The Irish Episcopal Council for Emigrants (IECE) has published a Parish Resource Pack for 2013. The Resource Pack aims to assist parishes and dioceses in raising awareness about the issues affecting emigrants and to ask for the prayers and support of parishioners.
This information pack also aims to raise awareness of the effect of emigration on Irish communities. To that end we have focused on the small village of Cooraclare in County Clare, which has been significantly affected by the current wave of emigration. We would like to thank members of this community who kindly shared their experiences with us.
This year is set to be an interesting one in relation to issues affecting Irish emigrants. It appears that significant immigration reform will be achieved in the United States, hopefully providing pathways to citizenship for thousands of undocumented Irish. The Gathering Ireland offers an opportunity for us to connect with our diaspora and to reflect on what emigration has meant for Ireland, past and present.
For over fifty years the Irish Episcopal Council for Emigrants (IECE) has responded to the needs of Irish emigrants around the world. In 2013 we will continue to offer important support to emigrants and their families.