St Vincent de Paul

Today Olivia from St Vincent de Paul came into NBC. We learnt about how St Vincent de Paul is charity that focuses on feeding the poor and hungry, it helps people within the community. Since its beginning in 1880s in France, it has expanded to include helping the elderly, paying for petrol and bills and feeding people all around the world (they fed 550 people from Christchurch in January alone). We also learnt that the charity was set up by a student who believed his church was not doing enough to help those in the community.

Olivia came in to tell the students all about the St Vincent de Paul Lenten appeal to collect cans to give to those in need. The class learned about the importance of giving during lent (helps us to become more like Jesus), we practiced this in class, first by doing a compliment circle, then by making a mouse with a string tail. Each time a student gives to others (compliments, donating food, helping others) they can tie a knot in the string to keep track of their Lenten challenge.

The classes first challenge was to give a sweet to another person to practice giving to others during Lent. If you would like to know more about St Vincent de Paul you can visit their site https://www.svdpchch.co.nz/.

If you would like to know more about Lent and why it is a special time for the church, ask your children all about it and their Caritas learning.