National Family Support Network’s 2014 service.
Pic: NFSN
The National Family Support Network will be holding its 16th Annual Service of Commemoration and Hope this weekend.
The service will be taking place at 7.30pm on Sunday in Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1.
The NFSN gives non-judgmental support to families that have been affected by drugs, with an emphasis on personalised services and community development. Their annual service seeks to help those coming to terms with addiction-related loss, as NFSN co-ordinator Sadie Grace explains: “Many of the family members who use Family Support services believe they cannot mourn the loss of their loved one as they may feel a sense of shame by the manner in which their family member passed away or their grief may not be acknowledged by others. We want to encourage all family members who have lost a loved one to addiction to come to the Annual Service and to openly remember and commemorate the life of their family member with dignity.”
The annual service is well attended, with 800 expected to join the commemoration this year. The President, Taoiseach and government ministers have made an appearance in the past, and this year will see Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmaid Martin and the new Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan attending, with the North Dublin Community Gospel Choir performing.
If you would be interested in attending the service, or would simply like more information, contact Debbie at NFSN on (01) 8980148 or via email at media@fsn.ie. More information on NFSN’s work and events can be found on their Twitter and Facebook pages, and their website.
By Aimée Mac Leod
