WelCom October 2021 Conversations about attentiveness to understanding and managing mental health and wellbeing for better outcomes are increasing in our communities and workplaces. Last month, the government announced a 10-year plan, called Kia Manawanui, for guiding and improving decisions for better mental health outcomes. This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, 27 September–3 October, had […]
WelCom October 2021 Clarence Chan We, the Billy Joel Boys, are a Francis Douglas Memorial College ‘Future Problem Solving’ group. We are implementing public pianos into New Plymouth city, to enhance positivity in our community in the aftermath of level 4 lockdowns. Community pianos are a worldwide trend whereby donated pianos are placed in public […]
WelCom October 2021 When Wellington Catholic Social Services (CSS) appealed in early September for help with housing, furniture and household items to support Afghan evacuees coming to Wellington, they had little idea of how the community would respond. But the overwhelming volume of donations of clothing and furniture has meant CSS has had to close […]
WelCom October 2021 Michael Fitzsimons The need for assistance from the Society of St Vincent de Paul escalated rapidly during the latest Covid-19 lockdown, especially in Auckland under lockdown Level 4. St Vincent de Paul Auckland General Manager Del Soti says numbers seeking food packages catapulted from a weekly average of 900 to 2000 during […]
WelCom October 2021 The Salvation Army has called on the Government to impose a freeze on rent increases, among other measures, to help those most in need as demand for food and housing support skyrockets. Between mid-August when lockdown began and the first week of September, there was an 84 per cent increase in demand […]
WelCom October 2021 Scott Tynan As an essential service during Covid-19 lockdown levels 2, 3 and 4, the Compassion Soup Kitchen has provided takeaway meals every day despite the restrictions, for ‘any and all’ Wellingtonians in need of some kai. Guided by the philosophy of foundress, Suzanne Aubert Meri Hōhepa – ‘for all creeds and […]
WelCom October 2021 John Holden From late August, the Parish of Wellington South was pleased to make available the Hall facilities at St Francis de Sales as a community vaccination centre in Island Bay. Each day, members of the public who had registered for a vaccine appointment, were welcomed into the newly refurbished hall for […]
WelCom October 2021 Suzanne Rose and Lee Pepping ‘Thermals for Children’ is an annual project run by The Catholic Parish of Hastings’ Environmental, Social Justice committee. Parishioners Mary and Peter Fama initiated the project several years ago to provide sets of thermal clothing through schools in the Hastings area, to help keep children warm during […]
WelCom October 2021 The Catholic Bishops of Aotearoa New Zealand presented their submission on the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, on 23 September 2021, to Parliament’s Justice Committee. The bishops’ submission generally supports the aims of the bill as being in line with the Catholic Social Teaching principles of human dignity and common good. But […]
WelCom October 2021 The leaders of the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion have jointly warned of the urgency of environmental sustainability, its impact on poverty, and the importance of global cooperation. It is the first time the three faith leaders have felt ‘compelled to address together the urgency of environmental […]