“It is heartening to see, even in these challenging times, how school children and adults alike can take a theme of injustice and turn it into inspiring poems that tell similar stories often with hopeful messages for the future,” said the organisers.
“It has been a challenge conducting deliveries without a proper maternity ward” - Sr Pascalia, a member of the Kenyan Sisters of Mary of Kakamega.
"‘In Africa the priest helps the people, in the west the people help the priest’. May their presence among us help the development of lay ministry. We thank them for their inspiring presence and for coming to the diocese of Kerry,” said Bishop Browne.
Poets of all ages are encouraged to explore the theme, ‘Standing Her Ground’, from a local to global perspective. Each year, the winning poems are published in booklet form and presented to the winners at an awards ceremony.
“I have learned to be independent, and I know that by working hard I can make life much better for me and my children.”
“Imagine if everyone could find their unique ‘call within a call’; say their personal ‘Here I am, Lord’ and become part of the new evangelisation in Ireland!”
“We have to face the fact that at the moment there are [fewer] priests than we were used to, and this has an effect on how parishes operate. Obviously, there is a whole richness within the laity that hasn’t been tapped into.”
Since 1976, Sr Mary Killeen has introduced education, health, and community services programmes to the slums of Mukuru in Nairobi, helping over 170,000 people to become self-sustainable.
Self Help Africa was created in the wake of the Ethiopian Famine of 1984/5 to create long-term solutions to hunger and extreme poverty in the region. The IFA supported one of its first actions – the shipment and distribution of 2,000 tonnes of Cara Donegal seed potatoes to famine affected communities in Ethiopia.
The saints are close to us and they tell us the way of the Beatitudes is not about doing extraordinary things, but about following every day this way that leads us to Heaven.
Large majorities of Catholics polled in five countries said they believed contraceptives are commonly used among Catholic couples.
“The food they have in these camps is not enough. Some of them get only one meal a day.” – Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur of Khartoum
Sr Bernadette Nealon uses WiRED’s health education programmes to train community health workers, who, in turn, train community members in home-based care for the bed-ridden and also trains people who are caring for children at home.
“When my children come back from school every day, they tell of their experiences of new friends from other ethnic communities whom they knew as enemies before. They now play together, sit together, share meals, plant ‘peace trees’ together… but they say, they have learnt this new way of co-existence through the peace clubs."
Shalom Centre invited by UN to discuss possible strategic contributions it can make in helping with the creation of Africa's Great Green Wall.
“They have been wonderful in their ability to contribute. Very often, as missionaries, they just do the work – they are not looking for the limelight.”
Sr Mary Owens IBVM acts as executive director of Nyumbani Village, a non-profit, self-sustaining community that supports and cares for both orphans and elders infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya.
“Last weekend’s collection will enable us to reach even more people with life-saving aid. The support of the Catholic Church in Ireland will make a significant contribution to saving lives in East Africa over the coming weeks.”
In 2009 Fr Patrick Devine SMA founded the Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation. It has now trained over 9,600 community leaders and village elders as peacemakers.
In the Turkana region in the north of Kenya, around 30 per cent of people are severely malnourished, warns Trócaire.
Trócaire workers are responding to this humanitarian crisis with dedication, courage and selflessness.
"Our true success is reflected in the lives that are changed for the better in places that face extraordinary challenges, such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and parts of Kenya and India. It is inspiring to see a life transformed due the active care and belief of a missionary.”
Over 24 million people currently rely on food aid in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya due to a combination of drought and conflict.
Senator George Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Belfast university will host Fr Patrick Devine who established the Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation in 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Pope Francis urged people to “commit not to stop at making statements, but also to provide concrete food aid and to allow it to reach suffering populations.”
More than 1,500 children in the Elemi Triangle of northwest Kenya receive at least one meal each day thanks to aid from Ireland.
Trócaire's 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 – Trócaire’s Kevin Donnelly.
Ireland is part of a toxic global tax system servicing the very wealthiest while ordinary people pay the price and lose out on essential public services – Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland.
The Irish woman’s greatest legacy is the Congregation of the Little Sisters of St Francis, which has more than 550 members in Africa today.
Proceeds from the walk will go towards the Love and Hope Centre for people with HIV/AIDS in Nakuru, Kenya. The archbishop will be joined on the day by his Excellency, Mr Richard Opembe, the Kenyan Ambassador to Ireland.
