Twenty Five Years to Those in Need

In 1984 St Bride’s Third World Group was formed, as the result of a local nun, home from Ethiopia, who gave us a graphic account of the famine in that country, due to drought and aimed conflict. She was a member of the Franciscan Order, The Missionary Sisters of Africa. Through that initial contact, our group started raising funds for Third World countries. Our sole aim, indeed, is fundraising; and we accomplish this in various ways. Over the years, we have run dances, coffee mornings, race nights, fashion shows, youth discos, concerts for different age groups, jumble sales, quiz nights and the annual sponsored cycle run in Millport. In addition we issue Small Change-Big Change cans; and, thanks to Canon Ryan, we have an annual church door collection, after all Masses on Ash Wednesday. Money, which we have raised, has gone to a variety of projects: including provision of clean water supplies, construction of basic houses, help to orphans, services to the victims of Aids, provision of sewing machines; and assistance to medical workers.

We have assisted projects in the following countries:

Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Tanzania, Kenya, Nicaragua, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Peru, Egypt, Tanzania, Guatemala, El Salvador, Sudan, Zimbabwe and India. We usually have a contact in each country, so that the money we provide is sent directly to the person overseeing each project. To keep you informed, we display letters and photographs on the Notice Board at the back of the church. Over the last twenty-five years, we have provided a grand total of £117,718 to assist the variety of projects outlined. Last, but not least, we could not undertake this work without the wonderful generosity of our parishioners and friends. For this spontaneous monetary aid, we thank you very much for your continuing support.

Now, diverting from this info and stats, let your minds wander back to your early school days. Did you not, like so many Catholic pupils, bring small amounts of money to school and give it to your teacher? In Glasgow, that was called, “A Penny For The Black Babies.” Of course, that title would now be called Politically Incorrect. Nevertheless, it equated to the same generosity that is the ethos of the Third World Group’s activities. It was for the Foreign Missions involved in the same projects. It, also served another role -- that of providing education. From that education has come native clergy. And St Bride’s and other parishes in the Motherwell Diocese during the summer months have had the benefit of this reciprocal supply of priests.

Father Faustin from Tanzania did supply here on two years running. And there’s no need here to elaborate on how welcome he was, not only for his priestly offices, but the sheer joy of his personality. With the shortage, at present of students entering our seminaries, this could be the answer to more ordinations.

Joan McHugh