£5,000 DONATION FOR CHRISTIAN AID'S WORK IN BURMA
A further £5,000 was presented from last year's Cathedral Sitout to Christian Aid for its work in Burma, at a service held in the Cathedral marking the start of Christian Aid week.
The Dean, Very Rev Houston McKelvey said, “The association of this Cathedral with Christian Aid through the pre-Christmas Sitout for Charities, is unique in these islands and a very firm bond indeed between the Cathedral, the wider community and Christian Aid. It was good to welcome the Christian Aid-Ireland family to the Cathedral, and to pass on to them a further £5,000 which has been raised following last year’s Sitout .
“With the recent disaster in Burma we know this is really needed. No one can be in any doubt about the necessary demands on Christian Aid and the other relief agencies at this time.”
A marathon runner, a magician and a long distance walker took part in the service.
The Lessons were read by Karen Alexander and Yacouba Kone. Karen has just completed the London Marathon and Belfast Marathon in record times. She came third in the women’s race in Belfast and was the first placed Northrn Ireland woman , so far raising £4,500 for Christian Aid. Yacouba is Christian Aid’s Country Representative for Mali and Senegal in West Africa. He is based in Bamako, Mali.
The Prayers were led by one of the cathedral’s Canons, Rev Neil Cutcliffe who completed the 1,000 mile Cut the Carbon March for Christian Aid in Summer 2007 to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on the poorest communities of the world.
Lucy Young, Gerald Moore, and Tom Maguire led the intercessions. Lucy is currently volunteering with Christian Aid Ireland for one year as the GAP student. Gerald presenting Magical Shows as ‘Geraldo’, has single handedly raised in excess of £53,000 for Christian Aid. Tom is the Christian Aid representative in Knockbreda Parish Church, Belfast.
The preacher was the Rev Roy Cooper, President of the Methodist Church, who has just returned from Israel and Palestine where with the other Irish Church leaders, he visited Christian Aid and Trocaire projects. An Act of Dedication for Christian Aid Week collectors and volunteers was led by the Chairman of Christian Aid (Ireland), the Reverend Doctor Roger Purce.
