Northern Ireland

Around 2,000 Queen's University students to get care packages from Catholic chaplaincy

Catholic chaplaincy pastoral manager Shannon Campbell and chaplain Fr Dominic McGrattan outside the Lanyon Building at Queen's
Catholic chaplaincy pastoral manager Shannon Campbell and chaplain Fr Dominic McGrattan outside the Lanyon Building at Queen's Catholic chaplaincy pastoral manager Shannon Campbell and chaplain Fr Dominic McGrattan outside the Lanyon Building at Queen's

AROUND 2,000 students at Queen's University Belfast who cannot return home due to the pandemic are to be given special care packages by the Catholic chaplaincy.

Packs, including pizza vouchers worth a total of £7,000, are being distributed this week, mainly to international students and freshers.

The chaplaincy said it was mindful that many university students had felt isolated and anxious during the pandemic, particularly those who are far from home.

Each pack includes a voucher for a free pizza; chocolate bars; information from mental health charity Papyrus, and QUB Nightline; information about at the chaplaincies at Queen's, and prayer cards for Catholic students.

The packs are being distributed around Queen's-owned student halls in Belfast.

Catholic chaplain to Queen’s, Fr Dominic McGrattan, said: "This initiative is a concrete way of reaching out to students to let them know we care for them and remain here providing pastoral supports."

He said the Catholic chaplaincy “is by no means unique in offering help during the pandemic” and said the Presbyterian chaplaincy organised Thanksgiving dinners for international students last week.

The chaplaincy’s pastoral manager, Shannon Campbell, thanked charities, including the Knights of St Columbanus, and the businesses who supported the care packages - Domino’s Pizza, Henderson’s Retail and MCA Design & Print.

"I appreciate many demands are made on their generosity and that they’re already doing great work to support local communities and worthwhile causes and yet they made their charity budgets stretch to include us," she said.