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 ob￿oUS 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