Tuesday 23 December 2014

Christmas lunch for the homeless

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On Saturday 20th December, the Companions of the Order of Malta, in partnership with the St Aloysius' parish conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Oxford Food Bank, cooked and served lunch for over 40 homeless guests and volunteers.

Preparations commenced in the Oratory parish centre at 8:30am, shortly after the end of the Advent 'Rorate' Mass, with the peeling of 22kg of potatoes, 5 kgs of sprouts, and 8kgs carrots (generously provided by the Oxford Food Bank) by chefs Mike and Michelle and their children.

Lunch was served at St Giles' Church Hall between 12:30 and 1:30, with Fr Daniel Seward saying grace, and homeless guests and volunteers pulling crackers and tucking in together to roast chicken with all the trimmings.

The Companions of the Order of Malta (composed chiefly of students and academics from the University) run a drop-in project for the homeless every Saturday throughout the year, as well as distributing soup and sandwiches up to four nights a week to rough sleepers and those on the streets.

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The SVP, as well as conducting its excellent work visiting the elderly and housebound, supports the Companions by providing soup and sandwiches for distribution, and extra hands when student volunteer numbers are low, such as in Vacation.

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For more information about the work of the Companions, contact Brendan Brett at blessed.gerard.opn@gmail.com, or look at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COMOxford

For more information about the SVP, speak to Ann Bailey or one of the Fathers.

Shower project (17)