This year’s National Volunteer Week, held from 19 to 25 May, is a time to celebrate the extraordinary contribution of volunteers across Australia.

At Mary MacKillop Place, the spirit of hope lives in the quiet moments of service, kindness and connection that are made possible through the volunteers who give their time so generously to help keep the spirit and legacy of Mary MacKillop alive.

One of those volunteers is Quynh Anh, whose warm and gentle presence has touched so many at Mary MacKillop Place.

Since 2022, Quynh Anh has been a much-loved volunteer in the Mary MacKillop Place Café. She gives not just her time, but her heart to everyone she meets. For her, volunteering is more than just a role. It feels like a second home.

“I love volunteering because it makes me feel calm. It’s relaxing to be part of the community and meet all the people and customers,” she shares.

The friendships she has formed, like her special bond with Sisters Annie and Lucy, especially over their shared love of classical music, have become important threads woven into her everyday life. Through these small but meaningful moments, Quynh Anh shows how volunteering is one way that hope is lived out. It grows quietly in community, in care, and in the way people come together.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, Quynh Anh reflected on the theme of hope.

She finds hope in simple but powerful ways: listening to music, helping her family, colouring-in to find peace and bringing joy to those around her. It is about standing strong, gently encouraging others and living out the wisdom her parents passed down to her.

“My mum always told me, be strong in what you do, but stay humble,” she says.

Resilience has played a big part in shaping how Quynh Anh understands hope. She remembers her time studying martial arts, often facing opponents taller and stronger than herself. Her Sensei’s advice stayed with her: take your time, trust yourself and never give up.

“Hope for me,” she says, “is about believing you can keep moving forward, even when it’s hard.”

Even through personal grief, after losing her grandfather, Quynh Anh held onto hope. She pictures them surrounded by angels, supporting her from above.

“He always told me to be strong and go for what I believe in,” she shares.

If she were to draw hope, Quynh Anh imagines a lioness. Strong, fearless and protective. Inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi and a deep wish to spread joy to children around the world, she dreams of encouraging young people to see themselves as brave, strong and full of light.

As we celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, Quynh Anh’s story reminds us that hope doesn’t always roar loudly. Sometimes, it looks like a quiet smile across a café counter, a patient conversation or a simple act of kindness.

Hope lives in humble service, in community, and in the belief that every small gesture has the power to uplift.

At Mary MacKillop Place, we are truly blessed to walk alongside volunteers like Quynh Anh. They show us that where there is hope, there is always possibility.

Mary MacKillop Place