"The pandemic's effects are very particularly felt amongst the most vulnerable in society," says ACCORD NI regional director Deirdre O'Rawe.
2019 was the year in which the number of registered charities passed ten thousand. Over half (53 per cent) of them, are in the ‘benefit to the community’ category and the next biggest grouping is ‘advancement of education’ while relief of poverty or economic hardship makes up 8.7 per cent.
Accord’s Relationship Support Phone Line is open 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin highlights Accord's specially dedicated COVID-19 counselling service.
“I am extremely proud of the way the team in Crosscare have responded to the crisis,” said Conor Hickey, director of Crosscare.
"To be a priest, you need to spend seven years in the seminary, so what about being a husband, a wife, a mother or a father? Just twenty hours?” commented the Bishop of Bilbao.
"The people of the diocese have been very generous over these years in supporting Share even at moments of serious economic difficulties. I thank you for that generosity and I encourage you to continue in the support given to Share," says Archbishop Martin
“It is imperative that we continue to work together to promote marriage and family.”
Marriage and families are today experiencing new and more complex challenges than ever before, says ACCORD executive Harry Casey.
“The love of a married couple is a very special kind of love, a love that is life-giving, permanent and exclusive” – Bishop Denis Nulty.
Bishop Nulty said that his thoughts and prayers are with Fr John’s mother, brothers and sister, his priest colleagues in Kildare and Leighlin, his team in Faith Development Services and ACCORD, Carlow and his many parishioners in Abbeyleix.
“From strong marriages come strong families, and from strong families comes a strong society,” - Bishop Nulty
Of the 43 part-time centre-based secretaries who were offered either a statutory redundancy payment or revised conditions involving reduced hours and pay, 21 took redundancy option.
Fr Tim Bartlett appeals to groups with international outreach to promote participation from abroad in 2018 event.
Pope Francis is challenging us to see a preparation course as merely one part of a programme that ultimately needs to be parish-based: Accord president Bishop Denis Nulty.
Bishop Denis Nulty, president of Accord, will release the Catholic Marriage Care Service’s 2016 figures for marriage preparation and marriage and relationship counselling.
Bishop MacDaid had bravely tried to continue to the best of his abilities with his mission, but deteriorating condition means his episcopal responsibilities were affecting his health.
“There is a whole world out there and I think it is very important that we don’t become holy huddles with our own people and our own groups."
“It seems to suggest that the more communicative devices we have in life, the less communicative we are in our relationships” - President of Accord.
Catholic family support groups in dioceses and parishes might not only assist with marriage preparation, but also with supporting couples immediately following marriage.
Marriage Counsellor warns couples not to put themselves under pressure to provide the perfect family, the perfect Christmas and perfect presents.
As Ireland marks 20th anniversary of introduction of civil divorce, one in four marriages are ending in separation or divorce.
“This year, the beginning of our Catholic new year will coincide with our preparations for a Jubilee Year of Mercy."
Louis and Zélie Martin are the first married couple with children to become saints in Church history.
The canonisation of married couple Blessed Louis and Zèile Martin, parents of St Thérèse of Lisieux, is the first in the history of the Church.
Over 1,000 suggestions sent in for the 'Poem for the Ploughing' competition and the six chosen by Bishop Nulty will be on display in the Kildare & Leighlin tent.
The bishops are to set up a special review group to examine how best the Church can continue to support marriage and family life in Ireland.
Funding withdrawal will apply from January 2015 and will “undermine a vital service provided to women and men preparing for marriage”.
“I have serious concerns about the blunt refusal to give any real guarantees regarding freedom of religion in relation to the referendum."
“At a time when we place emphasis on the richness of pluralism and ... diversity, it is a contradiction to minimise human differences. A father is not the same as a mother.”
