Schools AIDS Day in Victoria, 2003
Love: the vital ingredient - SCHOOLS RECOGNISE AIDS DAY
By Susan Pascoe
Director of Catholic Education
I was fortunate enough to attend St Kevin's Primary School in
Lower Templestowe on a recent Friday for School AIDS Day, an annual
event that recognises the world's HIV/AIDS sufferers.
A Mass and a sausage sizzle were organised for students in Catholic
schools in the area, providing an occasion for prayer, meditation
and some relaxation; students were also encouraged to donate a
gold coin to the Catholic AIDS Ministry.
The Mass was hosted by St Charles Borromeo and St Kevin's primary
schools and celebrated by the St Kevin's parish priest, Father
Chris Toms. Hundreds of colourful paper cranes - symbolising hope
and peace - were made by the children and hung inside the church.
It is interesting to remember that about twenty years ago Australians
were bombarded with warnings about a new, dreaded disease which
had to cure. Images of the Grim Reaper knocking over men, women
and children with a bowling ball haunted a generation of Australians.
However, over time fear made way for complacency and younger
people today are not subjected to the same level of emotional
advertising and dire warnings. But while the Grim Reaper has long
since disappeared from our screens, HIV/AIDS is still a major
health problem in the world, particularly in many African countries.
As Archbishop Hart stated in his School AIDS Day statement, "The
increase in infection in our country should also cause
us to reflect on how we present the Gospel and promote a culture
of life to our young people".
Speaking directly to the children during his homily, Father Toms
made some pertinent and valuable comments about the prevalence
of the disease. Forty-two million people live with HIV/AIDS and
there are 14,000 new infections somewhere in the world every day.
In Australia, a total of 12,680 people have the disease and over
six thousand have died since the early eighties.
So how do we as Christians relate to people who have HIV/AIDS?
Father Toms said it was imperative that we see the goodness in
each person we meet and move beyond our fears and prejudices:
love was a very important ingredient. "If we love others,
we can love ourselves," he reminded the students during his
homily.
In addition, Father Toms said we had a duty to help those less
fortunate than ourselves - such as HIV/AIDS sufferers. With love
we have the ability to "change the lives of others".
Father Toms also called on more Catholic schools in the Archdiocese
to recognise School AIDS Day next year, as he strongly believes
it deserves wider school involvement and publicity.
It is a call I support, and hopefully in 2004 more Catholic schools
will join their local communities and recognise this important
initiative.
|
