15.12.2014
Archbishop and Lord Mayor to Launch Black Santa 2014 on Wednesday
Charities working with homeless people will benefit from this year’s Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street. The 2014 Christmas appeal will be launched on Wednesday December 17, at 2.00 pm by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke.
The annual sit out will continue right up until Christmas Eve. The Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie, joined by clerical colleagues from around the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough, will remain outside the city centre church from 10.00 am until 6.00 pm each day collecting money for a number of charities.
They will be joined by different choirs each lunchtime including the choirs of Castleknock NS, St James’ PS, Francis Street CBS, CUS, The Seafield Singers, the Brook Singers, Dublin Male Voice Choir, the Line Up Choir, Taney Parish Junior Choir, Kildare Place National School, Loreto College, John Scottus School, the Revenue Choir, Dublin Male Voice Choir and the Steadfast Band.
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. This is the 14th year that the appeal has been held in Dublin and in that time almost €400,000 has been raised for local good causes.
Last year just under €30,000 was distributed to local charities, among them Trust, The Salvation Army, The Simon Community and the Peter McVerry Trust all of which work with the homeless.
Other charities supported include Protestant Aid, Barnardos, St Vincent De Paul, the Laura Lynn Foundation and Solas Project.
Commenting on the appeal, Canon Gillespie said: “I have no doubt that Dubliners will respond with their usual generosity to our annual appeal. Many people collect for us all year round and will make their annual pilgrimage to the steps of St Ann’s Church to donate knowing that every cent that we collect is handed over to the charity.
“This year, of course, the plight of the homeless has been brought to our attention in a very acute way as the result of particularly sad circumstances. In past years, a significant amount of money is handed over to charities working specifically with the homeless and this will be no different this year.”
The Vicar thanked those in St Ann’s who will help organise what is a massive undertaking in terms of extending hospitality to the choirs who will sing outside the church.
“There is a small but very faithful team of people working behind the scenes in St Ann’s preparing food, counting money, and liaising with the many choirs who participate and to them I want to express my sincere thanks. We are all busy at this time of the year and the fact that parishioners from St Ann’s are willing to set that aside and help is very gratifying indeed.”
The money raised by the appeal will be distributed at a special service in St Ann’s in the New Year.
Canon Gillespie was interviewed about Black Santa on Sunday Spirit on RTE Radio One Extra. The interview is available to listen to at this link: