The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association (PTAA) is to launch a
special ten-year emblem and certificate at its ‘gathering’ conference in
September.
The new emblem, which is currently being designed, will be
given to Pioneers who have attained ten years unbroken full membership.
“We already have a silver jubilee pin and a gold jubilee pin. In
the old days when people signed up to be Pioneers they signed up for
life. There wouldn’t be as many joining now as the past, so we wanted
to recognise that they are 10 years a member,” Padraig Brady, Chief
Executive Officer, PTAA, told Catholicireland.net.
He explained that once the new 10 year emblem is launched members
can get it at head office or from their local branch. These days,
achieving ten years in the Pioneers is considered an achievement, hence
the new pin.
But so too is the pledge of the young person who promises
to remain sober and drug free until the age of 18. Years ago that young
person might go on to be a life member, but in these modern times it is a
big achievement to remain drink and drug free until 18.
The Pioneers
are seeing some of those who had that pledge now coming back as a parent
and getting involved in Pioneers with their children and teenagers.
The Pioneer International conference, where the new 10 year emblem
will be launched, coincides with The Gathering initiative and is open to
guests from around Ireland and all over the world.
“It is an international conference - there is no restrictions – the
majority of people may be from Ireland but we will have Pioneers from
abroad too,” said Padraig Brady. He explained that there are about 200
places to be filled for the September 2013 conference at All Hallows,
Dublin.
The Pioneers’ organisation is going from strength to strength
abroad and last year at the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin many people
from abroad, including one from Russia, signed up. So many of these
international members may attend the conference, although not all are of
Irish descent and as such would have little interest in The Gathering.
It has the theme “The Spirit That Sets Us Free – Overcoming
Addiction” and therefore is open to the general public and non members
who want to see what Pioneers are about.
Among the celebrants and
speakers are Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev Diarmuid Martin, Fr Tom
Layden Provinical of the Society of Jesus in Ireland and the Pioneers
Central Spiritual Director, Fr Bernard J McGuckian.
The keynote speaker
is Fr James Harbaugh from America and others who will make a
contribution are Pat Coyle and her Sister Majella who is an Addiction
Counsellor in White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre.