Preaching in Clontarf on the plight of older people in Romania

The following report was published in ‘Clontarf Parish Magazine’, June/July 2005 (p 5):

Revd Patrick Comerford preached at the Eucharist on 8th May when he spoke very eloquently on the plight of older people in Romania. He will be back with us on 26th June when he will speak specifically about how we might, as a Parish Family, take this project forward. These people are in real need and deserve our support. Over the last few years we have seen many nationalities enter Ireland. Romanians have received a very bad press. This is our opportunity to counteract this negativity. We should lead the way, as Christians, in fighting any racism from within and from without. Many people who come to our land, seek refuge, as we sought as a nation in the recent and not so recent past.

It seems particularly sad to hear of people in their latter years being reduced to begging for survival. Surely we, who find ourselves in comfort and relative wealth, should seek to reach out the hand of friendship and solidarity to these sad individuals in Romania who have little or nothing. We look forward to seeing Revd Patrick Comerford among us again.