Kids come first at Tea Tree Gully
Local
Tea Tree Gully parish, winner of the Adelaide Archdiocese’s Safeguarding Sunday art competition, has been praised for its commitment to giving children a voice.
Annette Troiani, manager of Safeguarding Operations for the Archdiocese, said the parish put a lot of effort into celebrating Safeguarding Sunday on September 8.
As well as participating in the competition, a children’s choir sang all the hymns at Mass in St David’s Church. Other initiatives were a display of blue and pink candles on the altar; a family with a newborn baby took up the offertory; a child and young person did the readings, and five children read the Prayers of the Faithful.
Mass at Our Lady of Hope chapel also involved children in the music and a new Child Safe Contact Person, Lynette Keen, was inducted with a prayer and candle. At morning tea, the outgoing Child Safe Contact Person, Leah Tunks, was thanked and farewelled.
Staff and families from the parish enjoyed a presentation by Adam Cartland, executive director, Integrity and Safeguarding, who was joined by other members of his team, Chrissa Pavlomanolakos and Caroline Putriana.
St David’s Child Safe Contact Person Amanda Bartels said 14 children participated in the art competition.
First prize was a basket of resource materials including illustrating aids and fun activities, and a large pack of textas.
Elizabeth and Glenelg parishes were awarded second and third place, while Seaton parish/Spanish community were named ‘most creative’.
The Catholic Church in Australia celebrates Safeguarding Sunday every year on the second Sunday in September, at the conclusion of Child Protection Week.
Mr Cartland congratulated Tea Tree Gully parish on its efforts to provide a safe environment for children and vulnerable people.
“It is fabulous to see Tea Tree Gully parish warmly embracing a culture of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults not only during Safeguarding Sunday celebrations, but rather a broad and focused commitment throughout their regular parish activities,” he said.
“It was pleasing to see more than half our parishes (including some multicultural communities) take part in the Safeguarding Sunday competition by submitting their entries for judging.”
Mr Cartland thanked all who participated, “particularly the children and young people for their hard work and excellent colouring skills”.
TEAMWORK: From left, back – Chrissa Pavlomanolakos, Adam Cartland, Rashane, Annastazia, Izabella, Sera, Vienne, Ellie, Dina Shehata, and Fr John McGinty OMI; front – Fr Vincent Obialor OMI, Caroline Putriana, Amanda Bartels, Leah Tunks, Louisa Francisco and Rheenah Jean-Louis.
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