The parish of Greystones, Co Wicklow, has been designated the first Justice Parish in the country.
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, named the parish a Justice Parish at a ceremony in the town yesterday and unveiled the "Two Coats Initiative". The initiative, which comes as part of Justice Week, running until Saturday, is named after a passage in the Book of Luke, 3:11. which says anyone with two coats must share their second coat with their brother or sister who has none.
The strategy aims to convince parishioners to make structured, "planned giving" contributions on a regular basis to a "fighting fund" to combat poverty and support projects in the developing world.
Dr Martin said he hoped it would encourage parishioners to be more aware of poverty and injustice around the world and to make regular contributions to the "fighting fund".
There will be events in the parish through the week, including a concert by the National Children's Choir with Ronnie Drew on Wednesday evening and on Thursday evening, a performance by the Filipino PREDA Youth Theatre Group who have travelled from the Philippines with their founder, Fr Shay Cullen.
Fr Cullen's project, which gives refuge, support and counselling to children who have suffered sexual abuse, is among the projects that will benefit from the "two coats" initiative.
