Every day of the year, we welcome adults of all ages and backgrounds who are experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and social exclusion to a free meal, care and support.
Since opening our doors in 1982, we have evolved into an independent non-profit organisation renowned for effectively helping thousands of people experiencing homelessness to rebuild their lives.
At the heart of everything we do, we recognise everybody is unique. No matter where people are in their journey, we are here to support them and we do not give up.
2025 Womindjeka Ngargee
('Welcome Celebration' in the Boonwurrung language)
19 February 2025
Sacred Heart Mission celebrated the Opening of the Year event with a Womindjeka Ngargee ('Welcome Celebration' in the Boonwurrung language), comprising a ‘Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and the unveiling of a commissioned mural’. The ceremony was well attended and CEO of Sacred Heart Mission, Hang Vo stated that as an organisation of care, SHM works to uphold human rights and the principles of dignity and self-determination. They seek to implement the vision of an inclusive, fair society where everyone can live a fulfilled life. “We are really committed to a life that is based on love, peace and acceptance not fear. One of the top priorities in our Strategic Plan Strategy 2030 is to strengthen engagement and allyship with First Nations Communities and organisation to ensure that SHM is genuinely culturally safe and inclusive place to work, volunteer and access our services.” To this end, SHM has working with Cultural Advisor, Caroline Martin, a Senior Boonwurrung Custodian. Caroline works with the SHM’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group to create culturally safe places and a self-determination framework so that the First Nations People who come to the Mission for Support are better able to articulate their own needs to the organisation. The RAP group has changed its name to Durrung Djeembana Working Group, which means Heart Gathering in Boonwurrung language. The mural was commissioned by The Torch Project, an organisation for people who have been incarcerated to shine a light on their creative talents which continues after their release and gives them the opportunity to earn an income. This mural, with the Bunjal Wedge-tailed eagle soaring towards a sunset signifies the future – that tomorrow, anything is possible. It is a sign of hope. Caroline hoped that other organisations would be as brave as SHM is pursuing self-determination for First Nations People in meeting their needs.
Easter Celebration 2022
12 April 2022
In this, the 40th year of Sacred Heart Mission, we shared a special Easter celebration with staff, clients and supporters of the Mission. The theme was ‘Growing in Hope’. Karen Engelbretsen and a group of staff prepared a beautiful celebration which included a great history of the Mission. In recognition of the 40 years, we were asked, what from our past should we carry with us into the future and what is our hope for the future. We shared this with some nearby, wrote key words / phrases on leaves and placed them on the tree of hope. Full excerpts of the reflection are available at the back of church and on our website. Thank you very much to Karen for her thoughtful and inspiring reflection.
Sacred Heart Memorial
August 18 2018
On Sunday 19 August 2018 we dedicated the Sacred Heart Memorial.
“We Remember” is a tribute to those who have died in our community. In erecting this memorial, we hold them forever in our hearts.
“We Remember”, depicts a small gathering holding their friend who has died. In this act of intimacy, through their grief, in some ways they hold each other. The figures are close with each other. They hold the body of their friend through the interweaving of their hands and bodies. This is an experience of deep intimacy in a place vulnerability.
Prayer written by Mark Dohrmann AM
Lord, kind master of our lives –
Please hear our prayer for all women and men, boys and girls who are homeless tonight.
For those sleeping under bridges, on park benches, in doorways or bus shelters.
For those who can only find shelter for the night but must wander in the daytime.
For families broken because they could not afford to pay the rent.
For those who have no relatives or friends who can take them in.
For those who have no place to keep possessions that remind them who they are.
For those who are afraid and hopeless.
For those who have been betrayed by our social safety net.
For those confused and troubled by mental illness.
For all these people, we pray that you will provide shelter, security and hope.
We pray for Mission staff and volunteers, especially those on the front line, that they can always provide the acceptance and self-belief our clients deserve.
We pray for the believers and non-believers who see what is good and human in what we are trying to do.
Help the Mission Board make sense of “church” in its fidelity to our supporters, to our founders, to the Association, to each other, to our staff,
but most of all to those with whom we choose to walk.
Finally, we pray for ourselves with our warm houses and comfortable beds, that we not be lulled into complacency or forgetfulness.
Jesus, help us to see your face in the eyes of every person who is homeless
so that we may be empowered through word and deed,
and through the political means we have,
bring justice and peace to those who are homeless.
Amen.
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