Corrymeela’s new village honours founder; Holywood Parish send a team to Uganda; Memorial to former rector; 110 years of Mothers’ Union; Zion School’s 150th Anniversary; Fermanagh Victims satisfied with Taoiseach meeting; NI Schools failed over leadership; Offenders’ hostel open ‘in weeks’
Corrymeela’s new village honours founder
UTV news – The Davey Village offers accommodation and learning space for visitors to the centre, which promotes tolerance and mutual respect across religious and political divides.
Reverend Ray and Kathleen Davey established the Corrymeela Community in 1965 and it was led by Rev Davey until 1980.
For almost 50 years the north coast centre, which has 7,000 visitors each year, has been a safe space for meeting and dialogue for thousands of families, school children, and youth, church and community groups.
At the official opening on Tuesday, Rev Dr Inderjit Bhogal OBE, Leader and CEO of the Corrymeela Community, said: “Their inspiration has lead to almost half a century of peace-building and reconciliation work with thousands of people from all walks of like. This village will enable us to help others continue the journey towards a shared future.”
The new facility includes a fully self-contained building sleeping up to 42 people with kitchen and dining facilities, audio visual equipment and en suite bathrooms.
The new addition was backed by a £1.25m donation from the International Fund for Ireland’s Leaving a Legacy Programme, while a contribution from the Fitzpatrick Hotels Group and fundraising by the Corrymeela Community raised the rest of the cash.
More at:
http://www.u.tv/News/Corrymeelas-new-village-honours-founder/c2d09f2b-8c05-4f82-b3a6-b2c8e3a1e5fa
Holywood Parish send a team to Uganda
The Vicar of Holywood Parish, Revd Roger Elks, and eleven others are currently visiting the small village of Kkalwe near Luwero in Uganda. Holywood has had personal links with Kkalwe for several years and the team visit will develop this relationship and fellowship. Through the direction of Fields of Life, Holywood Parish hope to share in the work of education and community development.
“It is too easy to be small minded about the work God is doing in His world, “ said The Revd Roger Elks,” We have so much to learn from other Christians around the world. I am sure we will gain far more than we can give.”
This is the second of 3 parish trips, the preparation for which began in the spring. The first was in August to a small parish in Cornwall to run a Children’s holiday club. Twenty six parishioners, most between the ages of 14 –22, and including the Vicar and his wife, travelled to Cornwall.
The third Parish trip will be undertaken by ten others including the Curate, Simon Richardson and Lay Reader, Jim Cheshire. They will travel to Delhi in India and visit the work of Asha, a charity giving educational opportunities to slum dwellers.
2012 has been a year in which the members of Holywood Parish have been discovering their place in God’s world. They have explored how God has called them to be part of His world as individuals, as a local community and as part of the world wide church. After teaching in the previous autumn on God’s mission and the church’s role within it, the year commenced with an Alpha course of up to 60 people. The course was an opportunity for church members to encourage their friends and family to “Come and see”, just as Philip had invited Nathaniel.
Memorial to former rector
The Service of Harvest Thanksgiving with dedication of plaque to the late Canon Robin Richey with gifts to the church took place in Kiltyclogher Parish Church (Clogher) on Sunday 7th October at 7:00 pm. The Service was conducted by the Rev Anita Kerr and preacher was The Right Reverend John McDowell, Bishop of Clogher. The lessons were read by Adele Murphy, granddaughter of Mrs Florence McVitty and the Rev Hazel Hicks, Priest-in-charge of the Arva Group of Parishes. Bishop John dedicated the plaque and gifts to the Glory of God and to adorn his house. As well as the plaque, the west Door was presented by Mrs Florence McVitty, the notice board by William & Helen McVitty, and the Hymn Board by Wilfie & Catherine Carson. The Church was packed to capacity with parishioners, visitors and the wider community from as far away as Longford and Clogher.
110 years of Mothers’ Union
The Parish of Annahilt and Magherahamlet had much to celebrate on the first weekend in October. On Saturday 6, Bishop Harold dedicated the new hall complex at Magherahamlet and the next day the hall was in use to celebrate 60 years of Mother’s Union in Annahilt and 50 years in Magherahamlet.
Mrs Liz Miller officially opened the new building which has been twelve years in the planning with many obstacles surmounted along the way. It is built on a new site adjacent to the church and replaces an old school hall 2 miles away that is now a family home.
The Knox and Markwell Architects design comprises one large room, a small committee room, toilet facilities and kitchen.
The local community were very supportive of the build and there were so many generous gifts that, apart from some finishing touches, the hall is paid for.
Branch leaders past and present cut the anniversary cake during the dinner held for both branches in Magherahamlet’s new parochial hall. On the same occasion, Esther Ferguson was presented with her certificate to mark 50 years membership of the Mother’s Union
Zion School’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations begin
On Sunday September 21 Zion School, Rathgar, Dublin, will begin a year of celebrations to mark its 150th anniversary. Opened in 1863, two years after Zion Church, the school stood in what was almost a rural area, the newly expanding suburbs still largely unfinished. It is therefore appropriate that festivities run from harvest 2012 to 2013, commencing this Sunday, October 21 at 10.30 am, where the preacher will be the Revd Dr Stanley Gamble.
Fermanagh Victims satisfied with Taoiseach meeting
Newsletter – Fermanagh IRA victims have they were satisfied with their first meeting with the Taoiseach as part of a process towards an apology for Irish state failures in tackling border terrorism during the Troubles.
A delegation of nine people from Fermanagh had a one hour and 40 minutes round-table meeting with Enda Kenny in his Dublin offices, where they told emotional stories about what they described as the “ethnic cleansing” of their loved ones from along the Fermanagh border during the Troubles.
Led by Stormont minister Arlene Foster they are seeking an acknowledgment from the Irish government for what they see as failures by successive governments to stop IRA gangs using the Republic as a safe haven from which to launch attacks in the 70s and 80s.
Ms Foster, whose father survived an IRA gun attack on his own farm, said: “It was a very important meeting and stories were told which have not been told for a considerable period of time.
“The Taoiseach wants time to absorb what he has heard.
“We spoke to him about issues of extradition and hierarchies of victims, but the most important thing was that the families were able to come down here and talk about what they felt was the lack of security around the border at that particular time.”
More at:
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/victims-satisfied-with-taoiseach-meeting-1-4376703
NI Schools failed over leadership
Belfast Telegraph – Almost one in five post-primary school principals inspected in Northern Ireland failed to provide satisfactory leadership, it has been revealed.
The quality of education in seven sample schools was inadequate or unsatisfactory, with low examination attainment a key feature, chief inspector Noelle Buick’s report said. Those in areas with high levels of deprivation fared worst.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19964378
Offenders’ hostel open ‘in weeks’
BBC – A hostel in north Belfast which accommodates sex offenders is to reopen in the next few weeks, despite a campaign for its permanent closure. The hostel is run by the Presbyterian Board of Social Witness. Linda Wray from the board said it was safer to have offenders where they could be monitored.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19974512