Featured image above: Karen at the local library ‘Mums and Bubs’ group

“FOOD FOR LIFE” Project Compassion

Week 3: Karen’s Story in Western NSW

Karen is a First Australian living in a remote rural community. Like many she can’t always afford or access healthy food. At the Centacare Wilcannia-Forbes “Manage Your Income, Manage Your Life” Program, supported by Caritas Australia, Karen gained the skills she needed to budget and choose healthy food for her family.

At the family table

For the majority of Australians, good health and great food are part of everyday life. But the story is starkly different for First Australians living in rural communities, where low incomes, limited access to nutritious, affordable food, and poor food choices (due to lack of education) are severely compromising the health and well-being of families.

In Central New South Wales, sole mother-of-six Karen had limited education in life-skills such as money management, cooking, nutrition and health. Food and groceries in remote communities like Karen’s are expensive due to freight costs and limited local competition. As a result, it was very hard to stretch her Centrelink payments to afford essentials like food and rent.

“I was in a lot of debt and wasn’t handling my money properly,” says Karen. “Feeding the kids was about what was easiest, not what is healthy.”

Karen had never linked good budgeting habits to good food, good health and a better (less stressful) life. So, two years ago, when she enrolled in the Centacare Wilcannia-Forbes Manage Your Income, Manage Your Life Program supported by Caritas Australia, a new world opened up to her.

Through a series of budgeting workshops and monthly budget planning sessions, combined with nutrition workshops and cooking activities, Karen gained the tools she needed to take control of her money and budget so she could provide regular, healthy food for her family.

At the supermarket

 

“I learnt how to make quiche,” says Karen. “My family loved it! Now my kids eat healthy and they’re willing to try new foods, “I want them to be healthy and strong.”

Centacare also introduced Karen to the Food Support Program, where people on low incomes can buy affordable groceries and make their dollars go further. Taking control of her finances, and learning a new range of life-skills has given Karen the ability and confidence to choose foods for a healthier life that will lead to a better future for her family.

Reading time at the library

 Sewing lesson

[All photos by Danielle Lyonne]

Click here to access the short DVD presentation of Karen’s story.

GODLY CHARITY ‘Whatever you did for the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you did it for Me.’

Be generous to Project Compassion this Lent.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

COMING EVENTS

13th March: 6.30pm Stations of the Cross.

 13th – 14th March: ADORATION

“Give an hour to the Lord” – a clip-board is on the table at the back of the church. Choose an hour (or more!) that you will spend in prayer with the Lord before the Blessed Sacrament exposed in Our Lady’s Chapel. Friday 13^th March 9.30am – 5.30pm; Saturday 14^th March 9.30am until 5.30pm.

CONFESSIONS DURING ADORATION

Friday 13^th  March: 10.30-11am and 3.30pm – 4.00pm

Saturday 14^th March: 5.30pm-6.15pm. (Mid-day confessions cancelled. PP absent for Savernake baptism).

*  *  *

19^th March 2pm CWL Meeting in Hall

*  *  *

18^th March 12noon Community Kitchen – Presbyterian Hall $10 lunch. Helpers welcome. Hampers available…Held every 3^rd Wed. each month.

*  *  *

19^th MARCH – XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL 

2016 Enrolments Preparation

a) Information Day for Students 10am-2.30pm. Contact: 6040 6388 to register.

b) Information Evening & School Tours 5.00pm-8.30pm for parents and students. Come and meet our staff. Book at: http://www.xhsww.catholic.edu.au/info-ight

*  *  *

Poppies for Albury Library ANZAC Project. Can you knit some? Call Nancy Smith for knitting or crochet patterns: 6033 3249.

*  *  *

Easter Roster

Please let Nicole know if you are unavailable for Good Friday & Easter Masses. Thank you.

*  *  *

Remember in Prayer

Kevin Lovell, Imelda Gauci, Vince Fitzgerald, John Lyons, Joan Sandral, Pauline Kerr, Cliff Broderick, John Hickey, Mark Fitzgibbon, Pat Kelly

*  *  *

St Mary’s Court

2 bedroom unit for rent

Inquiries phone 60331564 or Parish 60331927

*  *  *

 MASS INTENTIONS 07^th – 14^th March

Saturday 7^th

6.30pmMass (Marj Regan, Monica Buggy)

Sunday 8^th 3^rd Sunday in Lent

9.00am Mass (For all parishioners)

Monday 9^th

9.00am Mass (Amsing & Moroney families)

Tuesday 10^th

9am Mass (Br Tim & Mary Boxall, Jack Chesnall)

Wednesday 11^th 

9am Mass (Marie Kaitler, Alan Whitty, Kevin Lovell)

Thurs 12^th 

11.40am Novena.

12noon Mass (Popes Francis & Benedict)

Friday 13^th

9.00am Mass (Sick & disabled, Frank Cleary)

6.30pm Stations of the Cross in church

Saturday 14^th

8.45 Rosary & Mass (Clarice Forrest, Norm King)

6.30pm Vigil (Margaret & Anthony. Smith, Domenico Alissi)

Sunday 15^th 4^th Sunday in Lent

9.00am Mass (All parishioners)

10.45am Coreen Mass

*  *  *

Sunday Mass Roster 14^th – 15^th March

Gifts:

6.30pm Sandral Family

9.00am Svarc Family

Lectors

6.30pm J & M Schnelle

9.00am P Lemmon

Spec Min:

6.30pm T Drum C Salmon

9.00am K Flower K King

Altar;

Welcomers:

6.30pm A Pilgrim

9.00am P Hanrahan

Altar Servers:

6.30pm: M Blockley

9.00am: O & S Atkin

Collection J Taylor

Counting: M Kelly

*  *  *  *  *  *  *