The Apostolic Workers of the Achonry and Elphin dioceses held their Annual Display Day on Sunday, June 7th, in Fourmilehouse Community Centre, Roscommon.
The day brought together the year’s work of Apostolic members from across the dioceses and beyond. Bishop Kevin Doran was chief celebrant of the Mass and was assisted by 13 concelebrants.
The Apostolic Workers are a voluntary national missionary organisation, founded in 1923. Through their work, missionary orders receive vestments, Mass kits, chalices and other items, often sponsored by people in memory of deceased relatives, to mark special occasions, or for other intentions.
This year’s Display Day was an extra special occasion for one Apostolic Worker, Margaret Haughey of Fuerty parish, who was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
Bishop Doran read the citation outlining Margaret’s work and achievements, before her son John had the honour of placing the ceremonial pin on her.
Latin for “For Church and Pope”, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is one of the highest honours awarded by the Papacy to lay people and clergy. It is typically bestowed on Catholics who have shown a long and meritorious history of service to their local parish, diocese, or the wider Church. Margaret certainly fits that category.
Margaret has been involved in Apostolic work for more than 50 years. She has held many roles within the Elphin Diocese and at national council level in Apostolic work.
One of her most significant contributions came in 2003, when she established a burse for seminarians and religious sisters undertaking further pastoral education. Each year, two religious orders receive a burse worth €1,250.
In 2006, after hearing of a priest in South America who needed a motorbike to travel around his parish, Margaret came up with the idea of knitting and selling Easter chicks to raise funds for three major projects each year. The initiative has since supported some of the most vulnerable communities financially and through education. To date, the chicken fund has raised in excess of €350,000.
Margaret has a great devotion to St Thérèse, patroness of the missions, and acknowledges the support she has received through that devotion in her work.
Margaret spends most days working for the missions. She is currently secretary and keeps up to date with correspondence, while also organising and delivering eggs for the chicken fund. She knits, sews and crochets, and also makes vestments. Up to last year, she made jam which was sold at Active Retirement events and on Display Day in aid of Apostolic work.
She also organises the Display Day, contacting missionary orders in February and then working to source as many of the requested items as possible by June.
Margaret has promoted the work of the Apostolic Workers by visiting parishes, speaking at Masses, writing articles for magazines and newspapers, and taking part in radio interviews. She is constantly on the road meeting people who wish to sponsor items or donate rosary beads, stamps, glasses, tablecloths, wool, medical supplies and other useful items.
She is always open to new ideas and is constantly encouraging younger people to get involved.
In addition to her Apostolic work, Margaret has always been involved in her local church in Fuerty through the Altar Society and as a reader of the Word.
She is a very worthy recipient of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
