FRIENDS OF ST PATRICK - MILWAUKEE CHAPTER

The Irish Fest Center featured a presentation by Dr. Tim Campbell, Director of the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. The St. Patrick Centre has been in existence for the past six years and came to the attention of Irish Fest through Archbishop Timothy Dolan who visited the centre in August 2006. Dr. Campbell participated in Irish Fest this past summer and by his own admission, came away very impressed with the efforts of so many in Milwaukee to promote the Irish heritage and culture. Those who were fortunate to speak with Dr. Campbell and hear him talk at Irish Fest were impressed with his passionate and humorous accounts of St. Patrick and his legacy and the mission of the centre dedicated in Patrick's name.

The Centre is an interpretive, interactive exhibition which allows visitors to explore St. Patrick's legacy and that of the Irish missionaries in Dark Age Europe. In addition the Centre and it's small staff and their volunteers have reached out to the greater community for cross-cultural and cross-border reconciliation programs.

The topic of a Milwaukee Chapter to support the Centre and it's important work came up when he was here. We are now seeking individuals who are interested in joining the Friends of St Patrick. An organizational meeting will be held, Thursday March 20th at 7PM at the Irish Fest Center, 1532 Wauwatosa Avenue, Milwaukee, WI. We invite all who are interested in supporting the Centre and its important work to join us at this meeting.

Dr. Campbell was in Milwaukee to launch the United States premier of the Young Ambassadors Program. This program will encourage young people from America to travel to Belfast for 3 weeks to explore the traditions and culture of this part of the island of Ireland, see the reconciliation work being done at the Center and engage in meaningful dialogues about the shared cultural heritage with individuals and international organizations.

Dr. Campbell explained that the inspiration for this program was his visit to Milwaukee Irish Fest this past summer. In its first and initial year 2008, the Young Ambassadors program will select twelve prospective Young Ambassadors from the United States to travel to Belfast for three weeks in late July, early August. In Belfast and the surrounding areas, the Ambassadors will explore many different aspects of the Irish culture.

For more information on the St. Patrick's Centre and the Young Ambassadors Program, please visit www.saintpatrickcentre.com