Vinnies please ensure your goods are in a clean, saleable condition. IF YOU HAVE SOME SPARE TIME AND WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER IN ONE OF OUR SHOPS, PLEASE PHONE BILLIE KIRKLAND ON 02 6362 2565. Happy Bargain Hunting!
Vinnies Shop for Life
CATHOLIC OBSERVER - SEPTEMBER EDITION - PAGE 4