Letters of thanks to Nenagh World Aid Society

The following are excerpts from some of the letters of thanks to Nenagh World Aid Society and to the people of Nenagh from recipient charities overseas. Nenagh World Aid Society will hold its annual collection on Saturday and Sunday, June 22nd and 23rd.

BOSNIA
St Luke's Home Care, Medjugorje

No matter what they say about global warming, it will still be well below freezing in Russia, Kazakhstan, and all those places when the winter comes. Bosnia gets its share of bitterly cold nights, well below freezing. But Medjugorje are used to it and even Jane knows how to cope. On the bright side, I think they got sunny days to lessen the pain.
The Lord blesses through you all through the work that St Luke's continues to accomplish. Prayers and good wishes from all our patients and from St Luke's home care team.

Kevin Whitehead and Jane Dowd

GREECE

Our daughter Alison Sheary is at present on the Greek island of Samos. There are over 4,000 refugees from various countries in a camp meant to hold 600. She will be teaching children the basics of the English language, and also needs to purchase materials such as paper, notebooks, writing materials, etc.
€400 was subsequently given by Nenagh World Aid.

Tony and Mary Sheary, Nenagh

KENYA
My sincere thanks to you and the members of your organisation for your generous donation of €400. I know you work hard to get the donations and I assure you it will be greatly appreciated by the needy ladies in Kenya. Blessings on your work,
Angela Hartigan.

PHILIPPINES

Thank you for your generous gift of €400, which we will be happy to forward to Fr Shay Cullen in the Philippines. Someone said of the Columbans that we have a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This month the wrong place seems to be Pakistan. I am based in an apartment in a Muslim community in Hyderabad city for the coming year. We will be focussing on environmental protection, seeing that the issues of unclean water, pollution, constantly increasing temperatures and salination of land are reaching critical levels.
We work on these issues from an inter-faith perspective, involving Christians, Hindus and Muslims working together on such issues of common concern. Be assured that you and your loved ones will continue to be remembered in the prayers of our community.

Evelyn Maguire, Columban Missions, Dalgan Park

BRAZIL
With regard to the donation to Sister Celine Conway's Brazil mission fund, I wish to acknowledge with thanks a cheque for €400. Please convey sincere thanks to Nenagh World Aid Society for their very generous donation. I can assure you that the money will be put to very good use by Sr Celine.

Sr Mary Monica Smalle, Sisters of Mercy, Loreto House, Blackrock, Dublin

INDIA
I wish to thank you and your Society for the generous donation. I appreciate it so much and I hope I will be able to help and offer support to the group I will be meeting to do my charity work. Hopefully I may be able to show your Society some photos of the group and work carried out on my return.

Hannah Mai Coffey

AFRICA
Many thanks for your kind donation to the Edmund Rice Development. As requested, your donation will be allocated to the work of the Christian Brothers in Africa. This fund was founded in October 2008 to support work in the developing world, working for the liberation of people and communities from poverty and injustice, and support these projects and to source funding in a transparent and accountable way. Since 2008 the fund has supported over 90 projects across Africa, Latin America, India and the Pacific Rim.

Abigail Carney, CC Brother John Dundon

KENYA
On behalf of our sisters in Kenya, I want to express my sincere thanks to yourself and the Society for your most generous donation of €400 for their work among the poorest of the poor in Nairobi.
Sister Brigid and one of the Kenyan sisters visit the men's prison almost on a monthly basis and hand to each of the roughly 400 detainees a bar of soap and a toilet roll. These items are not provided by the authorities and most of them don't have a visit from their families.
Sr Kathleen, among other projects, is in charge of an orphanage for about 100 boys. There, they get an opportunity of an education and for most of them there is skills training, enabling them to have a secure future.
My prayer is that the good Lord will reward you and all who support your great work.

Sister Sally Mounsey

TANZANIA
I have received your cheque for €400 from Nenagh World Aid Society as a charitable donation to the Pallotine Education and Rehabilitation Centre in Siuyu in Tanzania run by Fr Tommy Ryan. The rehabilitation centre in Singida currently caters for 60 children. As the children at the centre pay no fees, a contribution like yours is very much appreciated.

Fr John B Kelly, Provincial Bursar

BRAZIL
In 1982 the Sisters of Mercy of the Diocese of Cashel and Emly founded a mission in the periphery of the city of Campina. The Mercy Sisters continue today in Campina with Celine Conway, supported by the South central province in Ireland. The northeast of Brazil has the highest amount of illiteracy in the country. In an effort to help, a project of hope, that is education of youth and adults, was set up in 2001 by Celine. The aim of the project is to provide people with basic literacy and numeric skills, that is to provide a skill that increases employment prospects and stimulates a desire in participants to continue their formal education. The classes run from February to December, four nights a week for two hours a night. All funding for the project comes from donations from Ireland.
Brazil is a key player in world environmental issues, being home to the Amazon rain forest. In recent years, deforestation has resulted in huge ecological disaster. The accumulation of rubbish (plastic bags, bottles, cans, etc) can cause havoc. In 2001 Celine set up  Co-operative Cotramare. The co-op offers workers a fair price for their products. The workers now go from house to house collecting recyclable materials. A new crusher/bailing machine was purchased as well as uniforms and safety equipment.
Sister Gabrielle Kiernan returned to Ireland this year having spent 32 years with those on the margins of society, among God's chosen people in Brazil's northeast. Celine will continue to keep the flag of Mercy flying for those who are greatly deprived, especially in the field of education.