Fr Luke Macnamara OSB was pleased to join Fr Eugene Everard, parish priest of Tipperary Town, for the opening and blessing of a new Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) clothes shop in the town on Thursday 8th August.
Glenstal Abbey and School both contributed to the launch of the new shop through fundraising and a collection of clothes prepared and delivered by monks, students, parents and colleagues of monastery and school. As the clothes are being reused, a sustainable circular economy is being promoted which avoids the waste associated with fast fashion.
Fr Luke was joined by fifth year student Peter Purcell, who represented Glenstal Abbey School at the opening event. Other attendees included Eimear Purcell, Manager of the SVP Drop-In Centre in Limerick City, Dermot McGilloway, SVP National Retail Manager, and Paddy Carroll, Volunteer Manager of the SVP Regional Warehouse.
The clothes shop will assist families in need, whilst the funds raised will go to support the local conference of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. It is hoped the shop will also become a social hub where people from different backgrounds to come to know one another and have a place of welcome in the town.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in Ireland in 1844 and has become the largest voluntary charitable organisation in the country, offering practical support to those experiencing poverty. For more information on the work of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul visit: www.svp.ie