Annual Dublin parishes Christmas appeal takes place this weekend

Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has appealed for people in the archdiocese to donate shampoo, hygiene products, soups, tinned meats, seasonal biscuits and cleaning products this weekend to help families struggling to make ends meet this Christmas.

This year's annual parish food appeal in Dublin takes place on Saturday and Sunday and people are asked to donate to Crosscare foodbanks at Brackenstown, Darndale, Glasnevin, Blanchardstown, Dundrum, Jobstown, and Dún Laoghaire.

Crosscare is the Dublin Catholic archdiocese’s social care agency. It helps many struggling individuals and families throughout the archdiocese. The food banks provide such support with essential food and household items.

Needy families

This year collections will be held over this weekend, only, to allow for the distribution of hampers to hundreds of families in good time for Christmas.

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The items listed above have been identified as those most needed by such families at this time of year. Parishes have also been asked to consider delivering items collected directly to their nearest Crosscare foodbank.

Further information from the Food Bank Team at 01-8603166.

On Sunday Archbishop Martin will celebrate the A Little Life Foundation annual Christmas service of Remembrance at 7pm in the St Nicholas of Myra Church on Dublin's Francis St for the approximately 500 babies who die around the time of birth in Ireland each year. Such deaths leave a large number of bereaved parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and family friends.

Bereaved parents

Up to 15 years ago parents and others who experienced the death of a baby were given no recognition or acknowledgment but in recent years there has been a much better recognition of such tragedy.

The A Little Lifetime Foundation (www.alittlelifetime.ie) is a voluntary organisation founded in 1983 by a group of bereaved parents whose babies died before or at birth (stillbirth) or some time after birth (neonatal death).

Sunday’s Mass will remember in a special way all who are facing their first Christmas with such grief. The Garda Male Voice Choir will take part.