Scottish Catholic Observer

THE ROYAL Concert hall in Glasgow played host to a special event for Scottish-based charity Mary’s Meals, who bring aid to the world’s most impoverished children.

On Sunday September 9, the charity invited special guests from all over the world to the city, where they had the chance to speak about how Mary’s Meals have helped children in their home countries.

The Glasgow Mary’s Meals day is one of a number in the UK, where supporters can hear first hand about the charity’s work, that now reaches more than 1.3 million children in 17 different countries across the world.

Speakers included Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, founder and chief executive of the charity, Moses Kopurot Kenyi from South Sudan, who discussed how the charity are helping to feed the hungry children in his country, Amina Swedi from Kenya, who spoke of the challenges families face in her village in the Turkana district, and Bernadette Barr, a Mary’s Meals volunteer from Port Glasgow, who has raised thousands of pounds for the charity in honour of her late mother.

Also joining the charity was Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Lodwar Diocese in Kenya, who celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass with Bishop John Keenan of Paisley Diocese at St Aloysius Church, Garnethill, on the Sunday evening (above).

Daniel Adams, executive director of Mary’s Meals UK, said: “It is incredible to see so many Mary’s Meals supporters, and members of our wider global family, coming together for such an uplifting and inspiring Mary’s Meals Day.

“It is always a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our incredible supporters and thank them for all that they do.

“We were especially pleased to share at Sunday’s event the wonderful news that Mary’s Meals is now reaching 1,361,586 children in 17 countries with a daily meal in school. This is only possible because of the incredible kindness and goodness of people.

“We are thankful to Bishop John Keenan and Bishop Dominic Kimengich for their celebration of such a joyful Mass on Sunday evening.

“It is very special to bring together members of our global family with volunteers and supporters from Scotland to give thanks for the work of Mary’s Meals and to pray for our mission.”

In countries such as South Sudan, the charity work closely with Rumbek Diocese to deliver life-saving school meals to starving children who have been affected by violent conflict within the country.

In Madagascar, they provide education and vocational training to children as young as eight in prisons.

Magnus Macfarlane-Barrow said: “It is wonderful that more than 1.3 million children are now receiving Mary’s Meals every day at school. All over the world, people are sharing what they have so that children might eat.

“I feel humbled each day by people’s goodness—especially by the tens of thousands of unpaid local volunteers who cook and serve these meals.”