Breakfast on Baggot (BOB)
In 1827 Catherine McAuley opened the House of Mercy on Baggot Street. This was a place of welcome, a place to serve the community, young women, homeless, the sick, and children. The works of Mercy had begun, and there was a safe place for those in need. As a Catholic College, Padua is called to continue the works of the Mercy Sisters; to “hear the cries of the poor”.
Catherine McAuley quotes, “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us”. Taking on the message of the Sisters of Mercy, there is a calling to do something within our own Mornington Peninsula community. Our program will be a breakfast club named BOB, “Breakfast on Baggot”. The name ‘Baggot’ originates from the street in Dublin, Ireland where the House of Mercy lived. Through BOB, Padua college will continue this Mercy Charism and serve our local community.
Padua College CAP class, also known as the ‘Catholic Action Program’ is a group of students who are passionate about promoting social justice and helping those in need. The Catholic Social Teachings show is that we need to put the needs of poor and vulnerable people first; “preferential option for the poor”. This class is a group of students who want to use their Catholic faith to act on issues that are important to them.
“The poor need help today, not next week”
Catherine McAuley
“Mercy receives and pardons again, and again even the ungrateful”
Limerick Manuscript, Sisters of Mercy
A good breakfast is something that sets you up for the day, it replenishes your stores of nutrients and energy in your body. According to the Australian Government Better Heath channel, People who are more likely to skip breakfast are often from lower-income or single-parent households. The page also talks about how without breakfast, you have reduced cognitive function because your brain does not have enough energy to work at the usual rate. BOB aims to provide a breakfast that sets people up for a successful day. It will consist of carbohydrates, protein, and fats in the form of egg and bacon rolls/muffins and fruit from donors across the Peninsula.
So often, people become focused on the needs of those across the globe in other countries that we miss out on supporting those in our local community. All we must do is look down the road to find out that there are people in need all around us. BOB aims to support these people that are within our own local community first; we are a local and community-run event.
As a school of 2600+ students, we have so much to offer and so much potential to make a difference in this world. We will use our own abundance of resources to help those who do not have the same access as us.
At 7:45am every Wednesday morning for approximately 45 minutes BOB will provide a nutritional breakfast for those in need in the community. The breakfast club is held at Tanti Park. This is in an area right next to the local primary school in a low SES area. New reports by the Mornington Shire show that youth unemployment in the area is estimated to be as high as 45%. Alongside this staggering number, homelessness in this area is increasing, up to 10 times the national rate.
BOB will be a consistent program; running every week with a roster for students and teachers. The reasoning behind this decision is that we want to be able to form meaningful connections within the community, to see each member, and invest in their lives on a regular basis.
BOB intends to make everyone feel welcomed and loved, as mentioned in Mark 12:31: “love your neighbor”. Everyone in the community will know that every Wednesday they have an opportunity to turn up and receive a nourishing meal as well as a vibrant community atmosphere and valuable conversations.
If you would like to donate to BOB – please email mwilliams@padua.vic.edu.au
Grace Waters
Faith Team Assistant
