Before you start looking for the gift receipts to exchange unwanted presents from yesterday, why not put them to really good use, by supporting one of Dublin’s busiest charities?
Staff at St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral in Dublin are urging people not to return unwanted Christmas gifts to the shops this week – but to donate them to Crosscare who will redistribute them next year to young people living in care and the homeless.
Yesterday, hundreds of people living in homeless and emergency accommodation received gifts that were donated to the Pro following Christmas 2014.
Fr. Damien O Reilly, administrator in the Pro Cathedral, said they were delighted to be able to facilitate this incredible appeal which every year resulted in those most in need receiving some Christmas cheer – “This simple scheme allows Crosscare to give a gift to someone in their services who would not normally receive one, he said, “it is also a reminder to us all of how we can get needlessly caught up in wasteful commercialism at this time of year.” He stressed how Pope Francis has consistently preached about the need to control waste in our world – using gifts you don’t need to give to those who have little, is one small gesture of sharing that can help.
Fr. O Reilly said, that Dublin parishioners had already been extraordinarily generous to Crosscare this month with tons of food collected for the Diocesan Food Appeal.
The unwanted gifts appeal will make sure that as well as the essentials, people who are struggling with life, will get a small token of cheer each Christmas.
Unwanted presents can be brought to the crib in the Cathedral from today until January 6
More information: Father Damian O’ Reilly, Administrator, Pro Cathedral 086 2588081
