2009 Mission Fund dinner

Date:05 Mar 2009
Category:Social

Mission Fund raise E18,000 at 2nd Dinner/Auction.

The 2nd Dinner and Auction was held on 6th February in the Law Society Presidents Room and much needed Funds for the Spiritan Priests, working in some of the poorest areas of the Third World,was raised.
Despite the Economic downturn affecting all of us, including a reduction in the numbers attending, a sum of E18,000 was still
raised on the night, due to the generosity of many Past Pupils of Blackrock College.

Heartfelt thanks for their support are due to all those who contributed by attending,with their Partners, and by donating
Auction and Raffle prizes, and also to those who were unable to attend, but sent money contributions.
In total over 100 attended on the night in a convivial and relaxed atmosphere. Special Guests included Fr. Brian Starken,
Provincial Superior of the Spiritans, Fr. Cormac O'Brolchain and Fr. Tom Nash, representing the Blackrock College, Fr.
Hugh de Blacam, home on leave from Brazil and Eugene Harrington and his wife Tina, President of the Union.
President Eugene, who has worked very closely with the Mission Fund for a number of years, spoke about the work
of the Mission Fund and the tradition of Past Pupils supporting the Spiritan Missions.He also spoke of this years
featured Mission Project, supporting Fr. Pat Clarke's "Art and Conflict" Programme in the Favela(Shanty) areas of
Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Mission Fund has commited to support Fr. Pat with E45,000 over the next 3 years.
A small Committee worked hard over the preceding year to put this Event together and a big "Thank You" is due to
David Coen, Tom Walsh, Pete Maguire and Anthony McLaughlin for their dedicated efforts.

Thanks are also due to David Harvey, excellent MC on the night, to Patrick Dowling, Union Photographer, for his support
and to Philip Sherry for his advice on Silent Auctions.
The money raised at this years Dinner/Auction will be sent out to needy Spiritan Missionary Projects in the near future.
Already this year Projects have been undertaken in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Sierra Leone,Brazil and Bolivia. Some of
these Projects involve the production of the basic needs of Food for starving parishioners of the Spiritan Priests.
Anybody who might wish to contribute to the work of the Mission Fund should contact either Tony Amoroso or
David Coen at the contact numbers listed below.

Tony Amoroso,
Chairman, Union Mission Fund
086.2568052
tonyamoroso46@yahoo.ie

David Coen - 086.2585155
coener@eircom.net
086.2568052