Advent

Gift of Goodness | The Nin Family: A Story of Peace

10 Dec 2018

PRAYER: Lord Our God, You are the source of all.  Accompany us this Advent as we prepare for the coming of Jesus. Guide us and lead us Lord as we use our gifts of goodness to work as one to create the world you want. Awake in my heart hope, peace, love and joy this Advent. We ask this prayer in Your name, Amen.

 

Have you traveled and spent much time overseas? Do you have family and friends who have moved to Australia from another country? When we travel and speak with people who have experienced life in a different country there is always so much to learn about the culture and practices of our family around the world.

We can easily forget that some of the practices and expectations we have here in Australia are not the norm overseas. Recently CatholicCare became involved with a family from Burundi, a country in West Africa. There are five children in the family that range from 18 years of age to just three.

In Burundi there are cultural practices that are considered normal, like physical discipline, that are not accepted here in Australia. Because they inadvertently broke our society’s rules and norms the family was at risk of being separated and the children taken into care.

Moreover, the parents didn’t understand the Australian school system and, as a result, didn’t always encourage their children to go to school.

CatholicCare’s  Cultural Assist program worked to  better understand the family’s culture and blend it with our Australian culture.

Working with someone who knew the culture meant CatholicCare could better engage with the family. They were able to work together to improve the home situation and the family’s relationship with the school. Through this program, the children learnt to respect their parents’ culture. They are much happier now and living a peaceful life here in Australia.

 

REFLECT

  1. How is this a story of peace?
  2. How can you help people in Australia who are having trouble understanding the language or what is expected of them?
  3. What is my message of peace as we wait for the birth of Jesus?

 

SEE, JUDGE ACT

See

  • What exactly is happening?
  • What is it doing to the people?
  • Why is this happening?

Judge

  • What do you think about all this?
  • What do you think should be happening?
  • What does your faith say?

Act

  • What exactly is it that you want to change?
  • What actions are you going to take now?
  • Who can you involve in your action?

Many Sydney families need extra help at Christmas time. Some can’t afford even the most basic food items to make a healthy meal, let alone Christmas dinner. And some need extra assistance because their family is in crisis at Christmas time. This year the good people at Harris Farm Markets are helping us provide nutritious Christmas Hampers for the many people who call CCareline needing food and help.  You can give a Gift of Goodness by collecting money for hampers and by sending messages of love to families facing hardship.

giftofgoodness.com.au

 

This feature is a part of the 2018 Advent Calendar, which is available to download for free as an app.

Download on iPhone: http://bit.do/adventiphone
Download on iPad: http://bit.do/adventipad
Download on an Android phone: http://bit.do/adventandroid
Download on an Android tablet: http://bit.do/adventandroidHD