House Charities
Each term the College will have a whole school approach to fundraising for key Catholic organisations to support their major fundraising drives.
Term 1: Caritas Australia – Project Compassion
Term 2: Vinnies Winter Appeal
Term 3: Opening the Doors Foundation
Term 4: Marist-Sion Christmas Giving Tree
Additionally, the whole College, or groups within the College, may focus on issues that are relevant at specific times. These instances may be due to national or international emergencies, and other appeals related to issues of concern for students and staff at Marist-Sion College.
House Fundraising and Awareness Raising Projects
Each of the College Houses chooses a focus for their efforts in fundraising and awareness raising which culminates in an event to coincide with their House Celebration Day. They are also involved in fundraising efforts led by the Mission Captains.
When promoting a social justice project, staff and students are required to refer to the See, Judge, Act Model which provides a framework to view and implement the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching:
See – Looking at the social justice issues as they affect society.
Judge – Understanding what is happening and why it is happening.
Act – Discerning the actions needed to respond.
“Education is not about knowing things or taking lessons but about being able to use three lingos: those of the head, the heart, and the hands… learning so that you can think about what you feel and do, can feel what you think and do, and can do what you feel and think. Unity within a person.” – Pope Francis
Caritas
The College supports Project Compassion, the major fundraising event for Caritas, a Catholic agency for international aid and development, which is held each lent. Caritas is Latin for ‘love and compassion’, two qualities which are central to their work. Students across all Year Levels of the College learn about the work of Caritas with whole school fundraising efforts being focussed on Project Compassion throughout Term 1.
Vinnies
Marist-Sion College work to support the local St Vincent de Paul Society through fundraising and focussed activies such as The Marist-Sion Christmas Giving Tree. Staff and students donate gifts, gift cards and Christmas foods to assist Vinnies support local families to have a happy Christmas.
Marist Youth Ministry | Heidelberg West Bread Run (HWBR)
The Bread Team is a group consisting of Marist-Sion College students, Young Marists (post-school) and Exodus volunteers. Bread Run has been running in West Heidelberg for over 15 years. Each week the team collects donated bread from a local bakery and distributes it to families and individuals, including those housebound, sick or elderly. This suburban experience allows our students to roll up their sleeves and engage in volunteer work with Br Harry Prout, Br Doug Walsh and Br Barry Lamb from the West Heidelberg Marist community. This is an important opportunity for our students to learn firsthand about the Marist Charism and the inspiring efforts of Marist Brothers, Lay Marists and post-school Marists working in solidarity to serve the local community.