Cora Flood – profile

Cora Flood has worked most of her adult life on immigrant related programs.  In her earlier years, she worked as an outreach coordinator at the Irish International Immigration Center in Boston.  A terrific organizer she had a gift for bringing people together from wide ends of the spectrum and was a highly popular member of staff.  She later joined the Irish Pastoral Centre, in 2006 and was given the role of getting our senior program off the ground.  In no time at all, Cora established a program which has become highly successful and is today one of the leading programs of its kind in the USA.

Today, because of her leadership and tireless efforts getting the program off the ground, over 500 Irish senior citizens are members of the IPC’s Senior Citizen program.

“Cora has been the heart and soul of the Senior Program since the beginning,” said Catherine Moloney, who is today working on the IPC Senior Program.

Indeed, Mr. Steven Greeley of the American Ireland fund was so impressed by Cora and her Senior Citizen Program that he and his organization donated funds for the purchase of a bus.  The senior shuttle bus is today used for the transportation needs of the Senior Programs members.

Each week there are senior citizen events in Dorchester and Brighton, and a monthly trip to the Irish Cultural Centre, NE.  The event in is so successful that the IPC has to limit attendance to 180.

The IPC Chaplain, Fr. John McCarthy said, “Cora Flood has been a work colleague for five years now and her dedication to the IPC and particularly to the Senior Program has been second to none.  Her personality, being a great team player, her good humor, and that great smile won over everyone she met.”

Because of her initial work and program development, today hundreds attend the annual mass at the Cathedral on St. Patrick’s  day and there is a year long program of fun trips from a day by the sea in Rockport, at a afternoon gaming at the casinos in Foxwoods.  Cora assembled a great group of volunteers to help her run and participate in the programs activities.

“She worked tirelessly for the good of our Centre and we will never forget the contribution she made to our Irish community in Boston,” said Fr. McCarthy, “We are so glad that Cora will be there to lend a hand with future programs even on a voluntary basis. She’s not getting away that easily!

Cora lives in Dorchester with partner Brian Crosse and their three children Orla, Killian and Conor.  We are delighted to recognize her for all of her work and support of our programs.

Check out the flyer: IPC – Irish Social Club

Fr. John McCarthy met with Mr. Jimmy Dennihan, Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht  during his visit to Boston last weekend.   Fr. John availed of this opportunity to speak with the Minister about the important work of the Irish Pastoral Centre, ‘as the feet on the street’ ministry with the Boston Irish Immigrant community.

Irish Senior Connect News…from Susan Doody, Coordinator

This week we’re talking with seniors in the Boston area Irish community about our listening line and what makes it unique. Most help lines offer support, information and resource referrals. The listening line provides these things, but is a specialized listening service for seniors, especially helpful to those who may spend a good deal of time alone.

The listening line call is an opportunity to talk with another person in a safe and confidential environment, and focus on what the senior thinks is important and helpful to discuss.  It is a conversation between a senior caller and a trained volunteer who actively listens in a caring and understanding way.

The senior caller receives positive affirmation and acceptance of their feelings and thoughts. A caller might ring to say how their day is going, how they are feeling, to talk about an event that was upsetting, or was a good experience. It might be about decisions to be made or about a memory from the past or a plan for the future. How about those Red Sox? There are a lot of subjects to discuss on the listening line!

The service is an opportunity for daily conversation, with a caring person who will always be willing and able to listen to what a senior caller has to say.  If there is a request for additional services, we will provide an appropriate service referral from our list of area resources.

Please call the listening line, and say hello to one of our friendly volunteers today. Isn’t this a good time for you to make the listening line connection?

For further information, or to say hello, please call the Irish Senior Connect Listening Line at: 855-249-5146 or Email: seniorconnect@ciic-usa.org

Irish Senior Connect is coming to you! We’re telling everyone we know about the listening line, which is a volunteer based service located at the Irish Pastoral Centre in Dorchester.  It is sponsored by the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers, and funded by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and the American Ireland Fund.

You will soon be finding our flyers and brochures in your favorite places, describing the concept of a listening line, and how many seniors it has helped connect and support over many years in Ireland. The U.S. program is based on the Irish model, and seeks to ensure that no senior is left to feel isolated or alone.

Once you know a little bit about us, and how we are here to be helpful to Irish and Irish American seniors, we hope you will pick up the telephone and call us. Perhaps you will want to just say hello or tell us how your day has been going, or how you are feeling.  You also might have a worry or concern that needs a listening ear, or calls for information that we can provide from our resource files. Please call us today at 855-249-5146 or email us at senior.connect@ciic-usa.org

IPC – Irish Social Club

Volunteer Profile:  Kevin P O’Sullivan

Kevin P O’Sullivan emigrated from Kenmare, County Kerry Ireland in 1965. “Leaving Ireland, I was just 18, young and adventurous.  I wanted to see the world.”  Initially he worked in the hospitality industry and recalls his first job in America as a waiter.

During the 1960s the US was at war in Vietnam.  Feeling a duty to serve, Kevin enlisted in the US Air Force and like many Irish immigrants of his generation served with distinction.  Indeed his public service in uniform influenced his sister’s two sons to later enter the US Marine Corp during the War on Terror.

After his service with the US Air Force, Kevin worked in travel and real estate.  Reflecting on his life, Kevin said his proudest moment was the birth of his children, Shane and Brianna, with whom he loves spending time.  He currently lives in Winthrop Massachusetts

“When I retired though, I felt that it was time to give back to society and more so to the Irish community,” said Kevin who has been volunteering for the IPC now for many years. He recalls the first senior coffee in Quincy when the IPC was located on Hancock St. Enjoying the program he later began attending the senior events in Brighton.

“Kevin is a dedicated volunteer involved with many aspects of the Senior Program, the weekly socials, the monthly Mass and luncheon at the ICCNE, day trips,” said Catherine Moloney of the IPC Senior Program, “Since it first started in March 2008, he been an integral part of the Cara Club, afternoon tea in Brighton, singing songs, encouraging others to sing, and telling jokes and stories.”

Kevin’s volunteer activities are far and wide for the IPC: from driving the senior bus, to volunteering at the Irish Cultural Festival to preparing the video for the Banquet, to stuffing the Easter mailing with his children. Kevin seems to always be there, ready and willing to help with that special lilt of Irish laughter.  Kevin is the volunteer bus driver of the IPC Senior Shuttle bus donated by the American Ireland Fund.  The bus provides transport to Irish seniors, many of them housebound, bringing them to scheduled events.

Our chaplain on the ground for the Irish in Massachusetts, Fr. John McCarthy said, “Kevin’s volunteering especially with the senior outreach program has been invaluable. He is a man with many talents from singing, to story teller, photographer to bus driver. Kevin volunteers many hours to the IPC every week.  It’s great to have such dedicated people like Kevin involved with the IPC.  We are truly blessed.”

We are delighted at this time to recognize Kevin P. O Sullivan for his long term commitment to the IPC and to our senior citizens in particular.

IPC volunteers:  Gerry and Maureen McNally

Gerry and Maureen McNally emigrated from Ireland to Boston in the 1985 with their two sons Brian and Brendan. Years later Brendan and Brian welcomed Erin into the McNally family.

The McNallys were part of a huge wave of Irish immigrants to the US during the 1980s when unemployment was very high.  “We left Ireland because of the recession,” said Maureen, “and we decided to try Boston for a year.  We’re still here nearly 30 years later.”  Maureen grew up in a small village near Ferbane, in County Offaly, and Gerry in Castleblayney, Co. Mohaghan.

In their early years Gerry worked on the construction sites around Massachusetts and Maureen worked as a nurse’s aid. Reflecting on the early years, Maureen said it was not always easy, “We missed our family and friends.  Driving was difficult and getting to know our way around was a challenge.” After settling into their new lives in the US, Maureen although a busy mom, returned to school and got a nursing degree.  Maureen has worked as an RN for many years in Boston area hospitals, and now works with a multi service clinic in Dorchester.

Gerry and Maureen remember what it was like to be new immigrants and today they give back to the Irish community on an ongoing basis.  With the IPC senior citizen program they have provided music and song at so many of our events from Dorchester to Brighton to the AOH hall in Watertown.  Together they helped spearhead the Music for Memories program with at the IPC to help those coping with memory loss and/or those who are cognitively impaired  or it’s a great way to wind down after a busy day, singing along to old favorites.  They have always been willing to help at IPC functions and fundraisers.

Maureen enjoys interacting with the Irish community and treasures the opportunity to give back and stay in touch with Ireland. Interacting with seniors evokes fond memories of childhood, parents, grandparents and neighbors.  “I volunteer at the IPC because I think they do very important work. It is a great opportunity to help build our community and to give something back,” said Maureen, “I really like the concept of “A Parish without Boundaries.  I have been so lucky to meet such wonderful people through the IPC.  Each interaction feels like a trip back home and the seniors remind me very much of my late parents and life back home in Ireland.”

Catherine Moloney of the IPC Senior Program said, “Maureen and Gerry McNally are a wonderful couple who are always willing to give of their time and talents to the Irish Pastoral Centre, be that providing the music and entertainment for events such as the Senior Listening Line launch, the St Patrick’s Day events, Christmas parties and at the Dorchester Coffee Mornings.”

Their work in the Irish and Irish American community is not just demonstrated at the Irish Pastoral Centre, Gerry and Maureen has also been very involved with the Irish programs at the Irish Cultural Center of New England in Canton.  Maureen also found time to help the IIIC’s health clinics in Boston.

IPC Chaplain said, “Maureen and Gerry Mc Nally have volunteered for many years with the IPC.  They are always there to call on when I need some liturgy music for many of the masses and sacraments. Maureen and Gerry are a great team and they are so dedicated to being part of our volunteer group where they participate and provide support to programs like our music for memory program and La Feile Brid. They are truly invaluable.”

At the close of our interview, Maureen said, “The IPC has become a very important part of our lives.”  Indeed there is no doubt that Maureen and Gerry have become important to the lives everyone they have touched with their volunteer work, and we’re delighted to recognize them for their work.

Cora Flood – Stepping down from her work at the IPC

Cora Flood has worked most of her adult life on immigrant related programs.  In her earlier years, she worked as an outreach coordinator at the Irish International Immigration Center in Boston.  A terrific organizer she had a gift for bringing people together from wide ends of the spectrum and was a highly popular member of staff.  She later joined the Irish Pastoral Centre, in 2006 and was given the role of getting our senior program off the ground.  In no time at all, Cora established a program which has become highly successful and is today one of the leading programs of its kind in the USA.

Today, because of her leadership and tireless efforts getting the program off the ground, over 500 Irish senior citizens are members of the IPC’s Senior Citizen program.

“Cora has been the heart and soul of the Senior Program since the beginning,” said Catherine Moloney, who is today working on the IPC Senior Program.

Indeed, Mr. Steven Greeley of the American Ireland fund was so impressed by Cora and her Senior Citizen Program that he and his organization donated funds for the purchase of a bus.  The senior shuttle bus is today used for the transportation needs of the Senior Programs members.

Each week there are senior citizen events in Dorchester and Brighton, and a monthly trip to the Irish Cultural Centre, NE.  The event in is so successful that the IPC has to limit attendance to 180.

The IPC Chaplain, Fr. John McCarthy said, “Cora Flood has been a work colleague for five years now and her dedication to the IPC and particularly to the Senior Program has been second to none.  Her personality, being a great team player, her good humor, and that great smile won over everyone she met.”

Because of her initial work and program development, today hundreds attend the annual mass at the Cathedral on St. Patrick’s  day and there is a year long program of fun trips from a day by the sea in Rockport, at a afternoon gaming at the casinos in Foxwoods.  Cora assembled a great group of volunteers to help her run and participate in the programs activities.

Cora Flood steps down from her work at the IPC

“She worked tirelessly for the good of our Centre and we will never forget the contribution she made to our Irish community in Boston,” said Fr. McCarthy, “We are so glad that Cora will be there to lend a hand with future programs even on a voluntary basis. She’s not getting away that easily!”

Cora lives in Dorchester with partner Brian Crosse and their three children Orla, Killian and Conor.  We are delighted to recognize her for all of her work and support of our programs.

Check out the upcoming Senior Activities for the month of May

Don’t forget to call the RSVP line if you plan to come to the Monthly Luncheon  855-479-2472 – It is based on first-call basis only as our space is limited.

Looking forward to seeing you there

May – Senior Activities

The Leadership Team of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers paid a visit to the Irish Pastoral Centre on Wednesday. The group came from Irish immigration and pastoral centers in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago to show their support for the Irish Senior Connect Helpline in Boston.

Siobhan Dennehy, president of the coalition, spoke to helpline volunteers and staff at the conclusion of a half day volunteer training program.  She thanked everyone for their commitment to the helpline service.  Referring to the success of the listening line in Ireland in giving seniors who felt alone and isolated a way to connect to others, she emphasized the great need for such a service throughout the Irish community here in the United States.  Accompanying her were the vice president and national coordinator of the coalition, which is an umbrella agency for all of the Irish immigration centers throughout the United States.

Representatives of the Irish Apostolate also visited the IPC this past week. Geri Garvey and Celine Kennelly took time out from their busy schedules to offer congratulations and support to the Senior Connect Helpline and to the volunteers and staff who are contributing their time and effort to make it a valuable service for Irish and Irish American seniors.

The newest addition to the Irish Pastoral Centre’s growing array of senior services, the helpline will continue to hold ongoing volunteer trainings on issues affecting seniors. Volunteers are still being sought to be part of the service. Along with helping on the listening line, there are opportunities to assist with administrative and advertising projects. If you have a couple of hours a week available, and would like to help, please call Susan Doody, Coordinator, at 857-266-8133 or send an email to susan.doody@ciic-usa.org.