Belfast Cathedral’s Barrel of Hope is once more to be
used to raise funds for the victims of a tsunami and earthquake, the
Dean of St Anne’s Cathedral announced this past Monday morning.
Very Rev Dr Houston McKelvey said, “What we have watched on TV news
reports shows a scale of devastation none of us alive today have even
seen before. The consequences for life, livelihood and the people
affected in Japan and elsewhere, are so immense that any comment seems
most inadequate. Despite having visited Sri Lanka after the Boxing Day
tsunami, and been deeply affected by what I saw there, what has happened
in Japan is on a much, much greater scale."
“We have placed a Barrel of Hope for Japan just inside the door of
the Cathedral, to give the good people of our community an opportunity
to reach out to help our fellow citizens in our global village. This
community has done so before after the Boxing Day tsunami, and after the
earthquake in Haiti and I appeal to them that they will do so once
more."
“We hope to be able to send a first donation of several thousand pounds later this week. We have been monitoring developments through our church and
humanitarian relief contacts in the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office
and at Christian Aid. I was delighted to see Shelterboxs being deployed in Japan. These
were provided by Rotary International whose effort was recognised in our
first Spire of Hope Awards at our Good Samaritans’ Service last month.”
The Barrel of Hope for Japan will be available in the Cathedral from
10.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays at services.
Please make cheques payable to “Belfast Cathedral Sitout”.
Donations may
be sent to Hope for Japan, Belfast Cathedral, Donegall Street, BT1 2HB.
Gift Aid envelopes are available at the Barrel.