Éamonn Meehan to lead international development network
Éamonn Meehan, executive director of the Irish bishops’ aid and development agency Trócaire, has been appointed president of the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity (CIDSE), the Catholic development network.
In accepting the new role, Mr Meehan pledged himself to contributing to the change the world so badly needs at this time.
“Since its foundation over 50 years ago, CIDSE has always remained true to the call to challenge global structural injustices in order to improve the lives of the world’s poorest people,” he said. “With inequality increasing, climate change rapidly advancing and war and displacement destroying the lives of millions, this challenge is even more urgent today.”
Éamonn Meehan joined Trócaire’s staff in 1991 as Programme Manager for the Southern Africa Region. He has been executive director since 2013.
CIDSE was founded was established in the wake of the Second Vatican Council to identify issues of concern to the Church and to campaign for justice at the international level. Based in Brussels, the organisation links 18 member organisations from Europe and North America.
CrosswordWinners
The winner of the Christmas Crossword for an inclusive pilgrimage for two to Lourdes in 2017 courtesy of Pilgrimages Abroad-Lauri Duffy Travel is: Connie Corry, Ballymaclune, Quin, Co. Clare. Three runners up who each win a copy of The Francis Effect DVD are: Eamonn Long, Ballygarvan, Co. Cork; Lynne Fitzsimons, Whitehall, Dublin 9; and Marie Ni Ghruagain, Cora Chaitlin, Co. An Chlair.
Meath-built church provides refuge from Myanmar violence
A church in northern Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) built by the Diocese of Meath is serving as a refuge from civil war in the region, according to Fr Pat Colgan, an Irish Columban missionary who toured the region last month.
Fr Colgan said St Patrick’s Church in Momawk is enabling refugees to be “sheltered, fed and educated in the church compound by a coalition of Catholic and local organisations, including Trócaire”.
Meath’s Bishop Michael Smith, who blessed the church in 2009, said he was following the situation with concern, and thanked the Columban Fathers and Trócaire “for the assistance they are providing in the face of this human tragedy”.
100,000 ‘trapped in underemployment’
Social Justice Ireland (SJI) has warned that current headline employment figures mark the reality that “100,000 people are trapped in underemployment”. In releasing findings from its latest quarterly Employment Monitor, SJI said: “Over 100,000 people are currently working part-time hours, but would take full-time employment if they could find it. This figure has increased by 25% since 2008 and points to a worrying employment trend in Ireland.
“Although many employment indicators are positive, hidden within headline employment figures are a number of problems, including significant underemployment.”
