The aim of the society is to promote vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. We do this mainly through prayer and by the raising of funds. The first meeting of the Society in Coalisland took place in May 1987, convened by Very Rev. Mons. Liam McEntegart. Officers were elected to serve for 3 years. The president, Secretary and Treasurer were elected. Members and promoters were recruited.
Members meet monthly to pray and to keep informed of anything taking place within the wider Society. We attend the annual Congress, quarterly meetings within the Diocese and an annual Day of Prayer and annual pilgrimage to Knock. Funds are raised through our promoters and an annual Church collection. These are forwarded to the Central Council in Dublin and used to assist priests and religious in Ireland and elsewhere in the world.
A meeting was held in Coalisland on January 16th 1944 for the purpose of establishing a branch of Apostolic work. This meeting was attended by Miss Margaret Colgan who was Diocesan President at the time. The meeting was chaired by parish priest V. Rev. J. Macken and Rev. C. McAvinchey C.C. and was attended by about fifty ladies. Miss Colgan outlined the history, aims and work of Apostolic Work and the Coalisland Branch of Apostolic Workers was inaugurated. Meetings were originally held weekly in the old Primate Dixon Memorial Primary School but moved to a room in the Church of the Holy Family in 1984.
Today Coalisland Apostolic Work has six active members who meet weekly and make albs, chasubles, stoles and altar linens for the foreign missions. ThPresident is Mrs Gerard O'Hanlon and Treasurer is Mrs Ann Hanna. Our Spiritual Director is Rev. Paul Byrne P.P.
We also have an excellent support group who collect annual subscriptions from our 350 honorary members. In the past we organised fund raising events such as Sales of Work but presently we rely on annual subscriptions and donations from parishioners.
Apostolic Workers would welcome new willing, active workers and parishioners who would like to become honorary members.
The society of St. Vincent de Paul have two branches in the parish – Stewartstown and Coalisland.