MERCY GARDEN PARTY – STECHFORD, BIRMINGHAM - 14 JULY 2019
Once again the Stechford Sisters of Mercy and their Associates held their Annual Mercy Garden Party in the grounds of Corpus Christi Church and Parish Room on Sunday 14th July 2019. This was our 20th annual event to raise money for various charities over the years. We began in 2000 in our garden in Albert Road and raised £330 for the ‘Homeless in Edinburgh & London.’ The Mercy Garden Party has grown in popularity over the last 19 years and since 2008 we have held it in our Church Grounds and parish room. So far a total of £47,243.73 has been given to Charities at home and abroad.
Preparations begin well before the date with requests in the parish newsletter for goods to be sold to raise funds for Charities chosen by our Mercy Associates. Our house becomes the depot for everything that comes in! We also sell raffle tickets in this parish and at Holy Family parish and more recently additional raffle tickets for a TV donated by a couple who are Associates. This year the 42” TV was won by Joyce, a housebound lady from another parish. Her family were so excited that they collected it from our house within the hour!
Our chosen Charities this year are:
• To help train teachers at our Mercy Mission in Addo, South Africa
• Hamlin Fistula UK, a registered Charity here in the Midlands dedicated to the treatment and prevention of childbirth injuries in Ethiopia.
The weather was a challenge to us for the first time this year. That Sunday morning it rained, but we battled on until the rain stopped after the 10.30 Mass so parishioners spent money on the way out!
The amount raised was £5,818 and we hope to make this up to £6000 so that each Charity will receive £3000.
We are grateful to everyone who helped us raise this great sum, those who gave donations, bought TV raffle tickets and to the Sisters in Addo who suggested that approximately £1000 would go a long way towards training each student for teaching.
At our September Mercy Associates’ Meeting we celebrated the hard work, commitment and enthusiasm of our Associates who wish to have another Mercy Garden Party in 2020! We also celebrated a 70th & 80th birthday among us!! We thank God for all of these Blessings .
Article kindly provided by Sr Maura & Sr Maureen
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