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Called to Mercy

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Called to Mercy Practical ways to help Volunteer with organisations: • Vincent Care: https://vincentcare.org.au/get-involved/volunteers The Homeless • St Vincent de Paul Society – Soup van services [email protected] or get in touch with the conference connected to your local parish • Little Sisters of the Poor: www.littlesistersofthepoor.org.au Called to mercy • Capuchin Outreach: Contact Fr Dean 0422 852 273 • Rosies Soup Van (for 18-30 year olds): www.rosiesvic.oblates.com.au • Sacred Heart Mission: www.sacredheartmission.org/Page.aspx?ID=54 • MC Sisters: 9415 1011 There are many other organisations doing great work - too numerous to list! Pope Francis has called for an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy that is to have the mercy of God at its centre. It is a Holy Run a school / youth group sleepout to raise awareness and fundraise – Vinnies can help you run these, Year of Mercy and to delve a little deeper into mercy and some of more information: http://vinniesschoolsleepout.gofundraise.com.au/ its themes, the AOY is putting together a series of video blogs to Become informed highlight issues where we might be able to rediscover and make Join the conversation fruitful the mercy of God throughout this Year of Mercy. This Pray resource is a supplementary guide to help youth groups break apart the topics for further discussion. There is also a list of other Other resources/links resources that you can check out included here. Content in articles and videos may provoke an emotional reaction in some young people, please make sure you check all resources first and be prepared to offer emotional support to any young people that may require assistance. Powerful Salvation Army documentary on Youth Homelessness in Australia and teaching resources to Scripture Great accompany the documentary: The old and new testaments are full of passages that encourage us to take care of each other resource Teaching Resources: http://www.theoasismovie.com.au/education/documents/OASISREVISEDJAN2010.pdf and especially those less fortunate. Here are just a few of the many passages to reference: Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx3CjeU-Gmc&list=PL5D5EBAE4CF2F2D61 “If among you, one of your brothers And the crowds asked him, “What then And he lifted up his eyes on his Great Fact sheets on homelessness from Homelessness Australia (a peak body): resource should become poor, in any of your shall we do?” And he answered them, disciples, and said: “Blessed are you http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/index.php/about-homelessness/fact-sheets towns within your land that the Lord “Whoever has two tunics is to share who are poor, for yours is the kingdom your God is giving you, you shall not with him who has none, and whoever of God. “Blessed are you who are Learn more about Matte Dunn who features in our video resource: harden your heart or shut your hand has food is to do likewise.” hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/is-this-melbournes-most-accomplished-homeless-man-20151216-glpjit.html against your poor brother, but you Luke 3:10-11 “Blessed are you who weep now, for shall open your hand to him and lend you shall laugh. Luke 6:20-21 Great article on a young homeless woman in Melbourne: him sufficient for his need, whatever it And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/katie-horneshaw/why-you-shouldnt-offer-to-buy-food-for-the- may be. Deuteronomy 15:7-8 I say to you, as you did it to one of the “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious homeless_b_9108118.html?ncid=edlinkauhpmg00000002 least of these my brothers, you did it about your life, what you will eat or You shall give to him freely, and your to me.’ “Then he will say to those on what you will drink, nor about your Client profiles from VincentCare: https://vincentcare.org.au/stories/client-stories heart shall not be grudging when you his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, body, what you will put on. Is not life give to him, because for this the Lord into the eternal fire prepared for the more than food, and the body more US story on housing the homeless offering concepts to abolish homelessness via Home First: your God will bless you in all your devil and his angels. For I was hungry than clothing? Look at the birds of http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/10/23/solutions-to-homelessness_n_8333758.html work and in all that you undertake. and you gave me no food, I was thirsty the air: they neither sow nor reap For there will never cease to be poor and you gave me no drink, I was a nor gather into barns, and yet your The Streets Barber: video on a creative way to assist the homeless and their stories: in the land. Therefore I command you, stranger and you did not welcome me, heavenly Father feeds them. Are you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MZSlvq54Fs and website: http://thestreetsbarber.com/ ‘You shall open wide your hand to your naked and you did not clothe me, sick not of more value than they? And The Streets Barber has his own YouTube channel where he shares amazing stories of the homeless too so have a look! brother, to the needy and to the poor, and in prison and you did not visit me.’ which of you by being anxious can add in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:10-11 Then they also will answer, saying, a single hour to his span of life? And Orange Sky Laundry: Laundry service for the Homeless ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or why are you anxious about clothing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb0YYMW6D6g and their website: www.orangeskylaundry.com.au Is it not to share your bread with the thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick Consider the lilies of the field, how hungry and bring the homeless poor or in prison, and did not minister to they grow: they neither toil nor spin, Clothing store initiative for the homeless, HoMie into your house; when you see the you?’ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VepZY9nTYRk and their website: http://www.homiestreetstore.com.au/ naked, to cover him, and not to hide Matthew 25:40-45 his glory was not arrayed like one of ARCHDIOCESAN yourself from your own flesh? these. Matthew 6:25-34 OFFICE FOR Isaiah 58:7 Archdiocesan Office For Youth | @aoymelb | aoymelb | www.cam.org.au/youth Discussion points for youth groups Watch the AOY video resource at: https://youtu.be/3tenAFYu2Q4 Points to consider discussing prior to watching the video resource. • What does it mean to be merciful? • Who has treated you with mercy? Who have you treated with FA Q s Homelessness in • More than 105,000 Australians are homeless, VictoriaHomelessness in NSW mercy? - Rate per 10,000 population National 0 48.9 Average 40.8 per 10,000 including 7,500 families. 200 400 • What are some ways you have experienced God’s love and mercy 600 800 1000 Homelessness in VIC in your life? • 44% are women and 56% are men - Rate per 10,000 population National 0 48.9 Average 200 42.6 per 10,000 • Most families who are homeless are women and 400 600 • What does it mean for us, our family, or our parish, to be merciful 22,773 people are experiencing homelessness in Victoria. 800 1000 Homelessness in QLD as God is merciful? How can we concretely express this merciful children escaping domestic and family violence - Rate per 10,000 population 0 National Over 75 65-74 55-64 45-54 35-44 25-34 19-24 12-18 48.9 Average 45.8 Under 12 200 per 10,000 400 600 • Most homeless people are less than 35 years of How old are they? 800 1000 attitude that is grounded on the love of God? AS POPULATIONS AND PERCENTAGES Why Financial difficulties Homelessness in WA 22 - Rate areper 10,000 they population housing stress, age unemployment • Who in our community needs mercy? How can we extend God’s NationalNUMBER % 0 48.9 Average 42.8 per 10,000 200 homeless?400 Accommodation issues Over 75 374 AS PERCENTAGES 600 29 1.6 housing crisis,800 inade- 1000 • Over 17,000 kids under the age or 12 have no 65-74 quate or inappropriate mercy to those around us? What steps can we take to extend Homelessness747 in3.3 SA dwellings - Rate per 10,000 population 55-64 1591 7 Domestic violence and home 45-54 National relationship issues 33 mercy and hospitality to those who are unseen, unheard, 0 48.9 Average2548 20011.2 37.5 per 10,000 400 time out from family, 35-44 600 3177 14 family breakdown,800 1000 violence and assault • Children who have been homeless are more Homelessness25-34 4581 in TAS marginalised, rejected? 20.1 - Rate per 10,000 population 19-24 3834 Health reasons 16.8 mental health issues, 3 National 012-1848.9 Average substance31.9 abuse per issues 10,000 likely to become homeless adults 2283 20010 400 600 800 Under 12 3638 Other 1000 16 14 Homelessness in the ACT transition from care/ Having watched the resource, below are some follow-up discussion • Lack of affordable housing is a key contributor - Rate per 10,000 population custody, lack of support, discrimination National Where do they stay?0 48.9 Average 50.0 per 10,000 to homelessness AS PERCENTAGES200 400 points: 600 800 Aboriginal and National 1000 Rate per 10,000 ACT ATSI population Rough sleeping Torres Strait IslanderAverage Who are they? AS POPULATIONS Supported Accommodation for the homelesshomelessness 5in the ACT6 0 501.0 per 10,000 Total:200 male 12,968,400 femaleNational 9,805 34 20 487.9 ATSI Average600 Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz designed Boarding Houses 800 19 1000 Overcrowded dwellings 17 Where do the homeless stay? 27 • Why are we called to show mercy to the homeless? Staying with other households 39 15 and cast his statue “Homeless Jesus” and it was Other temporary accommodation 17 • What can outreach do to help? • 6% are rough sleepers (on the street/ 0 1 Sleeping rough: male 789, female 302 installed at Regis College, the Jesuit School of Homelessness in the NT squatting) - RateSpecialist per 10,000 homelessness population services : • Why do we need to show compassion? male 3,739, female 4,105 Theology at the University of Toronto in 2013.
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