STUDENTS in Catholic schools throughout south-east Queensland have been bunking down on school floors in an effort to raise funds and awareness of the plight of their homeless brothers and sisters.
Schools such as Padua College, Kedron; Brigidine College, Indooroopilly; Carmel College, Thornlands; Xavier College, Hervey Bay; Holy Rosary School, Windsor; and Holy Cross School, Wooloowin joined the St Vincent de Paul Society School Sleepover during July to experience what it was like to sleep rough and to broaden their understanding of issues related to homelessness.
At Padua College, boys were given a “street van” meal of soup and bread for dinner and slept outside with only a sleeping bag and some cardboard to keep them warm.
The sleepover, on July 29, was held in conjunction with the school’s annual St Vincent de Paul Society Winter Appeal.
College vice-rector for formation Michael O’Brien said each of the 25 boys participating donated a blanket that was presented to the St Vincent de Paul Society before the sleepover.
Mr O’Brien said Padua students already had an understanding of the needs of the homeless as students were part of a volunteer group that helped out regularly with the Rosies Street Van and served dinner at a men’s hostel at South Brisbane.
Xavier Catholic College had 20 students and five staff brave the discomfort of sleeping rough for its inaugural sleepover on July 21.
Campus minister Carmel Donnelly said students ranged in age from 12 to 17-year-olds.
“Students had the opportunity during the night to listen to some of the stories regarding homelessness here in Hervey Bay,” Ms Donnelly said.
“A member from Youthcare, Myles Broome joined the students to share the real information on homeless youth statistics and the trials and tribulations that young people face on a daily basis.”
Ms Donnelly said the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Brian Gibbon spent some time with students explaining the society’s daily responses to homelessness, in particular in helping single-parent families.
“He also provided students with an opportunity to help their community by volunteering with Vinnies on a regular basis,” she said.
Ms Donnelly said that, before retiring, the group prayed.
“They acknowledged that Christian charity is not a feel-good moment, it is a life-changing experience,” she said.
One student was quoted as saying the sleepover was an eye opener.
“The SVdP sleep-out night really made me realise that if I open my eyes I will see what is really happening in the world,” the student said.
“This encourages me to give more and be more.”
Brigidine College, Indooroopilly, held its sleepover on July 16.
The sleepover fell during Brigidine College St Ives’ annual sport tour and students from the southern state joined their Queensland peers in sleeping rough and deepening their understanding of homelessness.
Members of the Mini Vinnies groups at Holy Rosary School, Windsor, and Holy Cross School, Wooloowin, joined forces for their “sleep out”.
Leading up to the event both groups encouraged their school communities to donate food, bedding and clothing to the Vinnies Winter Appeal.
Both schools accumulated a great supply, proving that ‘acts of kindness’, suggested as an activity for Catholic Education Week, are alive and well.
Bernice Heron, from the Holy Rosary St Vincent de Paul Society conference, served soup and toast to the group for their evening meal, while Berenice O’Brien, from the Holy Cross conference, slept the night on the concrete with the group – as did teachers from both schools – then served cereal and toast for breakfast.
Students from Carmel College, Thornlands, held their sleepover on July 31.
