16.12.2016
Black Santa 2016 Launched – Shoppers Urged to Brave Luas Works to Support Appeal
The 2016 Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin, was launched this afternoon (Friday September 16) by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson and the Deputy Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Rebecca Moynihan. They were joined by the Choir of Kildare Place National School who provided festive songs for the occasion.
The appeal is going ahead this year despite the adversity of the ongoing Luas Cross City works right outside the front of the church. The Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie, thanked Luas for accommodating Black Santa, which raises in the region of €40,000 each year for good causes. He also urged people to make the extra effort to traverse the construction works to reach the Black Santa collection buckets.
“I’d like to thank Luas Cross City for their help in ensuring that the Black Santa Sit Out can proceed this year,” Canon Gillespie stated. But he appealed to people in the city centre: “Footfall on Dawson Street is definitely reduced so please don’t be deterred by the barriers. We are hemmed in but please make the extra effort to get to us. It’s not ideal. We are working in a building site but you can get to us.”
“This is a very difficult time for charities. All the charities supported by Black Santa do invaluable work and we can assure those donating that every cent given to the appeal is divided among the charities. We do not take any administration charges and all our collectors are volunteers. The choirs which join us every lunchtime provide their festive cheer free of charge,” he added.
The annual sit out will continue right up until Christmas Eve. Canon Gillespie, joined by clerical colleagues from around the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and teams of volunteers, will remain outside the city centre church from 10.00 am until 6.00 pm each day collecting money for a number of charities.
This year they will be joined by a huge number of choirs who will sing festive songs and carols each lunchtime. These include Castleknock National School, St James Primary School, Francis Street CBS, St Stephens Church Choir, Catholic University School, Taney Parish Junior School, Alexandra College, Kildare Place National School, Cornucopia Brass Group, Irish Life Choir, Revenue Choir, AIB Choral Society, Permanent TSB Staff Choir, John Scottus School, Loretto College, Seafield Singers, Dublin Male Voice Choir, the Line Up Choir, Steadfast Band and the Brook Singers
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 16th year that the appeal has been held in Dublin and in that time well over €500,000 has been raised for local good causes.
Among the charities to benefit from the appeal are 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.
The funds will be distributed at a special service in St Ann’s on Sunday February 12 at which the preacher will be the Dean of Belfast, the Very Revd John Mann.
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 time aside and help is very gratifying indeed.”
Photo captions:
Top – Archbishop Michael Jackson, Cllr Rebecca Moynihan and Canon David Gillespie with the choir of Kildare Place National School at the launch of Black Santa 2016 at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street.
Bottom – People in the city centre are being urged to make the extra effort to support the Black Santa Sit Out this year as they are hemmed in by Luas works.