 Apostolic Work Lurgan (AWL) is a Branch of Apostolic Work Dromore (AWD) which in turn is a member of the Association, which is known as Apostolic Work Ireland. Apostolic Work Ireland is aggregated to the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, which has approved and confirmed its revised Prayers, Constitution and Rules.
Apostolic Work Ireland traces its roots back to October 1923 when the Irish Catholic Women’s Association was founded in St Mary’s Hall Belfast by Agnes McCauley, a Fermanagh woman, with the help of Fr Murray and a group of local women. Their aim was to work directly for the foreign missions. In 1929 the name was changed to apostolic work and in 1935 apostolic work was formerly aggregated to the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. In 1967 a National Council for Ireland was set up drawn from the Diocesan Councils which are in turn responsible for their own parish based Branches. Apostolic Work allows its Members to help follow Christ’s command to us all, “Go therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you”. Matthew 28:19. In 2005 Apostolic Work Ireland recorded: | Northern Ireland | Southern Ireland | Members | Active | 855 | 2,495 | | Honorary | 2,583 | 13,957 | | Junior | 60 | 145 | Branches | Senior | 76 | 261 | | Junior | 6 | 13 | | | | | Income | £482,961.50 | | $893,835.43 |
“If only one soul be lost through our delay. If only one missionary be unable to do his work for want of means we could supply, how grave is the responsibility”. Pope Pius XI. In 2005 Apostolic Work Ireland supplied numerous Goods and Funds, too many to mention, but which included: Religious Goods 486 Complete Mass Kits 6,377 dozen Rosaries 1,056 Chalices and Patens, 786 Pyxes 6,073 dozen Medals 661 Albs 278 Cinctures 229 Preaching & Confessional Stoles 842 Chasubles 457 Reversible Stoles
Non Church Goods Most of the Religious Vestments, Linens and the Clothing supplied were “The Work of our Hands” which is the name of our apostolic work video. Financial Support: | | Sterling £ | Euros $ | Catechists | 7,100.00 | 41,572.83 | Church Building | 25,027.00 | 53,612.00 | Community Development | 80,734.00 | 32,174.00 | Education | 44,542.00 | 74,906.00 | Medical | 118,746.00 | 46,705.00 | Sacred and Religious Goods | 18,226.00 | 139,088.75 | Seminarians and Noviciates | 10,600.00 | 0 | Mass Stipends | 22,679.00 | 13,048.00 | National Project 2005 (Catechists) | 2,000.00 | 18,552.00 |
Objects To share in the missionary apostolate of the Church by prayer, and by supplying material and financial needs in those areas where the Church is not yet rooted or fully established. Membership Membership is composed of Active and Honorary Members.
Apostolic Work Lurgan (AWL) Background
Apostolic Work Lurgan (AWL) was founded in St Anne’s Club, Convent of Mercy on Wednesday 23 May 1980 with St Mary Emmanuel McDermott as President. Meetings Apostolic Work Lurgan meets during the school year in St Therese’s in the Ozanam Centre, William Street, Lurgan. Meetings take place on Monday evenings and run from 7.30 to 10.00 pm but are very informal as Members are free to come and go as they please. These meetings are used to carry out our work for the missions, meet visitors, plan our display days etc and are very welcome for their opportunity to allow us to have a chat and a cuppa. St Therese’s is also the Centre for Meetings of Apostolic Work Dromore, which is made up of all the apostolic Work Branches in our Diocese. Membership Membership in the Senior Branch is open to all males and females both in the Lurgan parishes and beyond. If you have a talent, which you can use to help us to support our Missionaries and their work please contact us. There is no upper age limit but those wishing to join us in our work aged between 12 and 17 should contact the Branch President, as we would love to have a Junior Branch dedicated to this age group. Interested? Then don’t delay. Please give your name to any Member or contact the President. Display and Fundraising Days Display and Fundraising Days for Apostolic Work Lurgan are held every June in St Peter’s and St Paul’s Parishes. The last Saturday and Sunday in June are the Display and Fundraising Days for St Peter’s Parish. These two days are also the Display Days for Apostolic Work Dromore when you, and us, have the opportunity to met our Missionary Visitors who benefit from our many works during the year. The Display and Fundraising Days for St Paul’s Parish are held on the Saturday and Sunday, 2 weeks earlier in June. 2007 Annual Displays: Fundraising, Donations and Sponsorship Funds are raised by Apostolic Work Lurgan in a variety of ways. AWL welcomes those who want to give financial support, be it little or large and especially Bequests in Wills and Donations via the GIFT AID scheme, where we can claim back for the Inland Revenue the Income Tax that you have already paid, thus making your gift more generous, at no extra cost to you. Apostolic Work Dromore, to whom all payments should be made out to is registered with the Inland Revenue as a Charity under Inland Revenue No XR14108. Donations of Goods are welcomed where they can be used by our Missionaries. Sponsorship is also welcome by individuals, families, groups, businesses, schools, clubs etc whereby the cost of the many items that we supply to the Missions is paid in full (or in part). Prayers and Masses All our Members, living and deceased, and all our Benefactors, are remembers in the Prayers and Masses offered throughout Apostolic Work Ireland and by the Missionaries and Missions that we all support. In 2005 Apostolic Work Dromore recorded: | Apostolic Work Lurgan | Apostolic Work Dromore | Members | Active | 15 | 55 | | Honorary | 100 | 200 | | Junior | 40 | 60 | Branches | Senior | 1 | 7 | | Junior | 2 | 3 | | | | | Income | £4,250.00 | | £13,235.50 |
Our 2 Junior Branches are based in St Theresa’s Primary School and St Mary’s High School. Support Please support us in whatever way you can so that we can all continue to carry out Christ’s command to be His Missionaries to all the nations of the world: “Go therefore, make disciples of all the nations: baptise them I the name of the Father ad of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I have given you. And know that I am with you always: yes, to the end of time." Matthew: 28:19-20.
“If only one soul be lost through our delay. If only one missionary be unable to do his work for want of means we could supply, how grave is the responsibility”. Pope Pius XI. Contacts: For Apostolic Work Lurgan | For Apostolic Work Dromore | Mrs Kathleen Knox, President AWL 97 Lurgantarry Lurgan Craigavon Co Armagh BT67 9HW | Mr Cyril King, President AWD 20 Desmond Avenue Lurgan Craigavon Co Armagh BT67 9EQ | (028) 3832 6029 | (028) 3834 2631 |
Or Write to either of us at the above address or at our Ozanam Centre address in Lurgan. |
