Oliver’s story – My presentation on Rosies

Rosies has a long tradition of youth and student engagement, having been established in Queensland in 1987 as a youth mission. We continue to engage with youth and students through education, awareness, and volunteer programs, which play a vital role in prevention and support.
Oliver O’Callaghan (pictured) illustrated this engagment as a Year 8 student at St Laurence’s College in Brisbane when he decided to base his school presentation on Rosies. Here is a fresh view of how Rosies is percieved from a 13 year old…
“Rosies is run and operated by the work of its volunteers, through their love for neighbours, they reach out to those in need through the simple act of conversation and compassion without ever ‘boasting’ about their great work.”
Oliver stresses our identity as a community of people sharing the Oblate spirit of daring. Inspired by the Gospel, Rosies reaches out to those most abandoned, to be present with them, offering them experience of community and belonging.
“Jesus always reached out to those who are less fortunate in his society and time. Likewise Rosies reaches out to the less fortunate by loving thy neighbour. Solidarity is one of the Catholic Social Teachings and is about ‘valuing our fellow human beings and respecting who they are as individuals’. Rosies demonstrates how we can all live the Holy Spirit by giving every person we meet a sense of belonging, community, and family. Rosies preaches ‘Love thy neighbour’. Rosies gives the gift of presence to those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or simply lonely through the most basic need of human contact.”
Oliver beautifully summed up what Rosies is all about.
“1 Corinthians 13:1-13 tells the exact story of what Rosies is trying to achieve in the tireless work of the volunteers. This is evident in the scripture reading that says ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.’ This ideal explains that love can change anything and is everything. In relation to Rosies, it is the love and community that comes with every drop of coffee”.
Thank you Oliver. It is students like you as well as our volunteers, and all our supporters, who make the difference to Rosies and our friends.