A Christmas fast by a priest of Wexford parish and his Church of
Ireland counterpart has raised €36,000 in just four days, with more
donations still coming in.The administrator of Wexford cathedral, Fr Jim Fegan carried out his 14th Christmas fast this year with Rev. Arthur Minions, who was a first-timer, outside St Iberius Church in Wexford town in the four days up until Christmas Eve.
Fr Fegan told The Irish Catholic the generosity of the Wexford people was “amazing” and that he was particularly heartened by the number of young people who dug into their own pockets to donate money to the collection.
“We got a real sense that although times are bad, people are conscious that it is worse for others and they want to contribute and look beyond themselves to the bigger picture,” he said.
Fr Fegan said the bulk of this year’s donations will go to the St Vincent de Paul, “who are under huge pressure at the moment” and four or five local charities such as the Wexford Women’s refuge and Oznam House.
The tradition of the combined fast dates back to 1998, when Fr Fegan joined Rev. Norman Ruddock for his annual Christmas fast as a sign of ecumenical solidarity in advance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Over the last 14 years the initiative has raised over €500,000 for various charities in the area.