Bishops Learn About The City Of Culture And Peace Making In Londonderry; Church Leaders Call People To Prayer In East Belfast; Churches Support Working Together To Reduce Suicide Risk; Bishop Good Condemns Graffiti Attack On Church; Tuam introduction
Bishops Learn About The City Of Culture And Peace Making In Londonderry
The Church of Ireland archbishops and bishops have come to the UK City of Culture 2013 for one of their residential meetings. As well as discovering more about how the City of Culture designation has benefitted the community, they are also spending time learning how the initiatives in Derry/Londonderry have worked to build peace.
During their visit, they will meet with a range of people in the city. As well as those involved in leading the City of Culture, they will also meet leaders from the Loyal Orders, the business community as well as local mediators. They will also visit The Apprentice Boys’ Museum and Exhibition and the Museum of Free Derry, tour the City Walls and meet with the Mayor at the Guildhall.
Dr Richard Clarke, The Archbishop of Armagh, said ‘It is a great pleasure for the archbishops and bishops to join the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, his diocese and the people of Derry/Londonderry for this engagement with the 2013 UK City of Culture. The hospitality is remarkable, and we are learning much, as well as having an enjoyable visit.’
Bishop Ken Good (Bishop of Derry and Raphoe) is hosting and has planned the itinerary for the two–day residential. He said, ‘This continues to be a highly successful year of cultural celebration in the city – culture is a celebration of life. We have witnessed the generous meeting of cultures especially in the recent Fleadh and the Walled City Tattoo. But at the same time we know that we are still living in a wounded society and that we have some distance to travel together to achieve greater healing and reconciliation.’
‘The meetings, the visits and the conversations in which the bishops are involved this week remind us that the path to building peace requires patience, engagement and creative resolve. In tackling the various obstacles imaginatively, the people of this city have demonstrated the inspirational words of Abraham Lincoln who said “The best way to predict your future is to create it”.’
Church Leaders Call People To Prayer In East Belfast
The leaders of over 20 congregations from in and around East Belfast have called upon people from that part of the city and beyond to pray for the area on Wednesday, 9 October.
Church members, community leaders and others will gather in St Patrick’s Church, Ballymacarrett, at 7.30 p.m. On Wednesday 9 October 2013, to pray for the local community, the wider city and for Northern Ireland as a whole. The initiative has grown out of a gathering of church leaders, who met this week to discuss a range of issues pertaining to East Belfast, including the ongoing problems of drugs and drug related violence, suicide, and a widespread sense of disenchantment among many people in East Belfast.
A press release states – “A strong sense came from the meeting that the message of the Christian Gospel is a positive one of hope, and that a response of prayer can make a real difference in an increasingly difficult situation. The Bible promises that ‘if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’ (2 Chronicles 7:14).”
Churches Support Working Together To Reduce Suicide Risk
The Inter–Church Committee representing the member churches of the Irish Council of Churches and the Irish Episcopal Conference has today issued the following statement in advance of the Suicide Prevention and Pastoral Care Seminar for Clergy being held on 9 October 2013 in Derry/Londonderry organised by the Irish Churches Churches Peace Project:
“The problem of suicide across the island of Ireland represents immense personal tragedy for families and communities. Church leaders and faith communities are acutely aware of the devastating suffering that follows the loss of every life through suicide. Together we have been reflecting on how we can best apply our resources of pastoral care, love and community, in cooperation with leadership across civic society, to prevent suicide by addressing the root causes of this most human of problems.
We wish to acknowledge the complexity of suicide and the need to work for suicide prevention with open hearts and informed minds. A person dies by suicide when they run out of strategies to cope with immense pain. An important truth emerging from the research and experience of crisis mental health services exposes the idea of ‘choosing to die by suicide’ as a mistaken assumption.
Many people who die by suicide do so in the belief that there is no other choice. Everyone has a role to play ensuring those suffering in this way know they are not alone and that professional and pastoral supports are available to them in our local communities.
As churches we need to build on our existing ministry of listening and pastoral care with training and support specific to suicide prevention, informed by bereaved families and up–to–date evidence–based practice.
In this context, we encourage engagement with the two important cross–border initiatives taking place in Derry city during the month of October: the faith leaders’ seminar on suicide organised by the Irish Churches’ Peace Project on 9 October and the ‘Building Resilience and Promoting Recovery’ conference, organised by the Irish Association of Suicidology and Contact, which is taking place on 10 October.
The problem of suicide has no boundaries, bewildering and devastating communities across the island. Our coming together to share concerns, experiences and potential solutions, represents an important commitment to meaningfully address the problem of suicide with purpose and compassion. Equally vital is the examination of models and initiatives which have proven successful elsewhere in the world. The tragedy of suicide may feel personally overwhelming, but working and reflecting on this problem together we can find practical solutions for our communities.
As a society we owe a great debt of gratitude for the courage and generosity of all those who have been bereaved by suicide or who have experienced suicidal ideation, who now work tirelessly in our communities so that others might be spared this pain. Their commitment gives us hope and their courage is a powerful call to action.”
Bishop Good Condemns Graffiti Attack On Church
Bishop Ken Good (Diocese of Derry and Raphoe) has condemned the daubing of sectarian graffiti on the walls and doors of Ballyarnett Presbyterian Church.
The attack took place on the city–side church in Derry / Londonderry over the past weekend. Bishop Good has been in personal contact with the Minister, Rev Alastair Rosborough to express his regret at the incident and to pass on his good wishes to the congregation.
He said, “Any attack of this nature is deeply upsetting. I wished to let Mr Rosborough and his congregation know that they are in my thoughts and prayers.”
Bishop Good was speaking as the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Ireland meet in Derry / Londonderry for a two–day residential. He said, “Our city has made enormous strides to build bridges and distressing incidents like this are the work of a small unrepresentative minority. I do hope that the congregation in Ballyarnett are aware of the united voices
Tuam introduction
Reverend Andrea Wills was introduced as Priest with Special Pastoral and Liturgical Responsibilities by Bishop Patrick Rooke during a Service of the Word in Foxford on 4th October.
The church in Foxford, parish of Straide, occupies a striking position on the main street of the village. On the night of Andrea’s introduction it was filled to capacity with colleagues, parishoners, friends, visitors and dignitaries from near and far. Their purpose was ask God’s blessing on Revd. Andrea and to affirm her in a role which she has filled for many years.
Revd. Canon Kathy Trimbey led the service. The Dean of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, Very Revd. Alistair Grimason, presented Andrea to the Bishop who then proceeded with The Charge and led the congregation in intercession for her and for her ministry. The preacher was Very Revd. Tom Gordon, Dean of Leighlin, who had been Andrea’s tutor in CITI.
As well as oversight of Foxford, Revd. Andrea will also have responsibility for the new expression of Worship and Outreach in Claremorris. Services here are held in the McWilliam Hotel on the first Sunday of every month at 12 noon.