A Lent Coin Collection Appeal to fund a surgeon at Kisiizi Hospital in south-west Uganda will be launched at the 10.30am service this Sunday, March 3rd,designated ‘Kisiizi Sunday’. The speaker will be Stu Garrett (photographed above), a physiotherapist, who, along with other Irish healthcare professionals, founded the not-for-profit organisation CHEEERS Developing Healthcare Together, which is a multidisciplinary, professional volunteer-sending organisation.
 St Paul’s has had a very strong link with Kisiizi Hospital (above) for almost 60 years. In that time the parish has provided funding and expertise to help construct a two-storey children’s ward and maternity ward (completed in 2008) and operating theatres (officially opened in May 2011).  Since the completion of the theatres we have been covering the annual salary of Dr Robert Mugarura, a surgeon at the hospital.  Thankfully a surgeon’s salary in Uganda is a lot lower than one closer to home!  We currently have €9,000 in funds but require a further €3,000 to continue with this important project for this year.  
 Over the next six weeks you are invited to throw any spare coins you may have into a jar that we will provide and these will be collected and counted after Easter. This is fun way in which parishioners of all ages can help maintain the vital services offered at Kisiizi Hospital.
 Stu first travelled to Uganda when he was 16 years old as part of a Transition Year programme at St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock. Whilst studying to become a physiotherapist at University College Dublin (UCD), he also got involved with UCD Volunteer Overseas. Stuart has led several groups of UCD students to Uganda where they have undertaken their elective placement at Kisiizi Hospital.

 For people who give to St Paul’s through standing order but feel uncomfortable at collection time because they have nothing to put on the plate, there are now cards on the table at the back of the church that can be taken to use as a symbolic offering during a service.
 Meanwhile, if there is anyone who uses the envelope system and wishes to change over to standing order, please contact David Pain 087 219 7512, who will supply you with the relevant details.