St Joseph’s has a very active social justice program with a focus on raising awareness and faith in action. The Mini Vinnies group, consisting of Stage 3 students, lead the student body in a variety of initiatives throughout the year including the Lenten Caritas Appeal, St Vincent De Paul appeals (winter and Christmas) and Catholic Mission.
Our fundraising focuses for each term throughout the year are:
Term 1 — Caritas — global support — In the form of Project Compassion money boxes. Mini Vinnies members actively collect money through cake stalls as well as each class receiving a box to place in their classrooms.
Term 2 — Vinnies Winter Appeal — supporting locals — A pyjama day is used as a focus for generating funds for locals in need. All monies collected are given to the local St Vincent de Paul organisation.
Term 3 — Catholic Mission — global support — A mission day organised by Mini Vinnies follows the presentation from Richard Cootes from Catholic Mission. A mufti day and cake stalls are incorporated into the fundraising.
Term 4 — Vinnies Christmas Appeal — supporting locals — Students and families are asked to support the local appeal through donating non-perishable goods, money or presents, which are then distributed to needy locals at the festive time.
A caring group also exists within the school, where volunteers are rostered to prepare a meal for a family in hardship at that time. A variety of other initiatives operate within the school to meet need according to those identified in the community, such as raising money for cancer research in support of families who are living the reality of life with a diagnosis of cancer.