The Community Outreach Ministries include:
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Fr. William Stuart – Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
- SAAS – Sponsor an African Scholar
Scroll down to see further details on each ministry.
- Social Hobby and Craft Group
- Soup and Sandwiches
- Cemetery Care Groups
- The Legion of Mary
- Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart (PTAA)
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the largest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland.
There are two Conferences (branches) in the Pastoral Area, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Conference, Greystones, and St. Patrick’s Conference, Kilquade.
The focus is on practical and non-judgmental person-to-person contact. At local level the Conferences support those in need with food vouchers, outstanding utility bills, heating fuel, other emergency expenses, educational expenses, rent pressure, advice and a listening ear.
The Conferences are funded by donations from the community.
The phone number to contact either of the St. Vincent de Paul Conferences is 01 855 0022.
Fr. William Stuart - Syrian Refugees in Lebanon - Suspended
Fr. William Stuart is a priest supporting Syrian refugee children in camps in Lebanon. To date they have enrolled up to 120 children from the camps in their educational facility.
The Pastoral Area supports this project through prayer and fundraising.
SAAS - Support an African Scholar
Sponsor an African Scholar (SAAS) is an Irish charity that provides sustainable solutions to communities in Kenya.
SAAS was founded in early 2006 in response to the exploitation experienced by young people and their families who live in extreme poverty.
The Pastoral Area of Greystones and Kilquade support mission work in Kenya through SAAS.
The Pastoral Area supports this project through prayer and fundraising.
Further information about SAAS here.
Social Hobby and Craft Group - Suspended
The Social Hobby and Craft Group come together to offer a social outlet to people in the community. The group meets monthly to share their crafting skills and talents with each other.
As well as learning a new craft or sharing your skills you can have a cup of tea and a chat.
It is open to anyone to drop in and take part or just to see what is going on and have a chat.
Soup and Sandwiches
A group of people in Greystones Parish come together to offer a social outlet to people in the community – a place where you would feel comfortable to come on your own or in a group. You can enjoy a chat while having a delicious lunch of homemade soups, sandwiches, cakes and tea or coffee.
Generally, a donation is requested, and monies raised are given to local charities. The Soup and Sandwiches lunch is usually once a month on the 4th Wednesday of the month. All ages welcome.
There are also Soup and Sandwiches lunches once a month at The Presbyterian Centre and St. Patrick’s (Church of Ireland) Centre on alternate weeks.
One could call it an Ecumenical event!
Cemetery Care Groups
The Cemeteries in the Pastoral Area of Greystones and Kilquade are owned by Wicklow County Council and are multi-denominational.
Cemeteries are sacred, reverent, and prayerful places.
The Redford Cemetery Action Committee (Greystones), and Gardening Angels (Kilquade and Kilmurry) are volunteer groups that work to honour all those buried in the cemeteries. They help to improve and enhance the appearance of the cemeteries.
The groups help with the Annual Mass and Blessing of the Graves services that are held in the cemeteries.
The Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary is part of a world-wide lay apostolate. The groups meet regularly to pray and say the rosary. Their works are varied and include visiting the elderly and housebound and patients in hospital. They are in the main a lay evangelisation group.
Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart (PTAA)
PTAA members seek to address alcohol-related problems in society, mainly through prayer, self-denial, and the promotion of positive lifestyles.
The primary aim of the Association is the promotion of temperance and sobriety. Pioneers work towards achieving these aims through faith and prayer: self-denial; setting beneficial examples to others; and presenting alternatives to the drinking scene particularly to the young.
The PTAA is underpinned by devotion to the Sacred Heart, and its emblem reflects this.