Mini Vinnies
At St Alphonsus RC Primary we actively encourage our children to take part in Stewardship. As a school we are very proud of the projects we take part in and deliver. One such organisation we are involved in is the Mini Vinnies. The Mini Vinnies help the children, ‘put their faith into action’ and give support to people in our community.
‘A Christian Organisation which gets children to put their faith into action. Members give support to people in their community, meeting them face to face and trying to help them in any way they can.’
(Mini Vinnies Handbook – St Vincent De Paul Society 2010)
Here are just a few of the things our Mini Vinnies have done:
- Taken part in a ‘meet and greet’ at St Alphonsus RC Church to inform parishioners about their role and ask how they could serve their community.
- Planned liturgies to help Father Pat at St Alphonsus RC Church.
- Written and read bidding prayers at the funeral of our former Parish Vincentian.
- Completed and delivered Christmas and Easter cards and paintings for those people without their freedom in HMPS. The Prison Chaplain made a school visit to talk to the children about how their service provides great hope and comfort to those who are in a difficult place.
- Collected food items for the Cornerstone charity and delivered the hampers at Christmas time.
Wednesday 21st October
In the after-school Mini Vinnies session today, the Mini Vinnies put their service hands to action by sorting items donated by children and their families for the Hulme Food Bank ready for collection on Friday. These acts of kindness remind us of Saint Thérèse's of Lisieux Little Ways, which involves doing daily tasks with as much love and generosity as possible. By embracing these ‘Little ways’, our school community is living out our Catholic Social Teaching key principles of human dignity, solidarity, participation and the common good.
INVITED: Prisons’ Week 11th- 22nd October 2026
This Year’s Prisons Week campaign takes its inspiration from Matthew 22:1-14, which says:
‘the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests’.
The Mini Vinnies reflected on this Gospel in their call to action to pray for those who do not have their freedom, the justice system, victims of crime, offenders and those in custody, families of all affected and those working in probation, prisons, police, courts, and for prison chaplains.
They made invitations to God’s Party in response to the Word in this Gospel reading. It’s God’s desire that all would respond to his invitation, both good and bad. Both good and bad require God’s clothes of righteousness. None is worthy.
God seeks us out despite our behaviour and calls us to be changed; to take off the old and to put on the new.
After half-term, the Mini Vinnies will be answering their call to action by making Christmas cards for those in HMP, showing the importance of the principle of Human Dignity in our Catholic Social Teaching.
Thank you, Mini Vinnies for your inspirational work!
Friday 25th September 2026
Today the Mini Vinnies received their 'passports' and new badges in assembly and then recited their pledge to the Mini Vinnies' cause.
Thursday 17th September 2026
This morning, the Mini Vinnies led the school and parents in a wonderful Mission Statement and Core Values Assembly.
They reflected on how Christ is central to everything we do and what our Mission Statement (our school prayer) and core values of love, forgiveness, grow and respect mean to us.
They carefully thought about every line of our school prayer and how it reflects and speaks to us and linked this to some of our favourite Sacred Scripture.
Our Mission statement reflects how we live out the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and British Values and the virtues we have for each other. For example: compassion, kindness and joyfulness as we are all made in the image and likeness of God.
Thank you, Mini Vinnies, for sharing how our Mission Statement and Core Values are central to our prayer life here at St Alphonsus.
Monday 13th July 2026 - Today, the Chaplain from HM Prisons came in for a special assembly to celebrate the Mini Vinnies as we come to the end of another successful year. A special celebration goes to Theo for achieving the 'Pupil of the Year' award! Well done to all our Mini Vinnies!
30th June – Representatives from our St Alphonsus Mini Vinnies thoroughly enjoyed their visit to St John Vianney RC High School where they met the GIFT Chaplaincy Team. These pupils were a real inspiration to our children and brilliant hosts. All the children were an absolute credit to their schools and enjoyed sharing ideas, interests, lively conversations and reflective prayer in the beautiful school chapel. We really look forward to working together on new projects in the new academic year.
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June 2026 – In this Jubilee Year of St Francis of Assisi, we are encouraged to engage in acts of charity reflecting on St. Francis’ spirit of service to others. The Mini Vinnies held their annual cake and pre-loved book sale as a fundraiser for our SVP and Parish charities that support the work of The Medjugorje International Relief Society and Mary’s Meals. These acts of kindness positively impact the lives of our neighbours across the globe and help us live out the principles of Catholic Social Teaching: Preferential Option for the Poor – putting people most in need first and Distributive Justice – sharing what we have fairly. Thank you to all our children and their families who baked or donated cakes and recycled books for our Mini Vinnie Charity Book and Cake Sale, helping us to raise an amazing £276.
Thursday 2nd April
Our Holy Week reflection culminated in a Maundy Thursday liturgy delivered by the Mini Vinnies and focused on The Passion of Christ. It began with the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, followed by the betrayal by Judas; Jesus’ arrest in The Garden of Gethsemane; His trial and crucifixion.
We reflected on Jesus’ service in washing His disciples' feet, his self-sacrifice and how this holy scripture of Jesus’ Passion has helped us at school to serve others, bringing hope and changing people’s lives.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
During this Lenten season, the Mini Vinnies have answered a call to action from the SVP 'Working with Prisons Project' by using their service hands to make Easter cards for those who do not have their freedom. This act of kindness will bring hope, peace and the Good News of the Gospel to those in despair.
The Mini Vinnies have also guided the school in a mission of faith, hope and love by leading weekly assemblies during Lent for the SVP 'Heart to Heart Lent Campaign'
Thank you, Mini Vinnies for your dedication and commitment of turning concern into action.
