Caritas/Maytime Fair

Catholic Schools are part of the mission of the Catholic Church and we are enlivened and motivated by having Christ at our centre. Members of our faith-community are inspired to see Christ in others and be Christ-like in their actions, showing love, compassion, justice and forgiveness as they pass through the day-to-day of life. Our mission is driven by Catholic Social Teachings, which implore us to treat others with human dignity because of our knowing that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. Our mission asks us to give preference to those who are poor and vulnerable, as they are the ones most in need of an extra hand. We are asked to truly notice others, to refrain from judgement and to stand united to help the poor and needy. We are encouraged to think of others first before we think of ourselves.

Our community of Saint Ignatius College responds to this call to mission through our commitment to justice initiatives of fundraising, advocacy and service. We offer opportunities for our young people to learn about humanity and the challenges posed by inequality and vulnerability, and we encourage them to show genuine love for others by engaging in action, growing understanding and making small financial contributions.

During the Lenten season of Term One, our College community supported Caritas Australia through Project Compassion. This annual involvement is really important for our community, as it shows that we stand in solidarity with Catholic parishes, schools and other organisations to support Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church's international aid and development agency. Through partnerships with local organisations and Church networks, and as a member of Caritas Internationalis, one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world, Caritas Australia is able to reach areas of greatest need in Australia and overseas and support communities to thrive and individuals to reach their full potential. Our efforts to support Caritas Australia enables their work to continue.

We raised awareness and an astounding $2,542.01 for Caritas during Term One via the initiatives of:

Hot Cross Bun Drive $865.71

Casual Clothes Day $1438.80

Easter Raffle $237.50

Thanks to all those who participated in these initiatives, whether through organising, promoting or purchasing. Special thanks to MacKillop House and Laura Taylor-Payne for initiating the delicious Hot Cross Bun Drive, the SRC, Robyn Frigo and Dom Kiely, for the Casual Dress Day, and our Year 7 and 8 students, encouraged by Nicole Sadler, Deb Hodge, Dan Palmer and Mentor teachers, for their generous donations of Easter chocolate which enabled an exciting Easter raffle to take place at the end of the term. It was wonderful to see happy faces collecting Easter prizes from student leaders, Sarah Tolan and Nikita Smith. All funds have been transferred to Caritas Australia who are enormously grateful for the contribution that we have made.

Our next College fundraising effort is coming up, with this one looking a little different to the Caritas fundraising.

In May of each year, Xavier College Kew, hosts the Maytime Fair which is an opportunity to raise funds in support of Jesuit Mission. Jesuit Mission works in more than 10 countries to empower communities living on the margins to free themselves from poverty and injustice. Through community-led education, health, livelihood and emergency response programs, Jesuit Mission cultivates resilience and self-reliance so vulnerable communities are empowered to transform their own lives, grow and flourish.

As a Jesuit Companion school, our College participates in the fundraising effort of the Maytime Fair by setting up a market stall. We proudly fly our College flags and our Student Leaders represent Saint Ignatius by serving customers who visit our stall. This year our stall will feature 'Tastes of the Bellarine' (and Geelong too!) as word has reached us that the clientele who visit the Fair are very keen on tasty produce from our region. We will showcase local food and experiences, and also have a raffle, with all profits going to Jesuit Mission. We are grateful for the many local businesses who have supported our venture through donations and discounted prices. We anticipate a wonderful day of fun and profit that can be directed to those who are in need.

We are fortunate that our relationship with faith-based organisations such as Caritas and Jesuit Mission, enables the safe and secure donation of funds into justice works aligned with our Catholic mission.