Role of the Clergy

The continuing effectiveness and success of Trocaire’s annual Lenten Campaign is due to a number of factors.

There is a growing awareness and understanding of the nature of the problems that affect so many millions of people in the developing world and their root causes. This growing understanding is reflected in the level of financial support coming from the public.

The level of interest and commitment of teachers shows in the the imaginative and effective ways in which they use our education resources. The parish counters are our own “unsung heroes”, who diligently process the Trocaire boxes and facilitate the Gift Aid scheme. Many volunteers help the campaign in so many ways.

But the most crucial element in the continuing success of the Lenten campaign is, without doubt, the priests in the parishes. It is they who see to the distribution of the boxes and the use of publicity materials and all the other logistics and mechanics of the Campaign. Above all, it is they who convey the justice message to their people; who inspire, encourage and motivate.

The debt owed to our priests, which has been accumulating for over 30 years, is incalculable.