CK12 – Downpatrick and Newcastle
Meeting venue: De La Salle House, Stream Street, Downpatrick.
On Wednesday 25th November 2009 – members of Council 12 arranged a further seminar on “Look at Life” the venue was St.Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel, Co.Down with 165 senior students in attendance. The principal said is his opening remarks that he was delighted to welcome the Knights to the school with guest speakers to address students on subjects of such great importance as they set on their various career paths. This half-day seminar was addressed by Rev Fr.Martin Graham CC from St.Malachy’s Parish in Belfast and Sister Kathleen O’Connor from Cuan Mhuire in Newry a centre providing support service for people with substance abuse problems.
Fr.Martin spoke on “Young Catholics in the World” highlighting various aspects of Faith and the importance of the youth in the Catholic Church to-day.
Sister Kathleen again highlighted the common traits of substance abuse and the major effects of addiction on the person and their entire family circle.
There was a lively question and answer session after each of the presentations.
At the conclusion of the seminar the head girl and head boy at St.Louis jointly thanked the Knights, guest speakers and all concerned in organising this important event in the school calendar.
September 2009 – saw the launch again this year of our annual Christmas Shoe Box Appeal for adults and children in Medjugorje. The joint appeal for items for adults mainly women some are war widows who live alone isolated in the mountains went out through publication in the local Church bulletin in Downpatrick as well as to members and many friends.
The special appeal for the children aged 6months to 14 years living in the orphanage at Mother’s Village was again as always well supported by parents, students and teachers from St.Colmcille’s High School Crossgar, Co.Down and by the youth and their parents at Patrician Youth Centre in Downpatrick. All shoe box parcels suitably wrapped in decorative Christmas paper and labelled were returned well in time for onward transportation by the Knights to the “Road of Hope” receiving depot in Dungiven and were delivered to Medjugorje in time for Christmas. A total of 660 boxes were collected this year with an estimated value of £16,500 sterling.
Keeping in mind that this could be the only gift some of the adults and children receive at this time of year – we thank you who supported us to help those less fortunate in our world to-day.
In 2009 the work of the members continues with plans proposed for a youth religious conference in the autumn. Publication and circulation of leaflets on Preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation to eighteen parishes in the area. We continue with our Study & Prayer sessions at each monthly meeting with members volunteering each evening to give the power point presentation.
On Wednesday 14th October, 2009 members of Council 12 Downpatrick & Newcastle area organised a "Look at Life" seminar in St.Malachy's High School Castlewellan with 220 senior students attending together with students from St.Columban's College Kilkeel. Guest speakers for this half day seminar were Rev.Fr.Martin Graham CC St.Malachy's Parish Belfast and Sister Kathleen O'Connor from Cuan Mhuire Newry a centre providing support services for persons with substance abuse problems. The proceedings opened with a Prayer by Fr.Martin and the seminar was chaired throughout by a member of the local Knights.
Fr.Martin's talk entitled "Young Catholics in the World" highlighted many aspects of our Faith especially the importance and relevance of our youth in the Church to-day and he said vocation is a calling to serve in many ways in life. He went on to encourage students to continue to Look at Life in a positive way as they set out on their various career paths.
Sister Kathleen spoke on substance abuse - the common traits of addiction and the effects of addiction on the individual and their family circle. She outlined what can be done by treatment available to those addicted to any substance her main message "ask for help there is help available"
Following both speaker's presentations there were many questions from the floor which led to a lively discussion. At the conclusion all students were given a copy of Council 12 publicity leaflet together with speaker's summary headings and a "suicide help card" with special contact telephone numbers.
The head boy at St.Malachy's High School thanked the speakers and all concerned in organising this informative event for the senior school.
Principal thanked the local Knights of St.Columbanus for their efforts in organising the "Look at Life" seminar.
Summary of written feed back from students who attended the Look at Life seminar in St.Malachy’s High School Castlewellan on Wednesday 15th October 2009.
________________________________________________________________
I thought it was very good as it addressed things that are very relevant to us and to the problems young people are facing in everyday life.
*********************
I thought to-days conference was very helpful as it helped me think a lot about the amount of alcohol I consume and to cut down on it. It also helped me think about going to Mass and Confession a bit more as Father said you are not really a true Catholic unless you attend on a regular basis.
***********************
I thought the guest speakers to-day were very inspiring and interesting to see their perspective on life and how they help people that have addictions such as alcohol and drugs. The conference taught me a lot about being a good Catholic and how to be helpful to other people.
*************************
To-day’s seminar on Look at Life really intrigued me especially Sister Kathleen O’Connor’s view on the addictions that sustain everyday life. It really opened my eyes on the effects addictions hold on you. Also I felt that Father Martin’s views on how you are called to a vocation was interesting as it shows you take the career path that your heart tells you rather than that which others say. Finally I would like to say that it was an excellent experience and opened my eyes to everyday life.
*************************
June 2009
Recently the Order of the Knights of St.Columbanus from Downpatrick and Newcastle area in Co.Down presented a cheque to the Friend's of Clare Lodge, Newcastle, in response to their appeal for financial assistance to completely re-build Clare Lodge. This popular beautifully situated holiday home provides a "holiday by the sea" where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea for many aged and lonely from all walks of life in the community giving enjoyment and companionship for a few days each year. The Friends of Clare Lodge Group have now exciting plans to completely re-build and update the facilities. In the meantime of course the holiday home will remain open and fully operational"
In 2008 the Council continued with a variety of work both locally and in aid to the missions and those in need.
Meetings:
At our monthly meetings time is always allocated on the agenda for
Study & Prayer and members continue to study the Evangelium
multimedia course on the Catholic Faith. Meetings open with Prayers of
the Order and close with the Evening Prayer of the Church in the
adjoining Oratory. Members and families attend Lenten and Advent
retreats annually. A Mass of thanksgiving is celebrated by our Chaplain
each year for members at the end of our June Council meeting. In
November a Mass is celebrated in Sacred Heart Church Dundrum Co.Down
for all deceased members of the Council and is attended by members,
families and friends of the deceased.
Pilgrimages: Member
attend the Order pilgrimage in May each year to Canon O’Neill’s grave
the Founder of the Knights at Ballyvoy and in May and July pilgrimages
to Knock Shrine and Drogheda. Each year members of Council 12 led by
Grand Knight assemble at St.Patrick’s grave in Downpatrick for an Act
of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the life and work of our National
Apostle with prayers, a Psalm, decade of the Rosary recited concluding
with the laying of a wreath.
Donations: during 2008 donations
were made to Sister Muriel for her work with the poor in Medjugorje and
we assisted groups at Christmas time who work locally to help families
in need.
The Missions: This year we donated a further two portable Mass kits to the Missions in Zambia and Kenya.
Christmas
Shoe Box: this major Council project is launched in September each
year and in 2008 we collected a large number of shoe boxes packed with
specific items to help the old and lonely adults living in the
mountains in Medjugorje and for children aged 6months to 14 years. The
project as always is very well supported by students, parents &
teachers from St.Colmcille’s High School, Crossgar, Co.Down and by the
youth and their parents from Patrician Youth Centre in Downpatrick. We
also had many donations of boxes from the general public in the
Downpatrick and district. The overall total estimated value this year
was £15,000 and we thank all who supported us to help those less
fortunate in to-day’s world. The project received excellent publicity
in Church bulletins and local papers in Downpatrick & Newcastle
area.
Council 12 can be contacted through the secretary at: Vincent@vpmservices.plus.net
|