ONE Brisbane Catholic community is leading by example with a grassroots appeal to aid flood victims in northern New South Wales.
St. Mary’s Church in Coomera was filled with generous donations of groceries and home essentials soon after an appeal was set up on March 4.
“Yes we are digging deep and trying to help our neighbours across the border who have been badly affected by the flood,” St Mary’s parish priest, Fr John Echewodo, said.
“I think it was Mother Teresa of Kolkata who said ‘if you can’t feed a thousand people, feed one.’
“We are trying to do the little we can to help.”
Items collected were soon loaded and delivered to Murwillumbah for distribution across the flood-ravaged region.
A heartfelt message of thanks was received after the delivery of donated goods: “I’m still so blown away by the generosity of your church. Seriously, thank you so much.”
“The volunteers were so so grateful. Please let everyone know,” the message said.
“Us Catholics love our rituals, but this love of neighbour that was demonstrated this weekend is what God truly wants from us.
“As it says in James 2:14 “What good is it to profess faith without having works? Can such faith save you?”
“May God bless you all abundantly.”
At Mass on Sunday Fr Echewodo thanked parishioners for their generosity, as offers of support kept coming in.
“At the end of the 9am Mass, one of the teachers from St Joseph’s College Coomera said that the school community would like to get involved and partner with the parish to help,” he said.
“Since Sunday, people from Southport and other places around the Gold Coast have been involved too.
“We will also be sending left over items from our Vinnies Christmas appeal.
“The whole experience has been overwhelming and unbelievable.”
Coles in Coomera was one of the businesses to step in with food, water and other essentials.
Fr Echewodo said he was shocked to see the scale of flooding in northern New South Wales, particularly to see Lismore’s St Carthage’s Cathedral underwater.
Thousands of people have lost everything, and are having difficulty in accessing necessities such as food, water and basic hygiene products.
The parish flood appeal will continue with another delivery planned for next Sunday.
Items can be dropped off at the St Mary’s Church after Mass on Saturday and Sunday morning.
