September - Jericho Society

NEWS FROM
JERICHO
The Compassion of
Jesus
“Which of these …
proved himself a
Neighbour?” “The one
who took pity on him”, he
replied. Jesus said to him,
“Go, and do the same
yourself”.Luke 10; 36
September 2015
‘Mater Salvatoris’ 1990 - 2015
11990kilbarchan
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE JERICHO SOCIETY, MATER SALVATORIS, KILBARCHAN. PA10 2PY
IF YOU WANT ANYTHING DONE ASK A WOMAN!
This photograph of the Jericho Neighbours of Greenock was taken Twenty-five years ago. They were the mainstay of
the Jericho Society which was founded in the Lower Clyde town in 1970, and raised thousands of pounds towards
opening several houses in Greenock for destitute men and for women and children. They later joined forces with the
Jericho Neighbours of Paisley to raise funds towards the building of the monastery of the Jericho Brothers. It will be
25 years ago come 8th. October this year that the ‘monastery of Jesus was opened by Bishop John Mone assisted by
Bishop Emeritus Stephen McGill of Paisley and Bishop James Monaghan , Auxiliary Bishop of St. Andrews and
Edinburgh. The Greenock Neighbours were invited by the Community to view the monastery at their leisure shortly
afterwards, and were photographed with Fr. James on that occasion. Jericho Neighbours are still a vital part of the
Jericho Family. They pray daily for the Society, mindful that Prayer is an authentic currency among people of faith.
(Left) Bishop John Mone of Paisley
is shown celebrating Mass in
Jericho’s first (temporary) monastery
at Golf Road, Bridge of Weir circa
1989, and (Right) is an Eastertide
view of the sanctuary of the new
monastery which was opened in
1990. The Silver Jubilee Thanks giving Mass is on 8th. October.
-----------------------------------------
JERICHO HOUSE
EDINBURGH TO CLOSE
TWENTY-FIVE
YEARS after its
foundation in 1990 Jericho House in
Scotland’s Capital City is about to
close its doors with great regret.
The Jericho Society had been invited
by Archbishop O’Brien to address the
problem of homelessness among the
city’s
alcohol-dependent
men.
Subsequent meetings with the City’s
Social
Work
and
Housing
Departments confirmed the need for
such provision, so the Jericho Society
set about seeking a suitable property.
The Archbishop informed the
Society that the Franciscan Fathers
were about to withdraw from the
city, and consequently that their
premises in Lothian Street would
become vacant.
Jericho’s Trustees acquired the
premises from the Franciscans, and
having procured planning permission
from
Edinburgh
City
Council
transformed the premises into
residential
accommodation
for
sixteen homeless, alcohol dependent
men, and four homeless and alcoholdependent women.
A quarter of a century later there is
not
the
same
need
for
accommodation
for
alcoholdependent men and women, and
constant vacancies have rendered
the project non-viable. The current
scourge is drug addiction among
younger men, and the Jericho Society
has opened drug-rehabs for this
client group at Derby and Greenock.
Bro. Patrick
JERICHO HOUSE
TAMIL NADU, INDIA
For Men Women & Children
Sr. Arunamary is pictured below
(2nd. from right) with Sr. Fathima
her assistant (3rd. from left) and her
residents earlier this year. From
accommodating homeless and
distressed persons in Jericho
House, Sr. Arunamary has extended
her apostolate into the local
community, alleviating loneliness
and poverty among her near-by
neighbours. Thanks to modern
communication techniques, Bro.
Patrick and Sr. Aruna can be in daily
contact If necessary.
House Hunting in India
THE JERICHO HOUSE in India for men,
women and children in distress now
being firmly established, the search
for a suitable recovery house for drug
addicts in some major city or town
will shortly get underway. Bro. Tom
of
the
Jericho
Community
accompanied by Senior Staff member
Paul of our Greenock Drug Rehab will
depart at the end of October on an
information gathering trip to India.
The Indian Unit will be modelled on
our successful drug Units in Derby
and Greenock. Tom and Paul will be
attending N/A meetings in three or
four major cities to gauge the amount
of support they can harness. Their
visit to India will last for two weeks.
GRADUATING TO A BETTER
LIFE FROM
Jericho House, Derby
A LOVE FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE is inculcated at Jericho
Houses. ‘Close to nature, close to
God’ - or the ‘Higher Power’ as
some understand God to be.
Certainly, drinking-in the beauty
of Creation is a tonic for the soul
of man. Famous artists have
moved mankind by the beauty of
their art, in particular by their
reproductions of beautiful Mother
Nature - but who created the
original which artists aspire to
copy? – A Higher Power, indeed.
Jericho Houses Greenock,
Summer News – Bro. Tom
THE YOUNG MEN on recovery
from drug addiction at Jericho
House staged two performances
of the play ‘Porridge’ - at Port
Glasgow on July 17th., and at
Dumbarton on July 18th., netting
altogether £4.000 towards their
various therapeutic enterprises.
One such enterprise is a holiday
in Spain, from 21st. to 28th
September this year, accompanied by staff.
THE JERICHO HOUSE FOR
FEMALE ADDICTS in Greenock is
currently being renovated, and
staff for the House is at present
being recruited. The house
should be operational by
October.