By Dr Andrew Thomas Kania and Jamie O’Brien
Tremendous support has poured in for a special project working to assist the people of war-torn Ukraine.
Aquinas College Director of Spirituality, Dr Andrew Kania told The Record he has witnessed a significant amount of generosity by the Perth Catholic community and beyond.
“I have seen first-hand an Australian Tennis great, the winner of 24 Grand Slam Singles titles – collect in the space of one week, five tonnes of clothing,” Dr Kania said.
“I have seen a local Roman Rite Catholic Parish community loan out their old Parish Church as a warehouse to store items,
“I have seen a Chaplain of an Anglican School in Perth, collect so many items of clothing that he lined the entire walls of his Chapel with boxes of items awaiting collection for Ukraine,
Dr Kania also highlighted that many Australian parents and their families have cancelled holidays and birthday parties in order to donate for the freight costs of consignments.
“Support has poured in from rural areas with grandmothers knitting socks on farms in the South-West; country pharmacies donating medical supplies and children sending in their unopened presents to donate as Christmas gifts for Ukrainian orphanages.
“In another case, 35 Kindergarten students at a Catholic School in Perth, grew fruit and vegetables in a small patch given to them at their school,” Dr Kania explained.
Dr Kania explained that the children – watered their garden every day, and later sold their crop at the Famer’s Market – raising just shy of $200.
A teacher of a Year Four Class encouraged his students in a fund-raising venture – collecting nearly $5000.
Across all age groups, from the city to the farms, generosity has risen in tidal proportions.
“The Australian individual has not only seen the horror – but is acting to assuage it,” Dr Kania explained.
Standing in the old Parish Church is a Christmas Tree with toys donated beneath its branches – all ready to be boxed and shipped to the orphanages of Ukraine.
Then yet another miracle occurred – people filled the old Parish Church – volunteers, up to 50 on one day, sorting clothing, boxing, sealing, carrying – people of all ages.
“Members of a Rowing Team from Aquinas College came down – another team from Christian Brothers College, Fremantle joined them,” Dr Kania said.
“People had seen the need in Ukraine through the media and they just wanted to help – in any way that they could,” he said.
Dr Kania emphasised that this Christmas there will be many a Ukrainian civilian – a child for example, nestled close to their mother in a bomb shelter; a group of orphans singing a carol, or a soldier in a trench longing in the cold for his warm home and family – or a soldier’s widow crying herself to sleep.
“If you cannot give alms – then give with prayer that the God of the world will see a tyrant’s plans vanquished,” Dr Kania pleaded.
There is an old Roman Rite Parish Church here in Perth, a Church that now houses within its walls humanitarian aid in the form of items to cheer the spirit and warm the body.
It stands as an example of what a people can do – when their hearts are heavy with compassion – and their minds are clear with purpose.
“What this old Parish Church has given the people of the Parish and beyond the borders of this Parish is an ability for the individual to be part of an act of love – to do something to help.