Ireland

In 1830 our congregation opened its first school in Gardiner Street, Dublin. Since then, we have continued to be involved in Education in many ways.  Our Education Ministry is varied and multifaceted.  We work with adults, refugees and asylum seekers, special needs students, and primary and secondary school pupils.

St. Agnes' Community Centre

In the area of education, a number of our sisters have been involved with new initiatives. In Crumlin, Dublin, one of our sisters has pioneered the way forward with the founding of St. Agnes’ Community Centre for Music and the Arts (CCMA), a Centre of excellence for the promotion of cultural equality, inclusivity and well-being through Music and the Arts for all people irrespective of age. www.stagnesccma.ie

The Haven Adult Education Centre

The Haven Adult Education Centre is another initiative and was formally opened in 2008. This is based in the heart of Dublin’s south inner city, Basin Lane, providing opportunities for people to improve their situation educationally, socially and personally. www.thehavenbasinlane.ie

Young Social Innovators

‘The Young Social Innovators’ programme was founded in 2002 - to provide social innovation education that empowers young people to take action on social issues Through engagement in YSI and, through our research and advocacy, young people are given a voice and agency on the issues that matter to them.

www.youngsocialinnovators.ie

Since caring for Cholera victims in 1832, we have been dedicated to providing the best possible health care, in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and in the homes of the sick.

Our mission is to bring the healing love of Christ to all persons whom we meet. The core values of our Health Service are:

• Human Dignity
• Compassion
• Justice
• Quality
• Advocacy

In the absence of any provision by the state or the voluntary sector for information, advice and legal aid for immigrants, the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI)was created in 2002. under the auspices of Social Innovations Ireland, which was established by one of our sisters and with the support of the Sisters of Charity. ICI assists all immigrants, documented and undocumented.

In Ireland, the number of asylum-seekers has grown rapidly in recent years. In response to their needs, a number of sisters in pastoral ministries are now working in this area. Sisters work to integrate asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants in the local area. Part of their work is welcoming people to local parishes and liaising with schools on integrating pupils and their families.

Sisters continue to work in collaboration with others such as APT (Association for Prevention of Trafficking), ICI (Immigrant Council of Ireland), RENATE (Religious of Europe Networking against Trafficking and Exploitation) to further this work.

Sisters are involved in counselling and therapy in the Oasis Centre and the Haven.

The Oasis Counselling Centre provides counselling in the areas of suicide, addiction, bereavement, abuse, homelessness, separation and marriage. Clients include people who need counselling and support, ex-prisoners, immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and homeless people. Oasis Counselling Centre offers people on low incomes low-cost or no-cost counselling to those who avail of the services.

Oasis Counselling Centre was established in 1996, to offer an “Oasis” to the North Inner City and beyond.  It provides counselling to individuals, couples, and groups facing issues of a personal or professional nature.  Oasis offers a safe and supportive place where difficulties can be discussed and worked through in confidence. Deora counselling is also offered. This is a specialised counselling and crisis intervention service working with suicide, addiction and bereavement.

For further information: www.oasiscentre.ie

Homelessness affects all of us and it is an evolving social issue. Sisters are involved both directly with the homeless and indirectly through their various ministries.

Focus Ireland is a national organisation working with and for homeless people in Ireland. It was established by one of our sisters in Dublin in 1985. It is now the largest national voluntary body working with homeless people in Ireland.

Further information: www.focusireland.ie

One of the first works of our congregation was visiting prisoners in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin. To this day, prison ministry continues and the work involves promoting the human rights of prisoners, caring for the families of prisoners, counselling for prisoners leaving prison, and after-care of ex-prisoners.

Mary Aikenhead Day Centre

Through our day Centres, the Mary Aikenhead Day Centre in Donnybrook and the Walkinstown Social Services Centre we minister to elderly people.

The Centre, in Donnybrook, works in co-operation with statutory and other voluntary agencies and includes lay colleagues working alongside Sisters of Charity and many volunteers. It is open five days a week. It aims to foster the well-being of older persons in body, mind, emotions and spirit and to enhance the quality of their lives; to provide a service that fosters the core values of dignity, compassion, justice and respect; and to support the family and carers of the older person.

Meals-on-wheels are organised from the Centre and are delivered daily, including Christmas Eve, to elderly people living in the surrounding areas.

Volunteers are greatly valued in this Centre, which depends almost completely on their services, and some who have helped for years are now benefiting themselves from the services in their later years.

Walkinstown Social Services Centre

The main aim of the Walkinstown Social Services Centre is to provide a service for the senior citizens of the area. Staff and volunteers work with the support of the sisters to operate the Services. Meals are cooked and served on the premises. Transport is provided for those who need it. Entertainment and outings are organised and an annual holiday is arranged for those who wish.

Both Services are invaluable to those who are able to attend them.  In recent times the people being referred to the Centres are much frailer and a lot older.

For further information visit Walkinstown Social Services Centre on Google or Facebook.

We have significant involvement in a variety of ways in this area. This ministry covers a broad range of activities which include:

• Spiritual direction/faith sharing
• Evangelisation of young people
• Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life
• Bereavement assistance and funeral support
• Prayer groups
• Mindfulness sessions
• Reflection days
• Icon retreats
• Vocation/formation
• Weeks of guided prayer
• Neighbourhood and parish retreats
• Sacramental preparation

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is a meditation centre for social change in the heart of Dublin City. It is situated on what was originally part of the site that housed the first novitiate of the Religious Sisters of Charity in 1819. It is an oasis of beauty and tranquillity fostering and nurturing stillness in contemporary life. The sanctuary was founded in 1998 and is open to everyone seeking and searching for meaning in life.

The Sanctuary is a not-for-profit Centre that nourishes personal growth, through creativity, meditation, community and spirituality; allowing for positive social impact. The Centre provides workshops and resources in mindfulness, yoga, contemplative and artistic practices, working with individuals and communities to promote a more compassionate, kind and just society.

For further information visit: sanctuary.ie

We are committed to caring for the earth, realising that the health and survival of our common home is at risk.  As well as doing everything possible in this regard at a personal and community level, we are engaged, among other things, in awareness-raising re care of the earth options; in creating spaces for biodiversity; in being pro-active online by lobbying our politicians re destructive practices such as plastic use.