Curate who carried the Olympic Torch; Terror victims conference in Omagh; First female Methodist president; New scheme to support parents; Speak out over Provo medals, GAA is urged; Eucharistic congress
Curate who carried the Olympic Torch
Olympic torchbearer the Rev Andrew Ker, curate at St Brigid’s Parish, Mallusk, has described his 300 metre run through Carnlough, Co Antrim, on Sunday June 3 as ‘rather fabulous!’
Andrew, 46, was one of 8,000 people in the UK selected to carry the Olympic flame, and his run took him along a section of the route of the 2010 Tour de Connor cycle.
Andrew organised the cycle marathon, which raised more than £40,000 for the Friends of the Cancer Centre, and it was fellow cyclist and his rector at St Brigid’s, the Rev Bill Boyce, who nominated him as a torchbearer.
Andrew said he was honoured and humbled to be nominated, and family and friends from Mallusk travelled to Carnlough to watch his run before he handed the flame on to Paralympic gold medalist Dianne McMillan.
Terror victims conference in Omagh
Belfast Telegraph – Beirut hostage Terry Waite will be a guest speaker at an international victims of terror conference in Northern Ireland this week.
It is being held in Omagh, where 29 people died in a Real IRA car bomb blast in 1998. Stephen Travers, survivor of the Miami Showband Massacre by loyalists, will also address delegates from across Europe and America. The conference aims to discuss and share lessons learned by victims’ organisations. The meeting will be held on June 12 and 13 and is the first time the event has taken place in Ireland.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/terror-victims-conference-in-omagh-16170325.html#ixzz1xVqh2ycL
First female Methodist president
BBC & Newsletter – The Methodist Church in Ireland has elected Dr Heather Morris as its first female president during its annual conference.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18373582
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/methodist-church-elects-first-woman-president-1-3936005
New scheme to support parents
BBC News – The NSPCC has announced a new scheme to help tackle neglect by supporting and challenging parents who are struggling to care for their children.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18387574
Speak out over Provo medals, GAA is urged
Newsletter – Leading reconciliation campaigner Trevor Ringland has called on the GAA to make an official statement after IRA medals were handed to children at one of its clubs. It was reported last week that the mother of an 11-year-old boy was angered after medals featuring IRA member Martin McCaughey were given out during an under-12 boys’ event at Galbally Pearses Club in Tyrone.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/speak-out-over-provo-medals-gaa-is-urged-1-3936700
Eucharistic congress
Reports of commencement – Irish Examiner & Irish Times
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/a-desire-to-become-a-different-church-196928.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2012/0611/1224317694950.html