Hard-working students’ clean sweep at parish church

By Wendy Shaw

A Year 12 class from a Tasmanian Catholic college is working hard to support its local parish, and all involved are delighted with the results.

The enthusiastic group of Inspiring Change students from Burnie’s Marist Regional College has made connections, practically and socially.

The teenagers have been helping out on the church cleaning roster and lending a hand with the parish gardening volunteers at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Burnie.

They have also formed friendships with parishioners through letter writing and hosting a morning tea.

The students are learning empathy and the parishioners are grateful for the input of fit and cheerful young people on the church rosters.

The initiative has won praise from all involved, including parishioner Mary Moore, who is in charge of the cleaning roster.

MRC Religious education teacher Maxine Neaton explained that the Inspiring Change course aims to empower students to become agents of change.

“The senior students in my class have really embraced the subject and after early discussions, the group project to connect with the parish and the parishioners was locked in,” Ms Neaton said.

“The local parish bulletin was calling out for assistance with church cleaning at Star of the Sea Church in Burnie, so a couple of the students made a phone call that made a change.

“Mary was more than delighted to arrange for the class to be rostered on and to make a change by assisting the helpers who are getting older and finding it more difficult to do all the jobs required.

“The jobs the students undertake include dusting, cleaning cobwebs, polishing pews, vacuuming, wiping down the shelves, tidying the hymn books, sweeping paths outside the church, replenishing the candles and polishing the statues, just to name a few.”

Ms Neaton said she hoped that the 11 students involved learn the importance of ‘paying it forward’ and making the community a better place in which to live.

“It’s about developing empathy and connecting with elderly people,” she added.

“This is my second year teaching Inspiring Change with Year 12 students at Marist, and I must say it is such a rewarding experience. Last year my seniors engaged in a similar project and lifelong friendships were made. The students got just as much enjoyment out of our catch-ups as the parishioners.”

Mrs Moore praised the students and described it as a fantastic initiative.

“They did an amazing job and the church was sparkling afterwards,” Mrs Moore said of the first visit.

“It really looked fantastic. Then they gathered up three bags of autumn leaves outside, so I contacted the [parish] garden men, who are nearly older than cleaning ladies.

“So next time the students came, they broke into two groups – one cleaning and one gardening – and the gardeners were very impressed with how they worked.”

Mrs Moore added the students were friendly and respectful, and she praised the communication between teachers and students.