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Service
Asylum Seekers
Disaster Recovery
Knights of the Southern Cross
Meals on Wheels
Community Helpers
St Vincent de Paul
St Vincent de Paul Piety Stall
Solo Parents
Al-Anon
The services provided by this parish are not just for parishioners only, but are also for people outside the parish, nor are they limited exclusively to Catholics. They are for anyone in need.
The love of Christ goes out to everyone. All are God's children.
After School Care
After School Care is a programme funded by government to care for children whose parents are working or unable to pick them up after the school day is over. It provides a safe, supervised environment for the children
The programme runs from 3.30 pm until 6.00pm. Di Greene is the supervisor and overall coordinator of the programme.
A pre-school care programme was trialled in Term 4 2002 but insufficient use led to it being discontinued.
Asylum Seekers
Efforts are being made to meet the refugee and asylum seekers' crisis. In the past the parish did a great deal in sponsoring and settling refugees. Sharon Meager and Marie Murphy have responded to this need which is a parish responsibility.
On August 11th, 2002, a food drive for asylum seekers was arranged throughout the Waverley Deanery with very good results. Fr Murphy of Catholic Immigration is inviting parishes to sponsor or support asylum seekers still in detention who are no risk to the community.
Disaster Recovery Assistance
Nature and aims of this group: The Disaster Recovery Group represents St Christopher's Parish within the City of Monash Disaster Plan. The group consists of six volunteers who can be “called out” if the disaster plan is invoked. The Disaster Plan may be invoked in the event of a natural disaster or a “critical incident”. The role of the volunteer is summed up by the phrase “ You cared and you came”. When contacted the volunteer will meet at an arranged place and be briefed thoroughly about the disaster or “critical incident”. The volunteer will then visit those affected by the disaster to:
- Provide support to begin task of “integrating”
- Provide information regarding available support services
- Provide up to date information regarding the disaster or incident
- Counter any false information regarding the disaster or incident
After visiting those affected the volunteer will meet with other volunteers at an arranged place. A debriefing session takes place which helps to identify vulnerable individuals or families requiring extra support. Being a volunteer involves testing the “telephone tree” and being ready to be called out!!
Knights of the Southern Cross
Nature and aims of this group: The Knights of the Southern Cross is an order of Catholic men whose objectives are:
- To promote the advancement of Australia.
- To foster the Christian way of life throughout the nation.
- promote the welfare of its members and their families.
- To encourage social and intellectual activities among its Members.
- To conduct and support Educational, Charitable, Religious and Social Welfare work.
Meals on Wheels
Nature and aims of this group: From its inception in 1971, a team of twenty volunteers from St Christopher’s parish have continued to assist in providing this valuable service to the frail, aged and sick in their community.
The meals are prepared at Mannix College and delivered to the Mount Waverley Community Centre kitchen five days a week. Here our team pick up about 100 meals on their rostered day, which is the third Thursday of each month, between 10.00am and 12.30pm.
We are always happy to hear from new volunteers. Own transport is desired, but not essential.
Syndal Community Helpers
Syndal Community Helpers is a community-based service that originated from St Christopher's in response to real needs, sickness or death in families. It provides meals, organises refreshments after funeral services and exercises practical charity in a hidden and loving way.
Organisers of Syndal Community Helpers are Cath Gavan, Margaret Ferguson and Pauline Perrin. Behind them is a group of generous women who respond to every need.
The following letter is reproduced here by permission of the writer, John Cummings:
10 September 2003
Archbishop Denis Hart
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne
PO Box 146
East Melbourne VIC 3002
Dear Archbishop
I would like to bring to your attention the activities of a group of people from St Christopher’s church in Syndal, the Syndal Helpers.
My wife Patricia is in permanent care in Bethlehem Hospital in Caulfield, in St Theresa’s ward which caters for people with progressive neurological illnesses. She is in the late stages of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare form of Parkinson’s Disease. She is confined to bed and her only movement is she can move her head a little bit and her left hand, also just a little bit. Sometimes she tries to touch her face but she can't reach. She can't talk or point to an alphabet board. Even if I point to the letters and ask her if it is the correct one, she can hardly respond. All food and medication is given via her PEG tube. She has a catheter.
Mentally she is very alert and understands quite clearly what we say to her and what is going on around her. Further information about Patricia can be found at my web site www.wwwombat.com which is dedicated to Patricia and her illness. I am quite proud to be able to say that I receive emails from all around the world from people who have discovered my web site.
On my web site you will find a letter Patricia wrote when the enormity of her illness became apparent to her. It is a beautiful letter that demonstrates how strong her faith is.
In the early stages of my wife’s illness when it became difficult for her to drive, volunteers from the Syndal Helpers would drive Patricia to the Neurologist, to the Doctor, to the Support Group, to the shopping centre, and so on. I was very grateful as it saved me taking time off work to do that. As the illness progressed, Patricia became more disabled and required more care. Eventually, I had to take early retirement to look after Patricia.
As the illness progressed, the level of care increased. I received support from a number of areas and I also hired people to help me. At one stage, I was spending $2,000 per month for assistance, but I was not able to keep that up, especially with no income coming in. And my own health took quite a hammering. Looking back now, the last few years have been the most difficult years of my life. One day I will write a book about it as I believe that there is so much to tell, so much that most people have no idea about.
The support from the Syndal Helpers did not abate as my wife became more and more housebound. In fact it increased. It started with visits to sit with Patricia and chat to her while I did other things. Then as Patricia needed more help, instead of bowing out, they took up the challenge and became even more involved. They started taking her to the bathroom, getting her food and drink, and were happy to give Patricia her medications when they were due.
By the time Patricia was admitted permanently to Bethlehem Hospital, these volunteers had become accomplished Carers. They were feeding Patricia via her PEG tube, giving her medication, also via the PEG tube, managing her catheter, cleaning up after unforeseen accidents, giving her the nebuliser when she was experiencing breathing difficulties. The list goes on. When I went out and left Patricia in the care of a volunteer, I always took my mobile phone in case they needed me to come back and help them. I think they only ever rang me once.
Whenever Patricia went into respite care, the volunteers continued to visit regardless of how far away it was. And they were prepared to take the nursing home staff to task if it was felt that they were negligent, which in fact was the case on more than one occasion.
Patricia is now totally dependent on others and has been for a long time. We read to her, play music, tell stories, pass on gossip, do her personal care, etc. Every now and again, she gets very anxious because there is something she wants to tell us and she can’t, so we have to be patient with her and play a guessing game until we work out what is worrying her.
Earlier this year when I knew that Patricia would not be coming home again, I wrote to the Syndal helpers thanking them for all that they had done and saying that although I hoped they would continue to visit Patricia in Bethlehem Hospital, I would understand if they wished to stop. The response was overwhelming. They all continue to visit and to read to Patricia, to talk to her, to tend to her personal needs. One lady replied saying that she herself got far more from Patricia out of her visits than she could ever give in return. I have no doubt that the staff on the ward only speak highly of these wonderful people.
So why am I telling you this?
Caring for Patricia at home was very difficult. More than I could ever have foreseen. By the time she went into permanent care, I do believe that I was close to going under myself. Even now, although I no longer have the 24 x 7 responsibility, I find it very stressful visiting her and being with her in the hospital. It is so hard to see the one you have loved for so long suffering as she is.
I could not have survived looking after Patricia at home without the support of the Syndal Helpers. There were other people too, but the Syndal Helpers was a lifesaver for me, my life. My situation is not an isolated one. There are many people like Patricia and me in our society and it is not uncommon for Carers to pre-decease the loved ones they are caring for. One of the messages to Carers that I have placed on my web site is:
I strongly recommend Carers contact local church groups. It SHOULDN'T matter whether the Carer or the person with the illness are believers or not. The local men and ladies in our parish do not discriminate and that is how it should be. There are always people in early retirement willing to help others who are less fortunate. So try local church groups and try and encourage them to help. For me, it has been a lifesaver, and I'm referring to my life!
The Federal and State Governments, and local city councils, provide a level of care and supporting facilities for people like Patricia and me. But it is nowhere near enough and I don’t see that changing in the near future. I have promised Patricia that I will try and do what I can to help others like her and myself. I hope to write a book about it one day. I will keep my web site current to help those who discover it. I am considering lobbying certain people for their support. But I am realistic enough to know that I will not have a great deal of influence on my own.
One thing I would like to see is other parishes encouraged to do what the people at St Christopher’s have done. We need more groups like the Syndal Helpers to help us care for our loved ones, to give them the best care there is while they cope with these unrelenting terminal illnesses.
I urge you to promote this within the archdiocese. It is a very worthwhile cause.
I am copying this letter to Fr Pat Jackson at St Christopher’s as a matter of courtesy. He is well aware of our situation and is most supportive. I am also going to write to the ABC’s “Australian Story” as I believe that the Syndal Helpers caring for Patricia has the potential for a very powerful story. I am not optimistic about the chances but one never knows.
Yours sincerely
John Cummings
St Vincent de Paul Conference
The St Vincent de Paul Conference is part of the the St Vincent de Paul Society and cares for the people in our society who are disadvantaged and in need of assistance.
The members of the conference visit people who seek help and offer food vouchers, furniture and clothing on a confidential basis, as well as driving patients for medical care.
Brian Gleeson is chairperson.
The St Vincent de Paul Society assists over 40,000 Victorians each year through home visitation programs, emergency relief and material aid services, services for people who are homeless, housing and support services for young people, supported employment for people with disabilities, domestic violence refuge, aged care services and overseas development. The St Vincent de Paul Society relies heavily on governments, the generosity of its members and the wider community to provide ongoing, financial support to assist people in need.
For more information visit our website at http://www.vinnies.org.au/vic
St Vincent de Paul Piety Stall
The piety stall is a non-profit activity of the St Vincent de Paul Conference. It caters for occasions such as Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation or Weddings with a wide range of devotional goods. Books, calendars, rosaries, statues, medals, pictures of a devotional nature and greeting cards for various family events are on sale at very reasonable prices.
The piety stall is open after each Mass on the weekend. It is ably run by Maria Antonielli and Kath Axton.
Catholic Solo Parents
Meeting is held on the First Monday of the Month at 7.15 Pm in the meeting room.
Membership is open to all men and women who have been married and have lost a partner due to a death, separation or divorce, and also to those who have not been married. They are there to provide supplementary support for their children, to offer a friendly ear and to uphold Christian values. We have respect for one another, recognising that each one is an individual contributing his or her gifts to the group.
Contact Vikky, or Roger via 98028538
Al-Anon Family Group
Meets every Tuesday at 10.30am in the Sacristy.
What is Al-Anon?
Al-Anon offers understanding and support for families and friends of problem drinkers, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not.
The parents, children, wives, husbands, friends and colleagues of alcoholics could all be helped by Al-Anon whether or not the drinker in their lives recognises that a problem exists.
At Al-Anon group meetings members receive comfort and understanding and learn to cope with their problems through the exchange of experiences, strength and hope. The sharing of problems binds individuals and groups together in a bond that is protected by a policy of anonymity; everything is confidential. Members learn that there are things they can do to help themselves and indirectly to help the problem drinker. Changed attitudes, which come from greater understanding of the illness, may result in the drinker seeking help.
Al-Anon is self-supporting through members' voluntary contributions and the sale of its literature.
The groups are non-professional and have no religious or other affiliations and no opinions on outside issues.
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Copyright © 2002-2007
St Christopher's Catholic Parish
Last modified: Mar 17 2007
Website Design: John Cooney
Maintained by: David Whalan