Social Action Committee
Our dioceses is comprised of both urban and rural communities and this has defined the focus of our social action.
Rural Focus
As a council for Social Action in a rural context, the aim and mission of the council is to identify and resource clergy and laity through providing information and resources on their Facebook page, through visiting Parishes, personal contact and the Diocesan Website. The committee also aims to identify examples of good social action which may then be replicated in other places.
Urban Focus
The social action committee has taken as an objective to establish an after school/day time respite centre for families in emergency accommodation. In this the committee are to partner with Focus Ireland who will screen and send on the families and also working under the auspices of the Dublin Homelessness Executive. The families will be those who do not have additional needs such as addiction but rather those who are struggling to do day to day things like homework in the confines of a bedroom in a B&B. This is a real need that the Dioceses can address and make a significant difference to the most marginalised in our society, and the committee will continue to seek to overcome any obstacles.
HANDY TO HAVE
The Social Action Committee has compiled an extensive (but not exhaustive) list of contact details for organisations which may be able to help in a wide variety of circumstances. This is particularly useful for clergy who may come across certain situations in the course of their pastoral care.
You can download the leaflet here.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE – HIGHLIGHTING DIOCESAN INITIATIVES
The committee is seeking to highlight the activities that are taking place across the Dioceses, to inspire parishes and seed collaboration and parishes supporting other parishes where there is need but with smaller congregations.
Each month we will post stories highlighting the huge variety of projects taking place.
Putting the Gospel into Practice – The Dining Room
Rector of Christ Church Dun Laoghaire, the Revd Ása Björk Ólafsdóttir, writes about her experience of setting up The Dining Room. She and a large and enthusiastic group of volunteers served lunches in the parochial hall for people who experienced food poverty, including people who were homeless, and for people who were lonely. The did not charge for the meals but invited a donation.
You can read about The Dining Room here.
