Rhodes Park Spring Fair, St Anne's Makes R 8430!

Our Rhodes Park Spring Festival Stalls was the first major Fundraising Event of this year, and in particular, with, in mind, our Contribution to the New Diocesan Chancery Building.  A Great Thank You and Congratulations to all the Members and Sodalities of St Anne’s and to our (often anonymous) Donors, for the united and joyful spirit with which everyone entered into the venture. We raised R 8,430.00 – a good improvement on last year. But most of all we had fun in working together and helping make the Spring Fair a lovely day for all. We thank God for His Blessings showered upon us. - Fr Ron

From Herbert... by email on Monday 6th September 2010

Good Day All

 

Yesterday, 05 September 2010, was the annual Rhodes Park Spring Fair.  Our Parish, St. Anne’s (Belgravia), has been occupying a stall at this fair for the past three (maybe four) years, and we’ve grown from strength to strength, in terms of presence, paraphernalia and participation.  Yesterday was a beautiful day.  We were blessed with absolutely lovely spring weather, we felt the crowd has grown over the years and the position of our stall was ideal.

 

What was truly inspiring this year was the level of participation and co-operation of all St. Anne’s parishioners.  People went out of their way to contribute and for that the parish is extremely grateful.  The only thing better than seeing this collaboration, is to actually be a part of it.

 

I want to say some special thank-you’s to the people involved:

 

Firstly to Fr. Ron, our spiritual head, PCC and PFC President, general benefactor and all round Good Guy.

 

Then to Nailand Smith as Chairman of the PFC, under whom all fundraising initiatives lie, for the actual planning and co-ordination of the event; unfortunately Nailand was unable to be with us on the day to see the fruit of his hard work, as he and his family we away on pre-planned family business (we all get caught up in this some time or the other).

 

I then want to thank the Fund Raising Committee Ladies, and these words pertain to all participating groups, for all the hard work that they tirelessly put in, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, without expecting any reward, and at much personal expense.  I want to thank their families for all the support that they give to their mothers and spouses, taking time out of their personal schedules to show their “home executives”, that their efforts are appreciated, valued and most of all, are making a significant contribution to a worthy cause.

 

I want to thank the Zulu/Sotho Choir ladies for their participation, generous donation and absolute magic in their contribution.  To their families too who participated, donated and contributed.  Who transported and provided logistics to their “queens”, who (wo)manned the stalls and did so well, that even after topping up what they originally came with, still ran out and were unable to supply the demand.

 

To the Portuguese community, represented by Alice, Fernanda (Alice’s husband), Fernanda (also known as Tina J) and Joe Pereira, for their participation and contribution, especially of the of the ever popular Prego Rolls, also sold out on the day.  A special thank you again to Joe, for making an absolute avalanche of cold drinks available to us.  

 

Our Vision reads:

 

“We, the people of St. Anne’s, from diverse backgrounds, cultures and even countries, ask GOD for the Spirit’s Gifts of Faith, Love and Unity, that, as one Family, we may reach out to our neighbours, with the Love and Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

 

Yesterday, our vision ramped up a notch.  What was evidenced at last years Fete at The Dominican School continues to grow.  Step by step, day by day, year by year, we see our Vision being lived.  For a parish that was on the verge of being closed down, I think that we can be extremely proud of what we have achieved to date and what we are continuing to achieve going forward.  I certainly am proud to be part of St. Anne’s and I am proud to be associated with each and every one of you.

 

GOD Bless you all.

 

Kind regards,

 

Herbert J. Africa

PPC Chair.