Projects/Campaigns

Mothers' Union Projects and Campaigns~ in Ireland and Overseas

Mothers' Union supports many projects and campaigns both at home in Ireland and Overseas.

Read about many of the projects below and click on the pictures to access more information, patterns etc.

Knitting and Sewing Projects

Some of the projects include hats, matinee jackets and Ollie the Octopus for premature babies, trauma teddies, hats and scarves for the homeless, prayer squares, fiddle blankets for the elderly/infirm etc. Click on image to access patterns.

Click on the image above for a prayer for the square

Click on the image below for safety guidelines on knitted trauma teddies:

AFIA

(Away from it All)

This project provides short breaks/holidays or day trips for those who otherwise could not afford it and is available in most Dioceses throughout Ireland.

Those who have benefitted from this project have greatly appreciated having a break "away from it all"

Contact your Mothers’ Union Diocesan President or Secretary for further details and for an application form.

16 Days of Activism Against

Gender Based Violence

Vigils, services and/or prayer breakfasts are organised during November in every Diocese to raise awareness of gender-based violence and the search for gender justice. Further details available on our "16 Days..." page.

Toiletries, gifts, toys etc are collected for distribution to local Refuges and this help and support is greatly appreciated by the refuges. It is hoped that collections for the local refuges can, in the future, be made at other times during the year as their needs are ongoing.

Thursdays in Black

The campaign is simple but profound. Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence. Show your respect for women who are resilient in the face of injustice and violence. Encourage others to join you.

Often black has been used with negative racial connotations. In this campaign Black is used as a color of resistance and resilience.

Prison Visits and

The Read Together Project

As part of this project books are distributed to children and also the parent in prison.

This gives them something to talk about during prison visits.

Baby Changing and Feeding Facilities at Shows

This facility is greatly appreciated by parents and guardians of babies/toddlers as it gives them a safe clean environment in which to change and feed their baby/toddler. Read about Mothers' Union at Ploughing 2019 by clicking on the picture below.

Literacy and Financial Education

The programme uses participatory methods to enable communities to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills while discussing and planning action on their daily issues and challenges.

Worldwide Parenting Programmes

The Worldwide Parenting Programmes faciliate groups to discuss different topics and share parenting experiences and best practice.

Savings and Credit Groups

The overall aim for countries using this programme is to break down the barriers and challenges faced by women when dealing with money and finances. It aims to raise their social and economic status, resulting in them having more of a say in their households, and helping to create women entrepreneurs.

Church and Community Mobilisation

CCM is a transformational, community-based process which uses facilitator-led Bible studies to work with church groups encouraging them to kick-start economic, social and physical transformation within their communities. Mothers’ Union is uniquely positioned in that we can equip our members to facilitate lasting change within their church and communities.

MULOA

MULOA stands for “Mothers’ Union Listening, Observing, Acting” and is the name we are using to explore the essence of what it is to be Mothers’ Union.

As a member-led global organisation we are actively listening to the voices of our members to create a vision for the future that is grounded in their views and their experiences within their communities. This will help us create our strategy beyond 2020

Mothers’ Union and United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

Global Advocacy to Raise the Status of Women and Eliminate Discrimination: Mothers’ Union and UNCSW

Click on the image above to bring you to the UNCSW website

Click HERE to read a report from Jacqui Armstrong

ALL IRELAND MOTHERS' UNION TELECONFERENCING

All Ireland Mothers' Union Teleconferencing began in 2009. This is for people on both sides of the border.

It is a way of keeping in touch with people who no longer get out much. All ages are welcome along with Carers. The calls are on the 2^nd Monday of the month for 40 minutes. There is NO cost to the participants. The call centre is based in England.

Anyone interested in joining should contact:

allireland.mothersunion@gmail.com

Helplines for people experiencing domestic violence:

Northern Ireland:

PSNI – 999 or 101 www.psni.police.uk
Domestic and Sexual Abuse (DSA) helpline 0808 8021414 - free and confidential.
Women's Aid - 028 9024 9041 visit www.womensaidni.org
Men’s Advisory Project (MAP) - 028 9024 1929 visit www.mapni.co.uk
Web chat available at www.dsahelpline.org or email help@dsahelpline.org

Thursday 16th April

Following an upsurge in reported incidents of domestic violence Governments in Ireland have teamed up with frontline services to provide excellent awareness and information campaigns to assure victims that STAY AT HOME DOES NOT MEAN SUFFER AT HOME.

Frontline services are STILL HERE.

Still here - domestic abuse TV awareness ad

Helplines for people experiencing domestic violence:

Republic of Ireland:

An Garda Síochána - 999 or 112
Women's Aid - 1800 341 900
Men's Aid Ireland - 01 554 3811
Male Domestic Abuse Advice Line - 1800 816 588
Rape Crisis Centre National Helpline - 1800 77 8888
Legal Aid Board Helpline - 1890 615 200 or 01 646 9600
Directory of local services - www.safeireland.ie

A Woman’s Psalm

O God, I am a woman in a violent world let me know your peace.
Let blind rage born of despair not find its target in me.
Let the value of my life not be reduced to the jewellery I wear.
Let my family life not end that life in a gang may begin.
Let rape not violate my body nor anger ravage my soul.
Let fear not enter my heart but caution sharpen my mind.
Let the light of Christ so shine in me that I may reflect your love.
Let the joy that the apostles knew infuse my spirit and alleviate my pain.
Let Love who suffered and died on the cross find resurrection and new life in the world you love.
God, I am a woman in a violent world - let me know your peace.

Elizabeth Kaeton, (from Lifting Women’s Voices: Canterbury Press; 2009)

I am an individual jam jar you can spread me on your toast

Upon a scone I’m truly delicious

Once my jam is finished, my life it is so short

Could I be recycled?...

Now my inside is all a jingle

My heart is full of joy

Those ladies from the MU have given me a task

To help raise lots of money!

Why not "Reuse and Recycle" your small jam jars for Overseas!

Blessing of hands

The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty…

to bless all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 28:12

Blessed are you, Lord. You hold us in your hands.

Bless our hands, that we might hold others

as dearly as you hold them.

Blessed be the hands that touch young lives and guide the young.

Blessed be the hands that embrace others with compassion.

Blessed be the hands that administer healing.

Blessed be the hands that carry out chores.

Blessed be the hands that grow stiff with age.

Blessed be the hands that capture memories in creative ways.

Blessed be the hands that greet strangers.

Blessed be the hands that learn the way of justice.

Bless our hands, Lord,

for they are the work of your hands.

Amen

From the Lutheran Deaconess Association

Prayer

Prayer is at the heart of everything we do in the Mothers' Union. Members in Ireland are linked with members around the world through the Wave of Prayer and from time to time visits are exchanged.

Within Ireland members enjoy fellowship through the development of North/South links between Dioceses and individual Branches.

Mothers' Union ~ Wave of Prayer

May 2022

Click on the image above to access the midday prayers May 2022

Wave of Prayer for Mothers’ Union

Lord, we pray for Mothers’ Union worldwide.

1 - 2 Aru in DR Congo; Kigezi in Uganda; Ikeduru in Nigeria; Ho in Ghana; York in England and Guyana & Suriname in Guyana

3 Mothers’ Union worldwide

4 – 6 Uppershire in Malawi; Maralal Missionary Area in Kenya; Makurdi & Ifo in Nigeria; Tuam, Killala & Achonry in All Ireland and Mumbai in India

7 – 9 Torit in South Sudan; Meru in Kenya; Ikwuano in Nigeria; Sekondi in Ghana and The Arctic in Canada

10 Mothers’ Union worldwide

11 – 13 Twic East in South Sudan; Rorya in Tanzania; Owerri & Ughelli in Nigeria; Gippsland in Australia and Cashel, Ferns & Ossory in All Ireland

14 – 16 Maridi in South Sudan; Kirinyaga in Kenya; Zaki-Biam & Ijesa North-East in Nigeria and Waikato & Taranaki in New Zealand

17 Mothers’ Union worldwide

18 – 20 Grahamstown in South Africa; Masasi in Tanzania; Afikpo in Nigeria; Wiawso in Ghana; Chester in England and Northern Argentina in Argentina

21 – 23 Christ the King in South Africa; East Rwenzori in Uganda; Gombe & New Busa in Nigeria and Bunbury in Australia

24 Mothers’ Union worldwide

25– 27 Bor in South Sudan; Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania; Oru & Oleh in Nigeria; Rockhampton in Australia and Agra in India

28 - 30 Angola; North Ankole in Uganda; Okene & Ibadan-South in Nigeria; Aberdeen & Orkney in Scotland and Karnataka South in India

31 Mothers’ Union worldwide

Final Blessing

God of power,

may your Spirit transform us, lead us, and equip us

to serve and worship you now and always.

Amen