Sir, – Coming as it did following the most difficult budget that we have had to face in the past five years, perhaps the words of John The Baptist in Sunday’s Gospel might cause us to ponder on those less fortunate – sic, it is “by sharing our clothes and our food with those who have none that we can do something meaningful for our fellow man and woman”.
In our own small parish in Bulfin Road, Inchicore, the generosity of the local community, which is itself under pressure with the latest in a long series of cuts, has manifested itself in the provision of food for nearly 200 less well off households in our parish over the Christmas period and the donation of a significant amount of money, toys, and clothes to the tireless workers from St Vincent De Paul for distribution to those who have fallen on hard times.
I know of similar activities in other parts of Dublin and would hope that the same is happening all over Ireland, as we as a nation endeavour to show our true spirit of giving, that was so much a part of our national psyche in the pre-Celtic tiger years. – Yours, etc,