Oliver McGuinness, Sean Campbell, Cormac Wilson and Michael O'Neill   The conference of the Holy Family was established in Coalisland on 18th January 1979 and their first meeting was held in St Patrick's Hall in the town. To their good fortune an old building named "The Dispensary" became vacant and it was leased to the conference by the DHSS for the meagre rate of "one peppercorn per year". The building was refurbished over the next eighteen months and the building was officially opened as the "Ozanam Centre" on 28th August 1983 by the then regional president Danny O'Brien.   refurbishment 1983 new kitchen Over the last 25 years the building has gone through many phases. During the 1980s it served as a base for the ACE scheme which at its height employed 86 part and full time employees.

Long service awards presented to mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Ozanam Centre in Barrack Street, Coalisland, Co Tyrone on 28th September 2008.   The occasion was marked with a special Mass celebrated by Fr Byrnes PP. Afterwards, regional president Cormac Wilson presented medals and certificates to eight members of the Holy Family conference including Sean Campbell, Michael O'Neill and Oliver McGuinness for their long service to the Society and also paid a special tribute to Jim Kelly from the neighbouring St Patrick's Dungannon conference. click to enlarge Jim Kelly It has also been used for Society parties for the local disabled and as a Young Pioneer's Youth Club and Pop Bar, a morning Playgroup for children and as a meeting place for various other groups in the town.   In 1988 the centre was extended and two new rooms built which were later used as a Welfare Rights Advice Centre and as a Repair Shop for Lawnmowers. Later a new kitchen was built and this led to the delivery of Home Management Courses and during this time a clothing boutique "Vincents" also opened. 1983 2008 Ozanam Centre   Cormac thanked everyone for their commitment and long lasting achievements which he said were a shining example to us all.