To commemorate the 80 years of Christian Aid in Ireland, a thanksgiving service was held in St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast on 20 June to which Ballybay representatives were invited. There were reflections on the early years in Ireland, on interchurch partnerships in Ireland with brief supporter reflections. These included one by Wendy Sloan on behalf of Ballybay since the Ballybay effort is the largest single fund raiser held in the Republic. For many years Christian Aid Ireland has had its own Committee and structure and for the best part of 60 years people from the Ballybay community have supported and raised funds for this work. In 2025 €11,000 resulted from the coffee party and cake sale along with generous donations. The Belfast event was a very memorable occasion which brought together friends and supporters of Christian Aid from all over Ireland.
Christian Aid was set up in 1945 by a number of churches in Britain and Ireland. Originally established to meet the needs of the very many refugees in Europe from the 1939-1945 war, it soon became an organization serving the world’s poorest people, including refugees from wars and oppression, in many countries. Basic to its work is the call of Christ to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ and to ‘love your enemies’. And so Christian Aid working through partner organizations in different countries serves people in need regardless of religious belief, race or nationality.