History
Fr Paddy O’ Mahony was parish priest of Our Lady of
the Wayside Catholic Church in Shirley, Solihull, in the
West Midlands of England, for nearly thirty years. During
this time with the help of his parishioners and supporters,
he inspired and developed an extensive range of practical
help to suffering people in many parts of the world. It
began in the early sixties with support for Major Gardiner
and his feeding programme for the poor and hungry in Calcutta
. From this simple beginning, help in the shape of medicines
, cash and many different forms were sent to many projects
in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
When Fr O’Mahony died in 1991, his parishioners and
friends set up the Fr O’Mahony Memorial Trust to continue
his work and it became a registered charity ,1039288. The
main aim remains the same to send aid to the point of need
and help projects which are too small or fall outside of
the scope of the larger charities. The world wide network
of the Catholic Church has often been used to bring help
in this way to the needy. The Trust celebrated its Tenth
Anniversary in May 2003.
The Trust has no paid help .It relies on voluntary help
for its administration and on the work of its trustees.
It’s support comes from the parish in Shirley and
from many friends and supporters in the locality and in
many other parts of Britain and beyond.
Many people were inspired by Fr O’Mahony’s vision
and example. He fought against the four evils of famine,
poverty, sickness and war. Please help us to continue this
vital work of helping the poor and needy of the world to
better health care, better education and a better standard
of life.
Trustees
Fr Gerard Murray – Chair Chris Carney-Smith
Creina Hearn Peggy Hirons – Secretary
Hugh Smith – Treasurer Mike Moran
Tony Sanford Brenda Carney
Don Maclean
Maureen Jennings
Annual Report for 2002-3
This has been another positive year for the Trust. In June
2003 Archbishop Vincent Nichols celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving
to mark our tenth anniversary at Our Lady of The Wayside.
We were delighted when one of our trustees, Creina Hearn
was given the new diocesan medal ‘Ubi Caritas’
in recognition of her work over many years for human rights
and justice and peace.
This year we were given a very generous anonymous donation
which greatly helped our ability to support a variety of
projects.
We continue to support our ongoing contacts in Bolivia,
giving Sister Sylvia £1,000, and in Ecuador, helping
Father Veasey in his inner city parish with £2,000.
He has recently set up a soup kitchen and runs a small clinic
for local people.
We have sent £1,00 to Bishop Andew Francis, Bishop
of Multan in Pakistan for medical work, and have also sent
a donation to Lepra to help with their work in rehabilitating
people with leprosy .
In Africa, we have sent Sister Bridget in Rwanda £2,000,
and Father Tusuime £3, 020 for a clinic he is building.
We have supported a group of young refugees from the war
in Southern Sudan with £6,250 for their living expenses
and education.
Also we have donated £1,600 for a baby respirator
in a Ugandan hospital, and another £2,870 for laboratory
equipment for a rural clinic in Kenya. In addition we have
responded to appeals from Cafod and Concern for help in
Angola, Rwanda and Southern Africa with donations totalling
£3,000. We supported Birmingham Anglican Diocese’s
appeal for famine relief in Malawi with £1,000.
We continue to support the work in Calcutta of CINI with
mothers and children, and SANTI – T.B. prevention
and care.
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