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WOMENS' CONFRATERNITY
(THE WOMEN MEET ONE SUNDAY A MONTH FOR PRAYERS, HOMILY AND BENEDICTION OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT. SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH MASS WILL BE ANNOUNCED)
The original confraternity of Our Lady was established in the Redemptorist church of San Alfonso in Rome in 1871. Saint Alphonsus was chosen as its secondary patron because of his great devotion to Mary.
A branch of this confraternity was founded in Clonard in 1897 by Father Patrick Griffith. The day was June 20th, the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. On the following Sunday when the first meeting took place more than 700 women attended. Father Griffith remained as Director until 1904. From the beginning the confraternity attracted ever increasing numbers. When the Golden Jubilee of founding was celebrated in 1947 the total membership was 7,569. The members have always had a tremendous enthusiasm for their confraternity, inspired no doubt by their love for the Mother of Perpetual Succour.
"My Clonard Sunday" was a special day for them.
The confraternity was part of their lives, a veritable powerhouse of grace. Despite the shrinking numbers of today this is still the case.
To become a member of the Archconfratemity, it is necessary
to be enrolled by name at a church or shrine where a confratemity is canonically erected (any Catholic in good standing is eligible); and
to recite the Act of Consecration:
Act of Consecration to Our Mother of Perpetual Help
"United with the members of our confraternity here and throughout the world, we consecrate ourselves to your service. We promise to renew this dedication once a month and frequently to receive the sacraments. We beg you to obtain for us the grace to imitate your great servant, St. Alphonsus, in his love for you and your Son."
Members are urged (not obligated):
1. to renew this Act of Consecration once a month,
2. to have recourse to our Mother of Perpetual Help in every need;
3. to have a Perpetual Help picture in their homes;
4. to wear a medal of Our Mother of Perpetual Help;
5. to spread this devotion among others.
MENS CONFRATERNITY
(THE MEN MEET EACH MONDAY NIGHT AT 7 45 PM FOR PRAYERS, HOMILY AND BENEDICTION OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT, WITH A MASS HELD ONCE-A-MONTH FOR THE INTENTION OF MEMBERS)
The Holy Family Confraternity for men was founded in 1844 in Liege in Belgium by Henri Belletable, an army captain. His intention was to establish an organisation of Catholic laymen who would help their fellow men, particularly those of the working class, to attain their eternal salvation.
The first Irish branch of the Holy Family was set up in the Redemptorist Church, Limerick, in 1868.
The Clonard branch was established on Tuesday July 20th, 1897, with Father Vincent Bourke as Spiritual Director. As in the case of the women the men's confraternity received a steady inflow of enthusiastic recruits. When the Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1957 the membership was 7,172. Shortly before the men's confraternity was founded one was set up for boys. From an early membership of 420 it reached a peak of 2,126 in 1957. The late Cardinal Conway was a member of the boys' confraternity.
Clonard Men’s Confraternity possesses a distinctive spirit. It is a spirit of loyalty and affection towards the Holy Family and the Redemptorist Congregation at Clonard.
There are men with a record of not having missed a meeting in 30, 40, 50, or even 60 years.
The Confraternity has become part of their lives. Attendance is a "MUST" for them.
Some families have a tradition of being members – a tradition handed down from father to son.
Our thoughts turn in gratitude to the Directors and men who, by their fidelity have made the present day members heirs to such a noble institution.
At the end of each meeting the men sing the anthem pledging continued faithfulness:
Jesus, Mary, Joseph help us,
That we ever true may be
To the promises that bind us
To the Holy Family
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