Study Establishes Cost of a Minimum Standard of Living for Irish families

Feb 07, 2012

Many households in situations of reliance on social welfare or the national minimum wage live with an insufficient income according to a new study published by Trinity College’s Policy Institute in association with The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice and the Department of Social Protection. The report, which is available online in pdf format, was launched on February 6th 2012.

The study, entitled A Minimum Income Standard for Ireland, presents the results of a yearlong research project which has established the cost of a minimum standard of living for a variety of Irish family types. The research establishes the cost of a minimum essential standard of living for individuals and households across the entire lifecycle; from children to pensioners. Subsequently the study calculates the minimum income households require in order to afford this standard of living. A minimum essential standard of living is defined by the United Nations as one which meets a person’s physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs.

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The Eucharistic Bell Pilgrimage 3rd February 2012

The Commencement of the Eucharistic Congress Bell Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage of the Eucharistic Bell began in the Archdiocese of Dublin on 17th March 2011, when the bell was blessed by Archbishop Martin in the Pro Cathedral in Dublin. It was then brought to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, from where it continued its journey from diocese to diocese. The pilgrimage will end in a final pilgrimage ceremony at the opening of the International Eucharistic Congress in the Archdiocese of Dublin in June 2012. The bell has been fitted into a carrying frame in which it will be brought on foot from place to place around Ireland by teams of volunteers. It will be a focal point for gathering and for prayer, in cathedrals, parish churches and places of pilgrimage.

Today the Eucharistic Bell arrived at the Daughters of Charity community of Rickard House in Blackrock Co. Dublin. Many parishioners from St. John the Baptist Parish, staff from Rickard House and the Daughters of Charity from many community houses waited to receive the Bell and processed into the chapel with it as the congregation sang the Eucharistic Hymn, ‘Though we are many’. Sr. Catherine Prendergast DC Provincial of the Daughters of Charity led the procession accompanied by Fr. John Delaney Parish priest of St. John the Baptist Church Blackrock and Fr. Davitt CM, chaplain to the sisters in Rickard House.

Fr. John Delaney explained that the bell calls us to be awake and reminds us of the coming of the Congress. It also appeals to our inner selves and asks us to have an open heart and receive the graces that God wants to bring us at this time. Let us thank God for gift of the Eucharist and ask God to bless us all with the gift of faith so that we can share our faith in the Eucharist with others and live it in our lives.

Sending on Mission Kenya

Hours, days and weeks have passed for this long awaited day.  The morning was bright and beautiful sunshine greeted the day for this great feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton who has accompanied the four of us.  It is amazing that our journey in the Company of the Daughters of Charity has been so linked to St. Elizabeth Ann.  We were received as Postulants on the 4th January, we were incorporated into the Company a year later on the feast and now we have been sent on mission, two years later on this date again.  The 4th January has indeed been a special date for us. 
We have been many days preparing for this great event and it has brought a mixture of excitement, anxiety and joy to us.  We started the day with morning prayer at 6.15am, during this prayer we shared our reflections and requested Sr. Catherine Prendergast, Provincial, to send us on mission.  It was exciting to wait and hear where each of us was being sent.  The morning prayer was very reflective so it set the scene for the reception of the long awaited news.  The Eucharistic celebration followed and it was truly a blessing, we had put much preparation into this and like the song of the Little Drummer Boy, we too played and sang our best for our Saviour. It was a joyful and lively Kenyan celebration.  We thank God for the grace of this day and we request St. Elizabeth Ann to intercede for us. Some Sisters from the other houses joined us for the celebration and this added to the joy.  After the photographs were taken we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast together.
May God bless all the Sisters and our formators.
Sr. Irene
 
The four young Sisters who were sent on mission
Sr. Theresa Nyawira George placed in Kiio to work in Community and Pastoral Work.
Sr. Rose Adhiambo Magolo placed in Thigio to work in Community and Pastoral Work.
Sr. Philomena Mwende Muema placed in Chanzo to work in St. Justin’s Centre and in St. John’s.
Sr. Irene Mercy Nafula Okumo placed in Kitale to work in Community and Pastoral Work.

Liturgy Day

On Saturday November 12th a seminar on Liturgy was held in the Provincial House of the Daughters of Charity, Dunardagh, Blackrock. The day was facilitated by two of the leading liturgists in Ireland, namely , Fr. Paul Kenny former Chair of ICMA and editor of, ‘Sing the Mass’ and Fr. Christopher Fitzgerald current Chair of ICMA and Director of Liturgy in the Cork and Ross Diocese.

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Diamond Jubilee

On Friday 1st October 16 sisters gathered in St. Catherine’s Provincial House Dunardagh to celebrate 60 years vocation as Daughters of Charity. The occasion was a joyful one which began with a social gathering on Friday evening. From early Friday afternoon, sisters arrived from different parts of Ireland and Britain to attend this special celebratory weekend to mark another stage of their journey as Daughters of Charity, a journey which began 60 years ago. 

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New Director

On Saturday 3rd September a large gathering of Daughters of Charity assembled in their Provincial House Dunardagh Blackrock Co. Dublin to attend the inauguration of their new Director, Fr. Mark Noonan CM.  Fr. Mark has just completed fifteen years as President of All Hallows College and hasrecently been appointed by Fr. Gregory Gay CM, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission,to take on the ministry of Director of the Daughters of Charity in the Irish Province.

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