By Sean Ryan - 31 December, 2016
The Catholic Church’s overseas development aid agency, Trócaire, has written to Irish dioceses to thank them for all the support Trócaire has received from the faithful during the year.
In a letter this week to the Diocese of Derry, Regional Manager of Trócaire Kevin Donnelly thanked the people of the diocese. “I would like to thank all from County Derry for their loyal support for Trócaire’s work over the past year.” He added: “We are extremely privileged to work on behalf of the people of Ireland in some of the poorest countries in the world. That work would not be possible without the generosity of parishioners, students, teachers, clergy, volunteers and supporters who believe passionately in remembering those less well off than themselves.”
Burning building in Homs, Syria
Speaking about the donations from the public to Trócaire, he said “The year has seen the continued bloodshed in Syria and millions of Syrians having to take refuge in camps in the Middle East and Europe. Your donations have enabled us to support these people, who fled with nothing and are desperate. People are getting essential shelter, food and healthcare and also longer term assistance including training schemes, housing refurbishments and education so families can provide some normality for their children.”
Livestock in Turkana, Kenya
Meanwhile, in a letter to the Diocese of Cloyne, Trócaire Executive Director Éamonn Meehan thanked the people of Cloyne for their generosity and said that “Trócaire’s 2016 Lenten Campaign focused on drought-affected communities in Kenya. Helping families to survive in the face of the region’s growing drought crisis is a major focus of Trócaire’s work … In addition to our work in Kenya, the Lenten Campaign is vital for continuing our work throughout the developing world. Last year, we brought relief to 2.4 million people in 25 countries.”
Trócaire has also thanked fast food giant, Supermac’s, for its support throughout the year. Over the past year, in excess of €40,000 has been raised in aid of Trócaire by Supermac’s throughout the country. The contribution came from a combination of fundraisers and collection boxes that were organised in Supermac’s outlets over the past year, as well as contributions made at the Supermac’s Trócaire Fundraising Evening in the Loughrea Hotel and Spa in Galway in December.
Éamonn Meehan said that “Supermac’s staff and customers have made an enormous contribution to Trócaire’s work around the world. Their efforts to raise funds to support our work have allowed us to deliver support, relief and aid to some of the most vulnerable communities in the world. That support has changed people’s lives and helped people to work their way out of extreme poverty. I would like to thank Pat McDonagh and the entire Supermac’s organisation for their commitment to helping people living in extreme poverty overseas.”
