St Monica’s students show solidarity with homeless during Winter Sleepout

Students of St Monica's Primary North Parramatta with Bishop Vincent (centre right) during their Winter Sleepout event.

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, has encouraged Year 5 and 6 students to see those who are marginalised in our community as children of God.

Bishop Vincent was a guest at the St Monica’s Primary North Parramatta Winter Sleepout on 14 June, organised by the school’s Faith in Action Team (FIAT) to raise awareness about homelessness in our society.

Bishop Vincent told the students that participating in the Sleepout wasn’t just an act of heroism, or a chance to be away from home for the night but showed their solidarity with the poor.

“In Australia, we are supposed to be ‘the lucky country’, but in reality, there are people who are poor, who are homeless and who deserve better. And we are here to have a sense of compassion and empathy.

“Jesus Himself was born poor, being born in a stable, and when you look at Jesus’ life and interactions with people, the poor always had a prime place in His ministry, not just those who were physically or materially poor, but those who were poor in other ways.

Bishop Vincent speaking to St Monica’s Primary North Parramatta students during their Winter Sleepout evening.

“It’s important to us as Christian people to show solidarity because the dignity of every person is a fundamental value that we as Christians hold, regardless of who that person is or what circumstances that person might have. We are all equal in the eyes of God.

What you are doing tonight is building a better community, building a better society – a society where everyone is treated with the same dignity and respect, where the poor and people on the margins of our society are brought into the centre and no one is neglected or treated as not being a child of God.

School Principal Fiona Bylsma said that inviting Bishop Vincent allowed the students to speak to a leader of our community about what we can do.

“The students left with a different perspective, an insight, into the struggles with homelessness that many people face,” she said.

Students of St Monica’s Primary North Parramatta during their Winter Sleepout event.

“We are called to act. We must pray for these people. We can’t do something all of the time, but we can make them feel a sense of belonging.”

Year 6 student Liam felt encouraged by Bishop Vincent’s words. “I feel like I can go out, because of Bishop Vincent, to spread the word and that something so little that I can do can greatly impact someone else.

“He taught us that coming across a homeless person on the street gives me a chance to do something – I can say a prayer for them, I can look at them and make them feel like we are one.”

Students of St Monica’s Primary North Parramatta during their Winter Sleepout event.

Fellow Year 6 student Amelia said that after participating in the Winter Sleepout, she left with gratitude and hope for a better future.

“A lot of people didn’t initially want to come to the Winter Sleepout because of the discomforts that it presents, but that was exactly the point. That was the mission,” she said.

“Experiencing how the homeless are living is a perspective that I probably won’t ever live, but it was good to put myself in their shoes because I was able to realise how blessed I am to have a house, shelter, food and clothing.”

Students of St Monica’s Primary North Parramatta during their Winter Sleepout event.

FIAT Coordinator Armani Barakat explained that providing opportunities such as the Sleepout for the students to live out Catholic values is an important part of her role.

“This is the third year in a row that I have participated in the Winter Sleepout at St Monica’s, and it is an experience that truly gives students the insight into how lucky we are,” she said.

Students of St Monica’s Primary North Parramatta during their Winter Sleepout event.

“At a young age, students struggle to find opportunities to raise awareness and make a difference in the lives of those in need.

The Winter Sleepout enables them to act in the light of Christ and to be of service to their world that needs them more than ever.