Jesuits in Northern Ireland Charitable Trust 101377 Annual Report for period 1st March 2023 to 28th February 2024 The principal purpose of the Trust, as described in the Trust Deed, is promoting the charitable work for the time being carried on or prompted or supported by the members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). The most significant power of the Trustees is the establishment in Northern Ireland of communities committed to prayer and to peace and provision for the maintenance and equipping of such communities. The Trust is also permitted to provide financial, practical and other forms of assistance and support to charitable projects in Northern Ireland that have the support of members of the Society of Jesus and to missionaries and Jesuit mission projects. The primary beneficiaries of the Trust have been the ordinary people of Portadown, mainly the Roman Catholic community, who participate in activities involving members of the Portadown Jesuit Community. Other citizens of Portadown are also beneficiaries, as a result of peace work and community development carried on by the Community. The Jesuit Community in Belfast is also eligible for assistance from the Trust. The Trust has also given grants to community development charities associated th Fr. Brian Lennon, S.J., who is based in Arniagh. Such charities include SPRING Trust, established to provide opportunities for young people and adults that are affected by deprivation and disadvantage in West Armagh.; and Dialogue for Diversity (Chy 100012) which was set up by Irish and British Jesuits and people from other churches to develop respect and esteem for all groups in society, especially the marginalized. As referred to in last year's report, we have now received a bequest of almost £250,000 from the estate of a Portadown resident, and this provide JINI with new opportunities to assist charitable work of the Jesuits and others in Northern Ireland. We are currently arranging a meeting with three of the main Jesuit activists working in Northern Ireland (in Artnagh, Portadown and Belfast), and the Jesuit Provincial, to propose to the trustees ways of using this bequest for the purposes of the Trust. Several projects have already been suggested. One community established by the Jesuits in Northern Ireland which is most consistently supported by the Trust Fund is Iona Jesuit Residence, 211 Churchill Park, Portadown. The Trust is also the owner of half of the property occupied by the Jesuits, and the Trust contributes funds to support the Community as required. The Community also receives some financial support directly from the Jesuit Provincial Office in Dublin. The public benefit conferred by the three Jesuit Communities and their co-workers on people in the local areas during the year is considerable. The charity has benefited the local Catholic community in their prayer life and in their striving for peace through the following activities: Membership of Steering Committee of local partnership project ('Ready to Learn,) that will provide social and emotional support to at at-risk school children. Board membership of Craigavon and Banbridge Volunteer Centre. Secretary of the Trustee Board and volunteer at Migrant Support Service (MSG). During the year MSG dealt with 457 immigration cases; 294 settling-in cases. 568 employment cases; and 175 food poverty cases. Work also included language, training, and police liaison events. Member of Synodal Diocesan Core Group.
Member of Place Board ofArniagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Community Planning Strategic Partnership. Member of PEACEPLUS Partnership of Arniagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. Member of ecumenical group Churches Together in Portadown and Craigavon. Director of RCIA courses in Drumcree Parish. Chaplain to Portadown branch of the Knights of Columbanus. Counselling, spiritu Direction, Parish Supply (eondueting services where inwlted). Witnessing of Passport applications. Editor and Director of An 71mire (R.C. Irish Language Journal). Chaplaincy work Maghaberry Prison R.C. school visitation. In relation to peace, members of the Portadown Community have conferred considerable public benefit by working to bring different communities together. Community members have done significant work building up the community in Drumcree area, thus contributing to and consolidating peace. The work greatly benefits the community in combatting any possible ghettoization or inter-cultural conflict. Their work with prisoners and ex-prisoners probably reduces the risk of these people re-offending and engaging in activities damaging to the IoL'al community. There is no oboUS possibility of hann flowing from the purposes of the charity, but since it is conceivable that religious activities could give rise to sectarian confliet, care has been taken to build bridges with other religious traditions in the community, as can be seen above. As the members of the Jesuit Communities are religious with vows of poverty, the possibility of incidental private benefit is small. Close monitoring of expenditure by the Jesuit Provincial Office has ensured that it has been non-existent. In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year, both the Trustees and the members of the Jesuit Communities have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity's purposes and provide a benefit for the beneficiaries. Signed on behalf of the Thistees: ,1 _ILWJ Terence Howard, S.J. Trustee Bill Toner, S.J. Trustee Date: 31st March 2024