Tag Archives: St Vincent de Paul

THE Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has announced that it is planning to transfer the management of hostels including Laurel Lodge in Ennis to other homeless charities with specialist expertise in the sector. The society says that it believes that the move will benefit those who use the services of its hostels as managing homeless hostels is moving beyond the capacity of a volunteer-led organisation such as SVP. As most of the funding for the hostels comes from the state SVP is in discussion with the respective local authorities and the HSE to facilitate the transfer of its services. There are nine hostels involved which between them have almost 300 beds per night for homeless people. In addition to Laurel Lodge in Ennis they are in, Carlow, Cork (2), Limerick, Longford, (2) Waterford and Wexford. Laurel Lodge provides 13 places for homeless men. SVP National Secretary Andy Heffernan says that as a volunteer-led organisation, the SVP structure is …

FURTHER restoration work has been undertaken in recent days at what is believed to be the oldest church in use in the Diocese of Killaloe. A replica of the historical altar, which was removed from the St Vincent de Paul Barn Church in Oatfield, in the 1960s, has made by local man Donal Ryan. The beautifully crafted piece was this week installed and blessed by Bishop Fintan Monahan. Donal’s daughter is to get married later this month at the church and in advance of the ceremony, he approached the Pastoral Council with a view to installing the altar. “It was a conincidence that we happened to draw down a grant that enabled us to the preparatory work, just at the right time,” said Michael Tynan, Pastoral Council representative and Oatfield church project co-ordinator. “Donal has great skill and we are delighted now to have the altar in place. The restoration of the church has involved an amazing community effort and …

MORE than 50 charitable organisations and community groups have benefited to the tune of €49,000 from the proceeds of the court discretionary fund. The amount raised this year is €7,000 more than the accumulated funds divided out last year, with 21 more organisations seeing the benefit. A payment to the court discretionary fund is typically ordered by Judge Patrick Durcan in minor cases, in particular in the case of first offenders. The payment is often ordered in lieu of recording a fine and conviction. This year’s fund has been divided across 51 local and national organisations, with the largest beneficiary the Bedford Row Family Project Ltd in Limerick, which supports the families of prisoners. The group has received €10,000 from the fund. St Vincent De Paul services in Clare was the next biggest beneficiary. Ennis received €3,000 from the fund and St Senan’s Kilrush Conference St Vincent De Paul received €2,000. Four organisations benefited from €1,500 each – the Garda …

TWICE as many people are asking St Vincent de Paul (SVP) for assistance this year as did three years ago, while the society’s income has fallen by a quarter. Also, many people who used to help SVP at Christmas are now asking them for assistance, as falling salaries and State-imposed charges hit home. Clare area SVP president, John Cullinane, is appealing for last-minute public and corporate support in the run-up to Christmas. “We have our Christmas collection this weekend in Ennis. The church gate collection will get underway at vigil masses on Saturday and at all masses in Ennis churches on Sunday. We need it more than ever this year,” he said this week. “In the past three years, requests for our assistance have gone up by 104% and our income has gone down by about 25%. We have a lot of repeat people who make requests of us – probably 75% of our requests are from the same people …

The Society of St Vincent de Paul is calling on people all over Ireland to support the Macra na Feirme initiative, Know Your Neighbour, at the weekend. This year the theme is ‘Neighbours – Near and Far’, linking with friends and relatives in the wider Irish diaspora. Macra is encouraging the development of events which include, among others, neighbours who are now living abroad. Now in its ninth year, Know Your Neighbour is a prompt for communities both rural and urban to consider organising events. Macra is also encourage people to take advantage of social media and online technology like Skype as a way of linking up with others. Geoff Meagher, SVP national president said, “The timing of the Macra initiative is appropriate as summer is a time when many community supports may be less active and where groups such as older people or those with long term illnesses, disabilities or caring responsibilities may have less human contact and support than at …

THE Society of St Vincent de Paul is urging those with unwanted gifts to donate them to their shop in Ennis, where they will be used to help those in need. The society is delighted with the generosity shown by members of the public during their recent flag day collection in Ennis. “Without that support we simply could not do our work. This allowed us to support the many families who needed our help during the festive season and into the New Year. We also wish to thank all those people and schools who donated toys and food items.” Donations or unwanted gifts can be sent or dropped in to the SVP Shop at 84 Parnell Sreet, Ennis.