"...for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to see me"
Matthew 25: 35-36.
In 1982 Parish Priest Father Ernie Smith, motivated by this gospel message, opened his door and shared a meal with a man who was homeless.
It was this first act of generosity which led to the formation of Sacred Heart Mission to provide the basic necessities of life - food, clothing, emergency relief, accommodation and companionship.
A small team of committed staff and parishioners from St Kilda West helped prepare simple meals out of the presbytery's kitchen. Within a year more than 70 people were arriving each day for lunch. This led to the use of the Sacred Heart Parish Hall as the Dining Hall.
Today, the Dining Hall continues to be the heart of the Mission and provides breakfast and lunch every day of the year for hundreds of people in need.
Copies of the Mission's official history; Walk With Me, A History of Sacred Heart Mission, St Kilda, are available for sale at Readings bookstores for $15.
Fr Ernie Smith founded the Mission in 1982.
The Mission started from humble beginnings as a meals service.
