29.01.2014
Black Santa Funds to be Handed Out to Charities
The 2013 Black Santa appeal at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, raised almost €28,000. The funds collected will be distributed to the various charities on Sunday March 2 at 11.00 am. The preacher that morning will be the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Most Revd Pat Storey.
Among the charities to benefit this year will be St Vincent de Paul, The Salvation Army, Protestant Aid, Trust, The Simon Community, The Solas project run by St Catherine’s in Thomas Street, Bishops’ Appeal and the Laura Lynn Foundation
The figure collected was slightly lower than previous years due to terrible weather conditions in the run up to Christmas. However, the Vicar of St Ann’s, the Revd David Gillespie, was pleased by the response to the appeal and generosity of the public.
“All in all I am very happy with how it has all gone. To raise €28,000 in the present economic climate, and in the midst of such dreadful weather, was fantastic. We look forward to the appeal in St Ann’s each year but it would be remiss of me if I didn’t thank the small team of people who feed the visiting choirs, count and bank the money and provide cover for the clergy when required. Our caretaker, Mr Fred Deane is a great help in this regard, and is a very willing assistant to Black Santa! I am also grateful to the school choirs who joined us every day. They were just great and added a real festive feel to Dawson Street with their Christmas music,” the vicar stated.
The Black Santa sit out is modeled on a similar appeal, which has been run by successive Deans of St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for many years. It became known as the Black Santa appeal because of the long heavy black cloaks worn by the clergy to keep out the cold.
Photo caption: Archbishop Michael Jackson, Lord Mayor Oisin Quinn and Revd David Gillespie with the choir of Kildare Place School at the launch of Black Santa 2013.