Stained Glass Window Crosses

 In the lead up to Easter, the St. Peter Chanel Vinnies also created "stained glass" window crosses from bits of coloured tissue paper that was stuck on to duraseal and then laminated. These crosses came with the poem below, which reminded the Vinnies that the good deeds they do make up a life of beauty with God's love shining through.

This “stained glass” cross
Created in this way

Is similar to the stained glass windows
In Churches where we pray.

Made up of tiny fragments

Which in themselves mean naught

But when they’re placed together
A thing of beauty’s wrought.

This cross is a reminder
Of the tiny deeds we do
That make up a life of beauty

With God’s love shining through.

Woven Gifts for Woodlands Rest-home Residents

The St. Peter Chanel Vinnies during Term One of this year have been busy creating small woven gifts for the residents of Woodlands Rest-home in Motueka. These gifts which have a felt cross and decorated message inside a woven pouch were designed to be given to the rest-home residents as Easter gifts. Unfortunately however we were unable to find a time that suited both the school and the rest-home to visit so we look forward to being able to deliver these to the people of Woodlands Rest-home early in Term Two instead.

All Squared Up

   Some of the St. Peter Chanel Vinnies have been busy cutting out fabric squares to be sewn in to quilts for people in need in the community. The fabric was donated by a teacher who had a large box of fabric scraps she no longer needed. Together these squares will make bright, colourful quilts for others to enjoy.

What Cupcakes can teach us about Social Justice and Charity

   Who would have thought that cupcakes have so much to teach us about Social Justice and Charity? On the 8 September, the St. Peter Chanel Vinnies had great fun decorating their own cupcake with icing and sweets. Lots of effort went in to this and the end creations were amazing! While all the other Vinnies were seeing just how many sweets could fit on to their cupcake, Jordan sat very quietly eating her lunch...you guessed it, by the time she came to decorating her cupcake, there were no sweets left!
   Much to the Vinnies horror, instead of eating their cupcake - they then had to present it to another Vinnie. When asked how the Vinnies felt that someone else had put all this work in to creating such an awesome cupcake for them - the Vinnies commented that they felt "happy" and "thankful". This of course is how other people feel when we as Vinnies do a good deed for someone else. Of course the person who ended up with having no sweets on their cupcake - didn't really feel this was fair. We were able to reflect that - that's how poor people in the community must feel when they see people luckier than themselves with flash cars, flash houses and other trimmings to life and they have so little in comparison.
   The cupcakes were a tasty treat - but best of all, they allowed us to stand a while in someone else's shoes and view the world around us.

The Great Vinnies Pen-pal Exchange

   At the beginning of Term 3, the St. Pater Chanel Vinnies created posters for other Vinnies groups within the country. The posters described the various activities that the St. Peter Chanel Vinnies have got up to throughout the year as well as other information about their Vinnies group. They have since heard back from Turama, Kirara and Amber who are Vinnies at St. Mary's School in Hastings. Turama, Kirara and Amber also created a bright and colourful poster showing just what a busy group the St. Mary's Vinnies are!