Athlone church to hold public meeting on domestic abuse

Athlone's Church of Ireland parish is to hold a public meeting on Saturday week, November 26, in an effort to raise more awareness of gender-based violence and domestic abuse.

The gathering on November 26 will take place in St Mary's Church of Ireland, on Church Street, at 12.45pm.

It will mark the beginning of the parish's participation in the United Nations' 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and domestic abuse.

Local rector, Rev William Steacy, explained that members of the Church of Ireland's Athlone Union of Parishes recently took part in a Mothers’ Union course about equipping churches to take action to end domestic abuse.

"As a result, the parish decided to raise awareness about this issue by participating in the United Nations 16 days of activism against all forms of gender-based violence," he said.

At the event on Saturday week, three minutes of silence will be observed, at 1.03pm in order to highlight the disturbing statistic that one in three women will experience some form of domestic abuse in their lifetime.

Representatives of the Esker House Women's Refuge in Athlone will be present at the event to speak about their services, and a Garda Liaison Officer will also be in attendance.

"The whole purpose of the meeting is to raise awareness around this sensitive subject. We are inviting both men and women to attend," said Rev Steacy. During the 16 days of activism on this issue people will be encouraged to read specific Bible verses and pray on each of the days.

The Bible verses will be posted on the Athlone Union of Parishes' Facebook pages each morning, and online talks for each day will also be highlighted.

"Our aim is to raise awareness of the need to end gender-based violence in all forms and in all societies, and to support people who find themselves in these difficult situations," Rev Steacy concluded.