Being The Church at Vic Uni

The Victoria University Chaplaincy got creative recently to bless uni students during lockdown. Those living in the one remaining hostel and unable to return home received a surprise in the form of boxes of study treats with notes of encouragement. “We wanted to let them know they haven’t been forgotten during this time” said Mel McKenzie. 

160 students, including many international students, are currently living in Weir House, a hall of residence, during lockdown. Mel continued, “We felt moved to action thinking about how lonely and hard it must be to be thousands of miles from home at a time when you so desperately want to see family.” 

A collaboration between Anglican Chaplaincy, St Michael's, Blueprint, the Community of the Transfiguration and the local Kelburn community - students were blown away by the generosity the Church is showing them at the moment. “Even though this is a time of real uncertainty, we still want to give and be generous.”

Mel continued, “This has been a real reminder to me that even though we are in lockdown people's hearts are yearning to pour out love and to act.” For the our Anglican family serving in Kelburn, this has not been a moment of hibernation. Instead, they are asking God to give them courage to keep taking more steps in their call to serve Victoria University. 

By Luca Duckworth