www.veritas.ieCURA cares SHARING THE GOOD NEWS Crisis pregnancy Monthly newsletter for Dioceses and Parishes Issue 5 - March 2014 support service Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference Columba Centre, Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co Kildare 1850 622 626

Theme of Trócaire’s Lenten Campaign 2014 - ‘Water’ NEWS SNIPPETS

This year‟s Trócaire Lenten campaign is Please pray for about the global water crisis. There are the Holy Father‟s 1.1 billion people in our world who are prayer intentions living without access to a reliable source for March as we of water. Nine year old Enestina Muyeye celebrate the first (pictured), the young girl featured on anniversary of his election on this year‟s Trócaire box, comes from a 13 March. Click QR code for small rural community in Dedza, central text of prayer intentions. Malawi. Enestina‟s community has relied Lent begins on Ash for years on a contaminated river for Wednesday 5 March. The drinking water, washing and irrigation. Pope‟s message for Lent 2014 Trócaire, working in partnership with the in Malawi, has is available on vatican.va on recently installed a drinking water pump and is working to support people in the theme: „He became poor, this strong and vibrant community as they strive to improve their lives. Across so that by his poverty you the developing world Trócaire is addressing the serious impact of water scarcity might become rich.‟ (cf. 2 Cor by helping people to access safe water for drinking, sanitation and irrigation. 8:9)‟. This work is made possible through the generous support of parishes across Ireland, which is greatly appreciated. To find out more about Trócaire's Lenten Bishop Donal McKeown, campaign visit trocaire.org/lent. Please bring home a Trócaire box this Lent. of Down and Connor has been appointed as the new . Migration conference papers and Increased demand for ACCORD audio of speeches now available Fr Shane Crombie New figures for the of Meath offers a The Irish Catholic year 2013, released short reflection on Bishops‟ Councils by ACCORD preaching. Click the QR code to view for Immigrants Catholic Marriage the video. and Emigrants Care Service, indicate an increase in jointly hosted a demand for its two key services. Friday Penance during Lent: (i) Make a special effort at conference last month entitled During 2011 and 2012, there was a family prayer (ii) Make the „Journeying Together: Challenges modest increase in demand for Stations of the Facing the Migrant Today‟. ACCORD marriage preparation Cross (iii) Do delivered the keynote courses, however during 2013 something to address saying: “The Church must be a demand increased significantly by help the poor, sick or lonely space where real human concern 7.2% with over 7,600 couples taking (iv) Make a special effort to reaches out from our hearts to the part. Demand from individuals and avail of the Sacrament of migrant or the refugee as a brother and couples for ACCORD‟s marriage and Reconciliation (v) Abstain sister and embraces the migrant relationship counselling service from meat or some other really with that “Caritas Christi” which continues to rise. ACCORD food. is the mark of the Christian life.” Full counsellors delivered a total of Produced by the Catholic text and audio on catholicbishops.ie. 50,952 counselling hours in 2013, an Communications Office. increase on 2012. See accord.ie. For further information Produced by the Catholic Communications Office of the and contact details see ’ Tweet of the Month: The Sacraments, www.catholicbishops.ie Irish Catholic Bishops‟ Conference especially Confession and the Eucharist, are privileged places Also on Facebook, Twitter, of encountering Christ. Follow Pope Francis @Pontifex YouTube and Audioboo.