CLONFERT DIOCESE

Fr John Naughton Clonfert Diocese’s PTAA Spiritual Director, Fr. John Garvey PP, Ballinasloe-Creagh parish, Niall Duddy, PTAA Clonfert Diocesan Council and Josephine Carroll (new PTAA Adult member) pictured with new and existing members of Ballinasloe & District PTAA Youth Club after the Association’s Clonfert Christmas Mass and Social Get Together in The Emerald Ballroom, Ballinasloe, on Friday 15th December 2023.
Fr. Robert McCabe, Central Spiritual Director of the PTAA (left), Bishop Michael Duignan (Clonfert & Galway dioceses) and Mr. Francis Donohue (PTAA Clonfert Diocesan Council) pictured with members of Ballinasloe Pioneer Centre during a social gathering in Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe, to formally welcome the forty-two young people of parishes of the Clonfert diocese who enrolled in the Pioneer Assocation during a special Mass in St. Michael’s Church, Ballinasloe, on 16th June (Feast of the Sacred Heart) 2023. Adults seated (left to right): Ms Sheila Walsh (Ballinasloe & District PTAA Secretary), Justin Harkin (Youth Co-ordinator, PTAA Clonfert Diocesan Council), Ms Agnes Duignan (Ballinasloe & DistrictPTAA Chairperson), Ms Ann Downey and Elizabeth Campbell (Ballinasloe & District PTAA Centre).

INTRODUCTION

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.

Chairperson
Sean Kelly (Clontuskert)
Deputy Chairperson
Niall Duddy (Killimordaly-Clooncagh),
Secretary & Youth Co-ordinator
Justin Harkin  (Ballinasloe-Creagh)
Spiritual Director
Fr John Naughton PE
Other Council Members
Ann Gately (Laurencetown-Kiltormer)
Francis Donohue (Duniry-Abbey)

CURRENT INITIATIVES

Establishment of Ballinasloe & District PTAA Youth Club and related youth initiatives. See www.creideamh.ie/youth-club for details.

Preparations for Drug Awareness workshops led by personnel of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Drug Awareness Iniiative for Sixth Class pupils and their parents in February 2024.

NEXT EVENT

Drug Awarness Initaitive (see above)
8 – 9.45 pm
Thursday, 29th February 29th 2024
Emerald Ballroom,
Ballinasloe.

ALL WELCOME

WELCOMING OF NEW MEMBERS, JUNE 16th 2023

The evening of Friday 16th June 2023 (Feastday 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 and Centre.

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.

John Weldon (Knights of St. Columbanus), Muredach Tuffy, Chairperson, The Board of Management, PTAA) with persons mentioned above following our Social Gathering to welcome new members on 16th June 2023.

NOTE TO PARENTS & GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN INTERESTED IN JOINING PTAA

For many years it was customary for Catholic families, schools and parishes to encourage children to take a pledge refraining from alcohol until their sixteenth or eighteen 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, the Ballinasloe PTAA Centre embarked on a special project earlier this year.

With support from varioust people, e.g. parents, clergy, teachers and school principals we continuue to seek opportunities to introduce as many 5th and 6th Class pupils as possible to our Association and its spirituality.

Recent efforts culminated in forty-two Young People choosing to join us on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, each child having reflected upon what is involved with a parent or guardian.

If you are a parent of a child between the ages of ten and fourteen and this is your first time to hear about this outreach, and you would like your child and his or her friends to know more about the PTAA please contact our Youth Co-ordinator (details above) 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 2023/2024 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 at least one year in the immediate prior period 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 Centre meetings, social gatherings, e.g. an annual ball, and / or spiritually nourishing events, e.g. retreat days, but these are not essential to membership.

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 .

FURTHER ENQUIRIES

Please contact the PTAA Clonfert Council via Justin Harkin (Secretary) on 087 6171526 / pioneers@creideamh.ie .

Updated: 23rd December 2023