President Michael D. Higgins will open the first Action for Justice Conference in Dublin this morning (Tuesday, 28th) – organised by Dublin’s leading Catholic charity – Crosscare. The conference, which continues through out the day at All Hallows College in Dublin will also be addressed by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
Crosscare is asking those attending today, including priests, religious and lay people in the Archdiocese, to identify the key issues for the people they meet in their daily lives who are most in need of care in our current economic situation. The feedback from those working directly in parishes and in community will inform Crosscare’s priorities over the next five years.
Crosscare, is the social care agency of the Archdiocese, has worked with those most in need of support for over 70 years. They currently have 13 projects helping with homeless people, Travellers, migrants, and young people at risk from drugs and alcohol, carers, the elderly and the provision of food through the country’s only food bank.
Crosscare Director Conor Hickey said it was crucial that when times are difficult they clearly identify people who are most at risk of becoming marginalised or sliding into poverty. When resources are scarce he added, it was vitally important to identify the changing situations of families and people in Dublin and to continually respond to those most in need. “By talking to and working directly with priests, parishes and religious, Crosscare has access to the enormous wealth of experience of people who have given their lives in the service of the those in poverty”, said Mr. Hickey, “I am anxious that we listen and learn from their experience in the community and ensure their legacy of service informs our work into the future.”
Mr. Hickey said that that nongovernmental organisations like Crosscare—who receive significant state funding – had to be mindful to ensure that receipt of that funding did not lead to NGO’s being slow to speak out when the State failed its most vulnerable. He said the Call to Action at the conference in All Hallows College would help Crosscare focus on just who in Dublin needed the services and solidarity of a Catholic charity at this time.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will welcome President Higgins to the Conference which gets underway at 10am this morning. Later in the morning Dr. Ethna Regan of the schools of Theology in Mater Dei will address the topic “Faith in Action Linking Catholic Social Teaching, Practice and Policy”. Throughout the afternoon Crosscare staff will work with those attending on 10 different workshops aimed at developing the Call to Action Policy.
Throughout the day there will be “Inspirational Moments” of prayer, music and reflection at the conference. These interludes have been brought together for the day by 12 people who are the first group to study for full-time chaplaincy roles through the Mater Dei Institute of Education.
Workshop themes include emigration, homelessness, disability, exclusion as a result or race of ethnic background, alcohol abuse and addition, and those who are alone and isolated. ENDS
The Conference begins at 10.30 this morning (Tuesday 28th February) at All Hallows College, Drumcondra.
The Call to Action Conference is being organised in conjunction with the Dublin Diocesan Eucharistic Congress Preparatory Committee
Full details are available at www.crosscare.ie
