Socktober stars offer a helping hand

By Wendy Shaw

St Thomas More’s Catholic Primary School students are taking giant steps in preparation for Catholic Mission’s Socktober campaign.

The Newstead school is putting its best foot forward for the annual event that raises funds and awareness as part of World Mission Month.

It is planning a crazy sock day and a soccer shootout competition on 21 October, and a month of special prayer and learning experiences.

The school will also celebrate Mass with a Mission Month theme, emphasising social justice and Gospel values.

This year, Socktober funds will support food and education projects in Ethiopia.

Religious Education Co-ordinator and Year 1-2 teacher Belinda Taylor said the school’s Junior Joeys group would take a leading role in Socktober activities, that last year raised more than $600.

“Our school is founded by the Sisters of St Joseph and in particular St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods,” Mrs Taylor said.

“St Mary MacKillop’s famous saying, ‘never see a need without doing something about it’ is often spoken of in our classrooms and playground, and it is what we want to encourage our students to live by.”

Students learned the Gospel values of empathy, respect, dignity, justice, and integrity during their faith journey at the school.

“Socktober is just one of the many social justice acts we participate in, allowing our students to explore each of our Gospel values through the model of ‘head, heart and hands’ and really live by that motto of ‘never see a need without doing something about it’,” Mrs Taylor said.

“We hope that these experiences create a sense of awareness and a sense of gratitude.”

These sentiments were echoed by Archdiocese of Hobart Deacon Michael Hangan, the Archdiocesan Director for Catholic Mission. Some 14 Catholic schools took part last year and Deacon Hangan has urged all Catholic schools to get involved in Socktober this year.

“Socktober is all about that journey of engaging the heads, hearts and hands of our students in global mission,” Deacon Hangan said.

“The students in our Tasmanian Catholic Schools are Socktober stars. They shine brightly and this year will help Fr Habte and the local church’s mission in Emdibir, Ethiopia.

“Socktober is designed to be accessible to staff, students and families, and to make a fun and interactive experience out of the calling we share to positively change the world.”

Go to www.socktober.org.au for further details.