BELFAST
As Sion, we opened a house in Belfast in February 2003. Our home is situated in the South of the city on the Ormeau Road. At the present time we are three in community, Anne, Mary and Therese. We are members of CCJ (Council of Christians and Jews) and the interfaith forum, which makes for good contact with other denominations and faiths. We also participate where possible in other groups promoting peace and dialogue whether it be attending talks or being involved in discussions.
The L'Arche community is our neighbour and we share with them in a variety of ways.
We often celebrate big feasts and special occasions with the Dublin Community
Therese
My work in Belfast is around the themes of reconciliation, dialogue and understanding. I do this work in a variety of ways with individuals coming to terms with their own lives and its impact on others and with groups where people are trying to reach out to each other.
I work as a counsellor in Belfast with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and from different traditions. Many of these have been affected by a cancer diagnosis. My work regularly involves delivering training and giving talks. I am treasurer of the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) in Belfast. Among other things this involves applying for funding from sources such as Belfast City Council's Good Relations Fund. I established and facilitate an ongoing conversation group that explores how our spirituality transforms our lives. We pay particular attention to how our relationship with God and our reading of the Bible affects our capacity to do justice. I organise a prayer evening in our house once a month and Anne and Mary come along to join those who attend. I am involved with an interchurch group (through Clonard) trying to promote greater understanding and respect between people from different church traditions. I am also involved in an Interfaith Forum and with an organisation called Embrace that works with asylum seekers and migrant workers.
All of this work is both interesting and rewarding. It is a· privilege to be able to live our Sion charism in this rapidly changing and challenging context.
Mary
I work with "Cruse Bereavement Care". The word "Cruse" was taken from the story of Elijah asking a widow to make a cake for him during a Famine. The widow had very little oil but she did as Elijah asked and the Cruse of Oil never dried up (1 Kings 17:8-16). I am being inducted at present into Bereavement Care in One of Belfast's Prisons for Young Offenders and Women. This mission is to the most vulnerable and isolated people in society. I am also involved in Parish Catechetics - mostly Sacramental preparation for those who do not fit into the ordinary system for some reason. I also take the Eucharist to the elderly in a local Nursing Home. I belong to a group called "Women in Faith" and we are now working on making it "Women in Faiths". We have been studying other Faiths this past term and will visit places of worship after Christmas.
Anne
I work as a counsellor for an organization called 'Staffcare' in different parts of Belfast. I am very interested in spirituality and participate in the SPRED (Special Religious Education) programme in the local parish. My ministry also involves Spiritual accompaniment and I act as a guide for the Christian Life community (whose roots lie in Ignatian Spirituality) in another parish. I am involved in Formation in the U.K./lreland Province and the formation network in the congregation internationally.
Recently I have been invited by CORI (Conference of Religious of Ireland) to be part of a group of female Religious from 9 different congregations in this diocese of Down and Connor to work as a team to promote vocations and spirituality. I enjoy networking and walking among a variety of other things.
