PTAA Clonfert Diocesan Council
Following a diocesan wide consultative meeting in Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe, on 4th July 2023, a PTAA Clonfert Diocesan Council was formed to support Pioneer activities and promotion of membership in the diocese going forward.
The current members are:
Chairperson
Sean Kelly (Clontuskert)
Deputy Chairperson
Niall Duddy (Killimordaly-Clooncagh),
Secretary
Justin Harkin (Ballinasloe-Creagh)
Youth Acivities Co-ordinator
Damien Farrell (Laurencetown)
Spiritual Director
Fr John Naughton PE
Other Council Members
Ann Gately (Laurencetown-Kiltormer)
Francis Donohue (Duniry-Abbey)
The Council would very much appreciate and welcome the participation of more women at Council level.
CURRENT INITIATIVES (March / April 2025)
Children’s Art Competition: www.creideamh.ie/ptaa-art
Primary Schools & Youth Clubs Quiz: www.creideamh.ie/ptaa-quiz
We also invite interested young people and parents and guardians to check out the web page of Ballinasloe & District PTAA Youth Club: See www.creideamh.ie/youth-club for details.
Note to Parents & Guardians of Young People interested in joining Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of The Sacred Heart
For many years it was customary for Catholic families, schools and parishes to encourage children to take a pledge refraining from alcohol until their eighteenth year and to abstain from illegal drugs for life at the time of their Confirmation.
While fear of the effects of alcohol and drug misuse provides a sound basis for such encouragement, there is also another basis, a spiritual one rooted in love of God and neighbour. This is the way of the PTAA.
Mindful of this and greatly encouraged by Bishop Michael Duignan, we offer presentations, when requested to youth groups, primary and secondary school students on our Association, its spirituality and outreach.
Outreach since May 2024 has culminated in more than one hundred Young People choosing to join our association until their eighteenth birthday, and to fifteen joining the Ballinasloe & District Pioneer Youth Clubm which meets fortnightly during the school year.
If you are a parent, guardian, principal, teacher or youth club leader, and this is your first time to learn about this outreach, and you would like the young people in your care to know more about the PTAA please contact our secretary (details below) and we will see what we can do to support you.
INFORMATION FOR PRINCIPALS AND SIXTH CLASS TEACHERS
If you would like to to arrange a free in-school age-appropriate PowerPoint presentation on the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart for your Fifth and Sixth Class pupils during 2024/2025 please contact Justin Harkin on 087 6171526 / pioneers@creideamh.ie .
The PowerPoint presentation is timed to take twenty to twenty-five minutes and our presenters (who are Garda Vetted) are open to following the presentation with a ten-minute conversation with the children.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR EXISTING PIONEERS AND ADULTS INTERESTED IN JOINING / REJOINING PTAA
If you would like to register with our Diocesan Council so as to be informed of upcoming events, meetings etc. please forward a text or email request to the Council at 087 6171526 / pioneers@creideamh.ie .
Any adult over 18 who has abstained from alcohol for the past year may apply for lifelong membership. The commitment sought of members is:
- to abstain from all alcoholic drink
- to wear the Pioneer emblem
- recite the Pioneer prayer twice daily
Some members also choose to participate in Pioneer social gatherings, e.g. an annual ball, and / or spiritually nourishing events, e.g. retreat days, but these are not essential to membership.
Photo Gallery (2023 / 2024)
WELCOMING OF NEW MEMBERS, JUNE 16th 2023
The evening of Friday 16th June 2023 (Solemnity of the Sacred Heart) was very special for us as we welcomed forty-two young people from various parishes in the Clonfert diocese into our Assocation .
The enrolment ceremony took place during a specially organised Holy Mass in St. Michael’s Church, Ballinasloe. Our guest presider was Most Rev. Michael Duignan, Bishop of Clonfert and Galway dioceses, and our guest homilist, Fr. Robert McCabe, Central Spiritual Director of our Association(PTAA herein).
We acknowledge the wonderful support of St. Grellan’s (Ballinasloe & District) Council of the Knights of St. Columbanus and Ballinasloe Credit Union in relation to this endeavour.
Winners of our Primary Schools and Clubs’ Quiz Competitions 2024 in The Emerald Ballroom, Ballinasloe, on Thursday 29th March.
Young and Adult Pioneers pictured with Bishop Kevin Doran in Donamon Castle following our shared retreat day with Pioneers of the Elphin Diocese on Saturday 6th April 2024.
Additional photos pertaining to youth activities can be viewed @ www.creideamh.ie/youth-club
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart was founded in 1898 in Gardiner Street, Dublin, by Fr James Cullen SJ, Mrs Anne Egan, Miss Lizzie Power, Mrs Mary Bury and Mrs A.M. Sullivan.
The primary aim of the Association is the promotion of sobriety and temperance through:
- faith and prayer;
- self-denial leading to inner freedom;
- setting beneficial example to others;
- presenting alternatives to the drinking and drug scene, particularly to young people.
The duty of a Pioneer is to build a society where people live to their full potential. We reach out to those who suffer from alcohol-related harm.
The Pioneer, like all Christians, is convinced that the love of God, as revealed in Jesus, is central to their lives.
For more information please visit www.pioneers.ie .
Next Enrolment Opportunity for Young People
Young people, aged ten years and older, and who have parental / guardian consent, will be very welcome to enrol as Young Pioneers at our June Mass and Social Get Together in The Emerald Ballroom, Ballinasloe. H53 KC98. The date of this Mass and Social Get Together will be made known shortly.
Young Pioneers commit to four things:
- abstain from alcohol until their eighteenth birthday
- abstain from illegal drugs for life
- pray for people afflicted by addiction
- give witness to the love of God by wearing a special pin.
Some also opt to join our local youth club. See www.creideamh.ie/youth-club for details.
Notice for Pioneer Jubilarians
If you are marking ten, twenty-five, fifty or sixty years as a Pioneer and would like to have the special pin, clasp, brooch or medal associated with your jubilee blessed and presented at our June Mass and Social Get Together there are three things you need to do:
Step 1
If you do not have the relevant pin and certificate please purchase from the Pioneer Shop and have them posted to you. Please ring 01 805 4226 or email shop@pioneers.ie or place your order online at https://www.pioneers.ie/purchasepinscerts .
Related costs are as follows (as of 7/12/2024):
Ten Years Membership
10 year Clasp 15.00
10 year Diploma 4.00
25 years / Silver Jubilee
Silver Pin 40.00
Silver Clasp 40.00
Silver Brooch 40.00
Silver Diploma 4.00
50 years / Golden Jubilee
Silver Gilt/Gold Plated Pin 42.00
Silver Gilt/Gold Plated Clasp 42.00
Silver Gilt/Gold Plated Brooch 42.00
Gold Diploma 4.00
50 years 9ct Gold Pin 199.00
9ct Clasp 199.00
9ct Brooch 199.00
60 years / Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Clasp 20.00
Diamond Certificate 4.00
60 or more years membership
Fr Cullen Medal 45.00
Fr Cullen Certificate 4.00
Step 2
Contact Justin Harkin on 087 6171526 / pioneers@creideamh.ie on or before 1st June to communicate that you have your pin, clasp, brooch, medal and/or certificate and that you desire to have them blessed and be presented with same at our celebration (see below for more details).
Step 3
You will need to be present in The Emerald Ballroom, Ballinasloe, at 6.30 pm on the Friday of the Gathering , i.e. a half-hour before Mass. You will be asked for your pin, clasp, medal or brooch and / or certificate so that it can be placed near the altar for blessing.
Pins will be presented after Communion and before the final blessing. Photographs will also be taken.
Family members of Pioneers marking Jubilees are most welcome and we would be delighted if you joined in our social gathering immediately after the presentation of pins etc.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES
Please contact the PTAA Clonfert Council via Justin Harkin (Secretary) on 087 6171526 / pioneers@creideamh.ie .
Updated: 10th March 2025