Around the Dioceses
Tree Planting ~ Derry & Raphoe
The All-Ireland President of Mothers’ Union, June Butler, joined
Diocesan President, Jacqui Armstrong, and members of the Derry and
Raphoe Mothers’ Union at a tree-planting ceremony on the outskirts of
Londonderry on Thursday, to mark the Queen’s forthcoming platinum
jubilee.
The women were greeted by blue skies and glorious sunshine as they
gathered at Brackfield Wood, which skirts the River Faughan, just off
the main Derry to Belfast Road near Killaloo. The area has been
earmarked by the Woodland Trust for the cultivation of a centenary wood,
and will eventually include 40,000 native trees commemorating soldiers
who lost their lives during the First World War.
Stockpots for Refugees
Clare Stewart, Action & Outreach Coordinator, has been exploring how best the Diocese of Down & Dromore could help support refugee families. She was advised that the Kiltonga Christian Centre work with Government Departments and other charities to supply items needed by refugee families and asylum seekers across Northern Ireland. Helen Sloan, the manager of the Kiltonga Centre, during a meeting with Clare highlighted the need for large stockpots. Helen explained that the cultural norm for many refugee families is to cook family meals in one large pot.
In recognition that mothers want to nurture and feed their families the best way they know how, Down and Dromore Trustees agreed to the purchase of large stockpots which Clare delivered to Helen Sloan on 4 May 2022.
A large number of members from Cashel, Ferns and Ossory and friends enjoyed a lovely afternoon in Rathwood on Friday 3rd June. They enjoyed a delicious "Afternoon Tea" and it was a wonderful occasion for everyone to meet up for a chat too. The afternoon was organised by the Diocesan President, Lesley Bayley, not only to celebrate the Platinum Jublilee of our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2, but also to raise much needed funds for our Diocesan Projects.
The Diocese has also been busy providing much needed support to a Ukranian family who are being rehoused in Enniscorthy. Members have also been knitting and sewing fiddle sleeves and blankets at the request of a nursing home in Kilkenny. These are used with patients who are suffering from dementia and a request came to Mothers' Union to see if we could provide a supply for patients in the nursing home.