The Catholic community of Innaloo/Karrinyup is on a mission to assemble food and hygiene packs, as part of the “Draw Near” outreach project; an initiative to help alleviate hardship among the local community’s asylum seekers and international students, a demographic that has been economically brutalised by the arrival of the Coronavirus.
The project brings together the West Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office (WACMRO), Innaloo/Karrinyup Parish including, St Dominic’s Primary School Innaloo, Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) Catholic Primary School Karrinyup, Newman College Churchlands, and St Vincent de Paul Society to provide COVID-19 relief.
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“Many asylees hold temporary jobs directly impacted by the current economic down turn: cleaning and construction industries often employ migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, for example,” said WACMRO Director Deacon Gregory Lowe.
There are currently some 500 persons seeking asylum on temporary bridging visas who are living and working in Perth and the pandemic has significantly affected this minority group with a marked increase in job loss, leading to unemployment and potential homelessness due to unpaid rental fees.
International students on study visas are also vulnerable at this time as many have lost their part-time jobs and for all of these people, unemployment and homelessness also means going hungry: bridging visa holders seeking asylum cannot access financial supports or Medicare as they are not permanent residents.
“By coming together in order to support the ‘Draw Near’ outreach project, the school, agency and parish propose a ‘triune’ model of collaboration to the faith community,” Dcn Lowe explained.
“Such a model reminds us that relationship, community and commitment are the cornerstone of intentional discipleship to Jesus meaning the school and parish are a single entity: adults, families, children.
“To work well, such a collaboration will need to model for the faith community open encounter and honest dialogue and, as a result, assist the integral human development of the whole community so benefiting the broader society,” he said.
OLGC Principal Nic Gaglia said that students and staff had been involved in activities that have raised their awareness of refugees, asylum seekers and the needy in our local community, a sentiment shared by Cassandra Hall, Newman College’s Leader of Ministry & Advocacy.
“Newman College is pleased to support ‘Draw Near’, the programme makes clear links between its foundation in scripture, our Catholic Social Teaching and offers practical advocacy for our whole school community,” Ms Hall said.
“We have already received overwhelmingly positive support from our staff and look forward to our community engagement.”
Innaloo/Karrinyup Parish Priest Father Bernard Lanarolle believes Catholics have a sacred mission from Christ to bring hope and practical love to those in need and highlighted the opportunity for cooperation amongst the schools, the Church, and the agencies.
“This is very much a team effort from all quarters of our Parish and includes the contribution of the wider Parish, St Vincent de Paul, Newman College, Our Lady of Good Counsel and St Dominic’s schools as well as WA Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office,” Fr Bernard said.
“I am most grateful to everyone who is contributing to this project as we seek to ‘draw near’ to those in need. I am particularly grateful to the three principals of our schools and Dcn Greg for working to bring this project to life.
“Our focus will be on everyday foodstuffs and hygiene packs that will enable vulnerable people in our community to have everyday basics to live.”
Parishioners, students and parents are being asked to assemble a range of food items from a specific list provided by WACMRO.
Hygiene packs will be assembled based on a list provided by WACMRO with the goods brought along to the parish on Saturday and Sunday Mass during Term Three, though people wanting to arrange drop-offs outside these times able to contact the parish on (08) 9446 1666 or via email at innaloo.karrinyup@perthcatholic.org.au.
The Outreach Project is the first of three stages of “Draw Near”, with details of the other components (the Draw Near Social Reality Project and Draw Near Faith Project) to be released near the end of Term 3.
“I invite each one of us to pray fervently for God’s blessing on this parish project, as we seek to respond to Christ who lives in the vulnerable and suffering in a special way,” Fr Bernard said.