IT LOOKS as if it has been a good Christmas for the baby Jesus in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral as an ever-growing stack of presents lies beside the crib.
No, the Three Wise Men have not come back in force to shower the Messiah with yet more offerings; these presents are being redistributed to those who have yet to receive any Christmas gift in 2010.
It is part of an initiative started six years ago by Fr Pat O’Donoghue whereby anyone can drop off unwanted presents received over the holidays. These are then redistributed by Crosscare, the social care agency of the Dublin diocese, to people who are in its care or who are homeless.
Any extras are either kept for next Christmas or sold to help provide essential charity services.
“The idea originally came from wanting to celebrate January 6th and celebrate the Three Kings,” Fr O’Donoghue said. “People can come any day up to the sixth and drop off presents that they got and don’t want.
“It has been a great way to spread the Christmas message further. People don’t have to always be adding to what they have, instead we would hope that they look to what they already have and see how they can give in that way.”
The idea has proved highly successful. Triona King, with her twin sister Gemma, has been a volunteer at the Pro-Cathedral for more than 25 years and fondly remembers the response last year.
“We couldn’t even get into this room [the basement kitchen] with all the gifts that we had put in here,” she said.” It is great to see the generosity of people. Most come in and just drop them off quietly but we do meet some of the people coming in and out.
“Many have come back year after year.”
One such person is Mary Conway from Ballyfermot. Arriving yesterday afternoon hauling a bag full of presents the same size as herself, she praised the initiative and the difference it could make.
“We are very lucky, my husband and myself are both working, and something like a new coat or a pair of gloves can mean so much for someone who is homeless, especially with the cold weather now.
“It is something that could happen to any one of us and if everyone came down and gave something here, then everyone would have something for Christmas at least,” she said.
Following a slower start to donations compared to the same time last year, Fr O’Donoghue said it may be as a result of the poor weather, which forced the Pro-Cathedral to shut for a time.
He also noted other churches had adopted the idea – a development he welcomed as it allowed people to give locally.
People who want to donate unwanted presents can bring them to the crib in the Pro-Cathedral on Marlborough Street any day until January 6th. Crosscare’s first collection begins today.