The original confraternity of Our Lady was established in the Redemptorist church of San Alfonso in Rome in 1871. Saint Alphonsus was chosen as its secondary patron because of his great devotion to Mary. A branch of this confraternity was founded in Clonard in 1897 by Father Patrick Griffith. The day was June 20th, the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. On the following Sunday when the first meeting took place more than 700 women attended. Father Griffith remained as Director until 1904. From the beginning the confraternity attracted ever increasing numbers. When the Golden Jubilee of founding was celebrated in 1947 the total membership was 7,569. The members have always had a tremendous enthusiasm for their confraternity, inspired no doubt by their love for the Mother of Perpetual Succour. "My Clonard Sunday" was a special day for them. The confraternity was part of their lives, a veritable powerhouse of grace. Despite the shrinking numbers of today this is still the case.
The Holy Family Confraternity for men was founded in 1844
in Liege in Belgium by Henri Belletable, an army captain. His intention was
to establish an organisation of Catholic laymen who would help their fellow
men, particularly those of the working class, to attain their eternal
salvation. The first Irish branch of the Holy Family was set up in
the Redemptorist Church, Limerick, in 1868. The Clonard branch was
established on Tuesday July 20th, 1897, with Father Vincent Bourke as
Spiritual Director. As in the case of the women the men's confraternity
received a steady inflow of enthusiastic recruits. When the Diamond Jubilee
was celebrated in 1957 the membership was 7,172. Shortly before the men's
confraternity was founded one was set up for boys. From an early membership
of 420 it reached a peak of 2,126 in 1957. The late Cardinal Conway was a
member of the boys' confraternity
Clonard Men’s Confraternity possesses a distinctive spirit. It is a spirit
of loyalty and affection towards the Holy Family and the Redemptorist
Congregation at Clonard.
There are men with a record of not having missed a meeeting in 30, 40, 50,
or even 60 years.
