Colm Fitzpatrick
Parents shouldn’t be relying on loan-sharks to curb the “crazy” costs of Communion celebrations, a spokesperson for a well-known family support centre has said.
Valerie O’Carroll, manager of Ballymun Child and Family Resource Centre in Dublin, said it’s “absolutely crazy” the amount of money being spent on Communion celebrations, noting that the Sacrament has transformed into a “huge event”.
She added that while priests encourage parishioners to spend less, this message fails to “filter” through, leaving parents with empty pockets.
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Her comments come after the community centre’s successful run of a drop-in service, which dresses children due to make their First Holy Communion with donated clothes, in the hope of cutting the price of the important day for struggling parents.
“It’s very hard, we work with families in Ballymun, and we have a good idea that they are under pressure, many of them will turn to moneylenders and that’s the big thing we’ve been trying to avoid,” she said.
“So, we’re saying come to us and we’ll take away the stress, and would find it hard to believe that somebody would walk out and say I didn’t like anything there. The stuff is just gorgeous.”
Ms O’Carroll told this newspaper that so far, nine children have been dressed “head to toe” in Communion outfits, the local chemist has been providing prayer books and rosaries, and the local dry-cleaners have offered to clean the suits and dresses free of charge.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the real goodness of people. The quality of the dresses and suits we’ve got, even though they’re second hand, children have worn them for a day – basically they are in fabulous condition,” she said, pointing out that most outfits are hanging in wardrobes and have never been worn since.
Ms O’Carroll said that given the cost of the day, the community centre intends on running the service next year, and would be “interested in doing this every year”.
The resource centre currently operates an all-year-round uniform bank, where parents can collect school outfits which others have donated.