Volunteer Celebration Morning in Cabra

During the first weekend in March, there will be celebrations in St Peter’s Basilica and Square to mark the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering, part of the Jubilee 2025 celebrations. In communities across Ireland, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Argentina and in New Orleans, Dominican Sisters and lay volunteers are giving their time and energy to support people in their community, to protect the environment, to educate the young and to care for the elderly.Pope Francis has the following to say about volunteering:
“Those who sacrifice their time and effort discover that whatever they give without expecting anything in return is never lost, but becomes instead a great treasure.” The number of volunteers aged 15 years and over amounts to a staggering 862 million people worldwide, some 14% of the planet’s population!

On Sunday 9th March at 10.30am Rome time (9.30am Irish time), a special Mass for the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering will be celebrated in St Peter’s Square, and can be watched on the Vatican Livestream here – https://www.youtube.com/live/z5zjiFNne_c#:~:text=Vatican%20Media%20Live%20%2D%20English%20%2D%20YouTube

In Dublin, a gathering was held on Tuesday 4th March to celebrate volunteers who support migrant women in the Young Mothers’ Network, who work with the archives, with the Cosmic Garden group on the campus here in Cabra, in Santa Sabina House, and in education. We were also joined by students who volunteer on the St Dominic’s College eco-team and by parish volunteers from the Church of the Precious Blood in Cabra.

At the Volunteer Celebration, attendees heard about the accompaniment work of Sisters and lay colleagues who have befriended women from the Young Mother’s Network (YMN), and of the importance of having one trusted friend in terms of mental health. We heard the words of YMN members on the difference it has made to have friends and supporters in their lives. We heard of the treasures received by Sisters who have accepted another member of YMN to live in their home, and how their lives are richer for the diversity and joy her presence brings. It was a morning full of hope and friendship.

We ended the morning by lighting candles to represent our place in the journey as Pilgrims of Hope, as we played the official Jubilee 2025 Hymn – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6xoPAInr_8