After an absence of two and a half years Paddy Phelan, pictured here, is back as the Honorary Director of the developing world charity SPICMA.

As a volunteer, Paddy had been running the Charity since its inception nearly thirty eight years ago. From a local church group. Supporting the newly ordained Fr Bernard Phelan in his work in Uganda, SPICMA evolved into an emergency aid organisation in 1975. This was in response to an appeal from priests in Eastern Uganda for medical aid, which was desperately needed for the people who were suffering under the dictatorship of Idi Amin. After the liberation of Uganda, SPICMA continued with this work, sending many tons of medical aid and lifesaving equipment to people in need via. missionary priests and religious. This enabled control on delivery and distribution and, therefore, no medicines or goods sent by them entered the black market.

SPICMA continued to expand giving much needed assistance to priests and religious in countries such as India, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Poland and Romania. Recently, SPICMA airlifted tons of emergency medicines to Sri Lanka just three days after the Tsunami struck. Following an urgent appeal, some of the money received was sent to the Jesuit fathers in Sri Lanka. This helped rebuild the infrastructure of the communities they work in. The balance of the funds were sent to the Indian Missionary Society in Tamil Nadu for their work in tsunami rehabilitation.

In 2003, Paddy felt it was time to take a sabbatical. After some careful thought, his brother Michael, who was himself busy studying for both a degree and the Deaconate, valiantly agreed to take on the role of director.

Now, feeling totally renewed and energised Paddy has returned. When asked how he saw the future for SPICMA, he replied that to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, the objectives of the trust remains:

"The advancement of Christianity by supporting and assisting the missionary work of the Church."