Two County Wexford based clergy who completed a four-day fast for
charity on Christmas Eve are hoping that when all the collections are
counted, their efforts will raise close to €40,000 for the local Society
of Saint Vincent De Paul.
The fundraiser was undertaken by Wexford parish administrator Fr Jim
Fegan and Rev Marie Jansson from the local Church of Ireland
community.
From Tuesday December 21, both clergy stationed themselves outside
Saint Iberius Church on Wexford's Main Street for nine hours each day,
from 8:00am to 5:00pm until Christmas Eve and maintained a fast for four
full days.
Fr Fegan said that due to the economic downturn, tough financial
demands been placed on the Saint Vincent De Paul this year, tougher than
ever.
“The people of Wexford have always been very generous to this cause and their generosity has showed up again this year.”
He added, “These are tight times for everybody, but there are people
worse off than we are and whatever little we can give will make
Christmas a happier one.”
Fr Fegan also confirmed that people asked both himself and Rev
Jansson if they would consider postponing their fast until the cold snap
has passed but he said that they, “did not even consider this course of
action as people are more focused on giving just prior to Christmas
than after it.”
SIC: CIN/IE