Irish Quaker Faith in Action, in conjunction with Islamic Relief, will hold a Street Collection for the people of Gaza in Galway City this Saturday the 9th of March.

Proceeds from the collection will go to help alleviate the suffering of people in Gaza through several long-standing partnerships and projects.

The Religious Society of Friends has been in Palestine since the mid 19th century. We oppose all wars and violent confrontation, as well as the circumstances that lead to wars.

This Lenten season coincides with the Holy Month of Ramadan for our Muslim neighbours and friends. Let us work together to bring hope and peace to the people of Gaza and all people in the Middle East.

Contributions can be made online: Bank of Ireland, Irish Quaker Faith in Action, Iban: IE66 BOFI 9002 0164 1985 89, Bic: BOFIIE2D

For more information, or if you would like to get involved contact Richard Kimball on 087 23 75 789.

Hungarian Friends would like to invite you to come and join them for the 27th Central European Yearly Meeting in Budapest.

When: 16th – 19th May 2023 (Thursday dinner – Sunday lunch)
Where: Hotel Budapest, 1026 Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 47

https://hotel-budapest.hu

The Public Lecture will be given by by Ben Pink Dandelion on the topic “Dynamic Quakerism; Constancy and Change”.

The link for the application form is https://forms.gle/hwgeSR62KUfi1PmX8

Further information can be found in this leaflet on CEYM 2024.

It began with a suggestion from Quaker Eugene Dugan-Brause, of the John Hewitt Society, to Margaret Fraser, that Frederick Street Friends might open up their newly renovated Meeting House for an event at the North Belfast Festival.

This morphed quickly into an invitation to Frederick Street Friends to offer their own session at the festival. The meeting is a member of the North Belfast Heritage Cluster, a group of voluntary organisations that own or care for an historic building in the area. Very quickly the idea hatched of an event entitled ‘It happened at Frederick Street’, where Felicity McCartney, interviewed by Ian Kirk-Smith, described the initiatives that were birthed at the Meeting during the Troubles. 

The first response was in August 1969, when families whose homes in North and West Belfast had been firebombed sheltered in the old Meeting House. A range of multi-level responses by Quakers throughout Ireland and Britain followed. Initiatives included Quaker Cottage and prison work – set off as a separate charity, now called Quaker Service. The caretaker’s cottage at the new Frederick Street Meeting House became the home base for peace workers from the USA, Britain and Ireland. That work, modelled on ‘quiet diplomacy’ of the Quaker United Nations houses in Geneva and New York, later moved to locations close to Queens University. Felicity and a community worker colleague also set up the Centre for Neighbourhood Development, based in Frederick Street Meeting’s Institute building. 

From wondering if anyone outside the Meeting would come, Friends were delighted to hear that there had been 30 online bookings. Extra chairs had to be taken out of store as even more people showed up, and the final attendance was just over 60. 

                                                                                                                                                                                    Margaret Fraser (Frederick Street Meeting)

This online Lenten reflection is one of a series on “Reading the Signs of the Time in the Light of the Gospel from Advent to Lent”, which is organised by Priests and Religious for Justice and Peace, North-East and South in Sri Lanka. The talk is given by Mitri Rehab, one of the most outspoken Palestinian theologians from Bethlehem.

Further information, including the Meeting ID and Passcode, are given in this leaflet.

The well-known and much respected documentary film-maker Peadar King will speak about lesser-heard activist voices in Israel, Palestine and beyond who are committed to human rights and who are discovering humanity in the other. The session will be facilitated by Denis Halliday, who spent decades working with the United Nations. The event will take place at Churchtown Meeting House on Saturday 9 March 3.00-4.45pm.

A retiring collection will be taken up for Right Sharing of World Resources, who work to promote equity and thereby help to remove some of the causes of war.

You can find more information in this leaflet about the event.

The Bolivian Quaker Education fund (BQEF) is running a study tour to Bolivia during July 10-25, 2024. This study tour provides a unique combination of learning about Bolivia’s history, Quakers in Bolivia and BQEF’s work; discussing the spiritual basis for integrated deep ecology; exploring attainable paths to long-term sustainability and a more peaceful and just world; and of course seeing beautiful scenery and visiting very interesting heritage sites.

The deadline for joining the tour has been extended to March 31, 2024. You can find more information in this leaflet, which also has further contact information.

This obituary can be accessed here.

A silent vigil for peace will be held at Rathfarnham Meeting House on Sunday 25 February between 2pm and 5pm. This will be a silent vigil, with no speeches, signs, flags, or other political symbols. It is focusing on Peace.

Children are welcome in the care of their parents.

Some further information can be found on this flyer.

Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) is a gathering of young Friends and any young people interested in Quakerism in Ireland aged 14-18. We come together to meet, discuss, debate, and learn together. There are many social activities, too, such as workshops, a decathlon, a fancy dress banquet, and a concert.

You can get more information from this JYM 2024 leaflet. You can also download the JYM application form.