Bishop Paul Colton’s 2023 Christmas Appeal for the ‘Bishop of Cork Pastoral Care Fund’, which was set up by the Bishop during the Coronavirus Pandemic, raised €23,000 in recent weeks in Cork, Cloyne and Ross. ’I have already started distributing some of these funds in accordance with the objects of the charity’ said Bishop Colton ‘ and, of course, the balance will be used to support people in need in the year ahead.
Some of the money goes, on behalf of the Church of Ireland in Cork, Cloyne and Ross, to partner charities such as Cork Simon, Threshold, St Vincent de Paul, and Cork Penny Dinners. Most of the money is distributed to help people who cannot afford essentials: such as food, emergency accommodation, some medical costs, as well as bereavement and mental health supports. More is used to support young people in educational initiatives and projects, older people in need, or projects in the community where there are no other accessible sources of support or funding. Once again, funds were allocated in the past year to assist people who had immediate financial needs as a result of the worse than ever floods in East Cork.
Bishop Colton felt moved to establish this new local charity, while out and about in County Cork in the immediate aftermath of the extensive floods of 2014 in the region. Bishop Colton explains:
‘There and then some people needed help and cash, to get them through that very weekend and the days ahead of them. They couldn’t wait for help from other generous charities and government aid, all of which took time to process. And so the idea of a new charity was born to help people in Cork City and County, whatever their background, in the name of the Church of Ireland locally. It’s about one of the Five Marks of Mission in the Anglican Communion which is “To respond to human need by loving service.”
‘ Naturally I want to say a huge “thank you” to everyone - individuals, parishes and community groups – who, not only donated in 2021 to set the charity up, but who continue to support it, including in the recent appeal.’
Bishop Colton set up the charity in 2020 (Registered Charity Number 20205892), the first year of the Coronavirus Pandemic with these broad objects:
- the relief of poverty or economic hardship
- the advancement of education
- the advancement of community welfare including the relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, or disability
- the advancement of religion with a special focus on the promotion of religious or racial harmony and harmonious community relations.
More information about the ‘Bishop of Cork Pastoral Care Fund’ may be found on the Diocesan website HERE
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