|
Following the agreement at the AGM to support
Sisters Dorothy Stella and Carole in their work in both
Jacaranda and the new girl’s home and also with the skills'
centre, herewith an update of where we are.
The Vestry has agreed that we should make a
long-term commitment for at least the next 5 years, to support
the new house of which the Sisters take ownership in early
February. As the house relies on a housemother to live in with
the girls, what better way for us to help the venture than by
paying her salary? Our commitment will be for £900 a year,
which we will be probably send out monthly or quarterly,
depending on the deliberations of the finance committee, and
this should cover the housemothers salary completely.
We will also make a “one off “ donation
to the project to celebrate the millennium, and it was felt
appropriate that a lump sum of £2000 should be made available
for the sisters to use as they think best.
I had the great privilege of ringing Sister
Dorothy Stella on Christmas Eve to tell her of these decisions,
and I am sure I don’t have to tell you how thrilled and
delighted she was to hear of our support. Her initial response
to the £2000 was that she would use half for the new house and
half for the skill centre, but I have asked that she lets us
know a little more detail when she has had time to think about
it more thoroughly. She has also promised to send a picture of
the girls for me to reprint in a future magazine so that you can
all be more aware of St Mary’s new family. Apparently it has
grown again since Christmas when another girl was taken to the
house and left for them to take in! Now they number 17 and the
move into the new house has become even more urgent!
Our support for this work will require
constant fund raising to honour our commitment, so any ideas for
money raising events will be welcomed. Speak to Janice or me if
you have a good idea.
Les Slater |