Bishops Bless S.H.A.R.E. Crib in Cork

The 53rd year of the S.H.A.R.E. Cork collection was inaugurated on Wednesday, 14th December by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Forde, and with the annual blessing of the S.H.A.R.E. Crib on St Patrick’s Street, Cork by the two bishops: Dr Paul Colton and Dr Fintan Gavin.

Almost all of Cork’s 5th Year Students will take part at some stage in this year’s S.H.A.R.E. collection in aid of older people. The collection continues throughout the streets of the city until Christmas Eve, with many of the 5th year students fasting during that time also.

Leah Braham Regina Mundi College, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, Cllr Deirdre Forde The Lord Mayor of Cork, Bishop Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross and Daniel Prestwich Chair Share Executive at the lighting and blessing of Cork’s Iconic SHARE Crib. Photography by Gerard McCarthy

S.HA.R.E., which stands for Students Harness Aid for the Relief of the Elderly, was founded in Cork in 1970. This year’s Chairperson of the S.H.A.R.E. Executive, Daniel Prestwich, welcoming everyone, told how driving with his mother earlier in the day she said to him that ‘Christmas starts in Cork when the yellow jackets of S.H.A.R.E. appear on the streets.’

S.H.A.R.E. has 140 housing units for older people throughout Cork City and also a wide range of support services for older people, and it is noted for the inter-generational nature of its work between young and old of the schools in the City.