UAC–ARM Mandate
approved by National Coordination Council August 2018
- Name: UAC – ARM. This name stands alone or can be understood to stand for Union of Catholic Apostolate - Australians Reaching out on M
- Leadership would be through a UAC-ARM Committee which would be directly accountable to and supported by the NCC. The Committee would be composed of a chair, deputy chair, minute secretary with mix of members from individuals, groups, the SAC, from SAC entities and parishes and the Mariana Community up to a total of nine members. The chair would be responsible for accountability to the NCC through their membership of the NCC.
- Aim: to be an umbrella body animating UAC members to be engaged in Mission Projects whether they be individuals, groups, SAC entities, members who also belong to the SAC or Mariana Community, collaborators or children and youth in associated schools, parishes or families. Imbued with the spirit of the UAC, we will encourage members to try to do what they can. Mission would encompass a broad range of projects carried out both within Australia and outside of Australia, e.g. the Keshero Project.
- Objectives:
- Prayer: through encouraging people to pray in support of mission activity; for those who perform such activity and those towards whom such activity is directed, that we all open ourselves to the work of God’s Spirit in and through us and in and through the other.
- Formation for Mission: through provision of input and resources to develop skills and understandings identified as being necessary to engage confidently and competently in Mission. Such skills and understandings may include skills in active listening or understandings about different cultural mores and sensitivities that may be encountered or knowledge about advocacy through letter/email writing, petitions and phone calls. It also may involve putting people in touch with other bodies that provide such formation.
- Publicity: through advertising by means of PFN, website, emails and meetings members can be made aware of the progress of mission activities that are being successfully undertaken; of those which need extra support; or of new areas of need. In this way networking may develop or people may be stimulated to become involved. Accountability would be provided to UAC membership.
- Prayer: through encouraging people to pray in support of mission activity; for those who perform such activity and those towards whom such activity is directed, that we all open ourselves to the work of God’s Spirit in and through us and in and through the other.
- Meetings to be conducted via social media such as Zoom, linking those who cannot all be present physically in the one spot. Formal meetings to be held no more than five times per year. In between formal meetings work to be continued and communicated via email/phone.
Mission Prayer
God of Infinite Love, we pray that your Spirit inspire us
to reach out and assist the most vulnerable people.
Inspired by the zeal of St Vincent Pallotti
may we be filled with a desire to be apostles wherever we are.
Bless us with courage, empathy, and determination
as we reach out to families who are in need of support
to be able to live life to the full.
May the Holy Family who fled to Egypt for safety,
inspire us to use our gifts and skills
to welcome and work for the wellbeing of asylum seekers and refugees.
Amen
The Keshero Project: The Flame of Love Orphanage, DRC
Through this project we fundraise for and provide support to La Flamme d’Amour (The Flame of Love) Orphanage in Keshero, a suburb of Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sr Alvira runs the orphanage with the help of volunteers.
We are able to get funds delivered directly to Sr Alvira in such a way that every cent donated gets straight to her to use on food, schooling and medical costs. With around 200 children to feed, costs are high and have increased since the 2025 fighting in that area of the DRC. This also led to an increase in the number of orphans.
The children from Our Lady Queen of Apostles School in Riverton, Western Australia, through their “Kids for Kids” Program have raised money that has been used on things such as setting up for and raising poultry and animals to provide some protein in the diet of the children. They have also provided school bags and other school supplies as well as helped them have a joyful Christmas lunch. We are hopeful that some other schools soon will also take up this program.
Teachers in the DRC are not paid by the Government but by the parents. The orphanage has to pay for the education of the children out of the money we forward to them. Parents will be aware of all the ways in which children may need medical attention. With no Medicare, hospitals also have to be paid for their services. Thanks to a generous donation a few years ago the orphanage is now connected to a water supply.
100% of donations for the orphanage go there via SAC contacts in Rwanda. We receive updates on how the money is spent and on what the needs are.
Donations can be made by regular Direct Debit payments or one-off to ACCOUNT NAME: UAC Keshero Project, BSB: 083 347, ACCOUNT NUMBER: 439 222 523
Some ways you can be involved:
- Pray
- Join our UAC-ARM team. We could do more with more active team members. Bring your ideas and commitment to Mission. People with skills in publicity are needed especially.
- Take part in fundraising events such as the one that takes place during our Annual Celebration of St Vincent Pallotti’s Feast Day on 22nd
- Keep informed about what is happening in your neighbourhood, city, Australia, and the world. Write letters, sign petitions, etc. to try and bring about the just, compassionate treatment of all people.