Annual General Meeting. 10th May 2014

National President’s Report

Good afternoon everyone. I am delighted to welcome you all here today and thank you for coming.
It is just over a year – April 2013- when we offered to host CICIAMS XIX World Congress in Dublin in September 2014 The venue suggested was All Hallows College, Drumcondra Dublin 9.The offer was gratefully accepted by the Executive Board of CICIAMS.
Work began on June 5th when we held our first Organising Committee meeting in Purcell House. All Hallows College. As National President I chair this committee. Geraldine Mc Sweeney agreed to act as secretary.
Sub-committees with Chairpersons as follows were agreed:
Programme—Josephine Bartley
Budget /Finance—Mary Mulcahy
Social -- Eileen Mc Barron
Sponsorship -- Mary Kelly  
Liturgy—Sr. Bridge Commins
Congress Promotion—Mary Dolan
We had our first meetings of Sub-committees later in June 2013. Reports from chairpersons were/are sent to Geraldine 10 days in advance of each Organising Committee meeting to allow her time to circulate them to each member. This is working very well. Thanks to Geraldine for her organisation and hard work.
To date, the meetings have been held when possible to coincide with National Executive meetings of the Guild in order to save on travelling and cost for members living outside Dublin.
I sent a letter to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on May 16th 2013 informing him of our decision to host the Congress and requesting a meeting. This was arranged for 11am on the 11th July 2013. Geraldine, Josephine and myself met with the Archbishop in his house on that morning.  He was very interested in the undertaking and offered us his full support and advice. He also agreed to sponsor a delegate from one of the poorer countries. The Archbishop will be the Chief Celebrant at the Opening Mass on Tuesday 23rd September 2014 and offered to host the reception following Mass.
Donatus Akpan. Head of CICIAMS Ethics committee, requested contributions from each Member Association for the ethics committee that is presently updating CICIAMS Code of Ethics. In response, our Ethical Guidelines were sent to Donatus by Geraldine Mc Sweeney Secretary General, CICIAMS (pro tem) for his and the committee’s information.
We received CICIAMS News Bulletin in July 2013 which included a message from the International President of CICIAMS, Sister Anne John RJM and information about the forthcoming World Congress and General Council Meeting.
On October 14th 2013 we had the annual launch of the Social Committee’s programme for the coming year. This was held in Wynn’s Hotel, Lower Abbey St. Dublin. Mass was celebrated by Rev. Paul Taylor, National Chaplain at 6pm. Following Mass, Pat Boyle, Social Secretary announced the social agenda and circulated the programme among the guests. A drinks reception and dinner followed. The evening was greatly enjoyed by all.
On your behalf I wrote to Cardinal Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh informing him of the CICIAMS World Congress to be held in Dublin and invited him to be the Chief Celebrant at the Closing Mass on the 26th Sept.2014. Unfortunately he will not be in the country during the week of the Congress. The Cardinal did write himself to thank us for the invitation and to congratulate us on hosting the Congress and wished us every success. He is assuring us of the support of the Bishops Conference.
The World Day of the Sick on 11th February 2014 was celebrated in Dublin over 2 days at St Theresa’s Church, Mount Merrion.  Elizabeth O Dwyer represented the Guild at the seminar on Saturday 10th Feb. on bereavement. A message from Pope Francis on the occasion of the 22nd World Day of the Sick was and is available.
Four National Executive meetings were held during the year. These were well attended mainly due to the fact that the Congress Organising Committee meetings were held on the same day. I wish to thank the Sisters of Bon Secour for providing the facility for us to hold these quarterly meetings in the Hospital Board room and for making refreshments available for us.  The late Sr. John Marie O Keeffe made this arrangement possible for us many years ago. We miss her greatly and continue to keep her in our prayers. May she rest in peace.
A draft copy of the new CICIAMS Ethical Guidelines, prepared by the Ethics Committee under the chairmanship of Donatus Akpan, was circulated to all member associations. We are asked to study this document carefully and respond with comments by June 30th 2014  
I received an official letter from CICIAM’s Secretary General pro tem, Ms. Geraldine Mc Sweeney on the 20th March on behalf of the International President Sr. Anne John inviting me to attend the General Council Meeting of CICIAMS to be held on the 23rd September 2014 from 09.00-17.00 hours in Purcell House, All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.  I was also informed in the same letter of the vacancies occurring on the Executive Board of CICIAMS that required to be filled during the General Council meeting. They are: 1. Secretary General, 2.Chairperson of the Committee on Statutes and 3.CICIAMS Representative to the World Health Organisation ( WHO)
Nominations for these positions on the relevant forms should reach the General Secretariat by the 23rd June 2014, i.e. 3 months prior to the General Council meeting.
We will discuss this later at our AGM.
The annual Pilgrimage to Knock last Saturday, May 3rd was a great success spiritually. We were very fortunate that the weather was so kind to us.
I would like to thank all who contributed to making the occasion so special- Fr. Paul Taylor, National Chaplain for leading the Stations of the Cross and for being the Chief Celebrant at the Mass and for his inspirational homily. Fr. Paddy Carey who was leading a group from Kilkenny joined Fr. Taylor at the celebration of the Eucharist. I thank Mary T. Regan, Roscommon Branch for leading us in the Rosary and Eileen Mc Barron for preparing and presenting the very meaningful symbols at the Mass. We are very grateful to the members of the Filipino Nurses Choir for once again providing the music and hymns for our Annual Mass in Knock. I also want to thank all who took part in the Offertory Procession, Prayers of the Faithful and as Ministers of the Eucharist
We remember today our members called to their eternal reward during the year-Sister John Marie O Keeffe, Joanne Smyth and Sr. Columba Mc Namara. May they Rest in Peace. I offer sincere sympathy to Guild members who have been bereaved.
Finally I want to thank my fellow officers, Sr. Bridge Commins, Marie Shinnick and Mary Mulcahy for their help and support throughout the year. A special word of thanks to Sr. Margaret Vincent for all the years she managed our accounts and handed over the books to Mary in such great order. I want to acknowledge Geraldine Mc Sweeney’s hard work as Secretary General pro tem for CICIAMS since July 2012.
I thank you, the members, for your presence here to day and for all you do and are doing to keep the Catholic Nurses Guild of Ireland alive.
I know I can count on your support in the future and in particular with the forthcoming World Congress of CICIAMS, which I pray will be a great success.
Thank you

Brede Murphy, National President, CNGI