Diocesan News
Discovery Gospel Choir to launch ‘Mind Yourself’ diocesan project
Meath and Kildare are launching a new community project to raise awareness of mental health issues.
One of the key issues affecting people today is their mental health – there is not a family in Ireland that does not have someone who struggles with mental health issues.The project aims to raise awareness of mental health issues, point people to where they can find support and help, and do some fundraising for Aware, one of the national mental health charities.
Project launch – with Discovery Gospel Choir
On Sunday 7th April, at 6.30pm, a launch will take place in Kildare Cathedral, with the Discovery Gospel Choir.
A staff member of Aware, a national charity focusing on mental health issues, will also speak at the event.
This will be a ‘pay at the door’ event only as it was too complicated to issue tickets all around the dioceses – so it will be a ‘first come first served’ event. The cathedral holds about 300 people at its full capacity and it would be wonderful to see it packed out. The Discovery Gospel choir will be performing at the event and they are a joy to see. You will not be disappointed! Any funds raised at the event will go to support the work of Aware.
Aware will be one of the partners in this venture, as will Bishops’ Appeal, which will focus on mental health issues affecting refugees and those in our Direct Provision centres.
Diocesan Healing Service
One of the other partners is the Church’s Ministry of Healing. There will also be a diocesan healing service on 9th June, in Trim Cathedral. at 6.30pm; this will be run by the Church’s Ministry of Healing. At the service there will be an opportunity to receive prayer, either for yourself or those you love.
Rural Deanery Walks
We will also be encouraging rural deaneries to hold walks in the Summer to get people out and about in the fresh air together!
This project is not primarily about fundraising. A number of events are planned through the year, focusing mainly on raising awareness of mental health issues around the dioceses, and signposting people to groups that will be able to help.
We are very grateful for our partners in this project – Aware, Church’s Ministry of Healing and Bishops’ Appeal. We also greatly appreciate the small steering group who are helping to make the project happen: the Rev William Steacy, the Rev Katharine Poulton, Mark Johnston, Iva Beranek, Carol Casey, and Lydia Monds.
We hope that you will support this project. It can be a very painful thing to experience mental health challenges.
Please put the launch of the project and the Healing Service in your diaries, and do plan to come and be a part of this new venture.
Diocesan Communications Officer, Meath & Kildare
089 426 4652
The Revd Earl Storey
[email protected]