Olympic torchbearers light Flame of Unity in Ballygally; Quiet Day for Connor clergy; Limerick diocesan synod; Ordinations; Institution; Dublin Diocesan Service for Pupils and Teachers; Inter–Parish Hockey Tournament; Presbyterians back talks with Sinn Fein; NI has most adults still at home; Northern Ireland tops list of fuel poor homes
Olympic torchbearers light Flame of Unity in Ballygally
A special Olympic Torch event will take place in Ballygally on Saturday June 2 from 11am–5pm.
Guests of honour are Olympic torchbearers Trevor Ringland (former Ulster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions winger) and Dianne McMillan (Paralympian swimming double gold medallist).
The event will unite the community in true Olympic spirit ahead of the Torch Relay which passes through the village the following afternoon].
Trevor represented Ireland 31 times winning the Triple Crown in 1982 and 1985. He is now a partner in a solicitors’ firm, but continues his interest in sport, particularly its role in bringing Protestant and Catholic young people together through the organisation Peace Players International.
The family fun day begins with a beach–clean at 11am, followed by a barbecue at 12.30pm. At 1.30pm Trevor, together with Ronan O’Donnell [GAA coach from Genravel] and David McClelland [Glentoran Goalkeeping coach] will be organising a “Game of 3 Halves” on Ballygally beach – enabling young people to play Football, Gaelic Football and Rugby in turn.
Trevor will then be sharing his faith story at a special Afternoon Tea Party in the new Ballygally Hall at 3.30pm, before returning on Sunday to carry the Olympic torch in Larne.
Ballygally resident Dianne – who will also be a torchbearer on Sunday in Carnlough – will be talking about her sporting achievements, as well as showing off her medals. A below–the–knee amputee, she became Northern Ireland’s first ever Paralympian medallist winning swimming gold in the 4×100 freestyle and 4×100 medley relays, plus silver and two bronze at the 1988 Seoul games. .
Organised jointly by the four Churches of Cairncastle/Ballygally (Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Non–Subscribing Presbyterian & Roman Catholic) in partnership with the Ballygally & Cairncastle Community Associations, the family fun day is a unique opportunity for everyone to join together in celebrating this very special weekend.
Co–organiser Roger Thompson, Rector of St Patrick’s, Cairncastle with All Saints’ Craigyhill, said: “The torch relay is a once–in–a–lifetime opportunity for the churches to work in partnership with each other and the local community, sharing in the celebrations and shining out the light of Jesus”.
Quiet Day for Connor clergy
Clergy from across Connor Diocese attended a Quiet Day in St Peter’s Parish Church, Antrim Road, Belfast, on Thursday May 31.
The day was organised by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, and the speaker was the Rt Rev Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester.
Bishop Perham is the author of ‘The Hospitality of God,’ and his writings formed the background to his talk which looked at fresh expressions of worship in emerging churches.
Bishop Alan said: “I met Michael at the Lambeth Conference when we were both Listeners and I have always wanted to ask him to come over. It is a joy to have him here to talk to the clergy of Connor Diocese.”
Limerick diocesan synod
This year the diocesan synod will be held at Aghancon Community Hall, Agancon, Co. Offaly on
Saturday 16th June 2012
Starting at 10:00
This year there will be a bus going through the diocese with various pick-up points. The full details of the bus are at.
http://limerick.anglican.org/news_detail.php?id=65
Ordinations
Lucy Green, deacon in the Killaloe group of parishes, will be ordained priest on Sunday 24th June
At 3:00 p.m. in St. Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe. Lucy has another life as a Social Care Leader at Daughters of Charity, St Vincents Centre, in Limerick. She lists her hobbies are Listening to Music, Reading, and Hill Walking. As well as all that she is also a cat lover, which shows what a sensible person she really is.
The Revd Helen Oxley will be ordained on Thursday 28th June at Old Leighlin Cathedral (Cashel & Ossory) at 8 p.m.
The Revd Nicola Halford will be ordained to the ministry at St Iberius’ Church, Wexford on Friday 31st August, time tbc.
Institution
The Revd Michael Stevenson will be instituted as incumbent of Bunclody Union on Thursday 5th July at 8 p.m.
Dublin Diocesan Service for Pupils and Teachers of Primary and Junior Schools
The Diocesan Board of Education has announced details of the annual Diocesan Service for Pupils and Teachers of Primary Schools and Junior Schools, which will take place on Thursday September 27 at 11.00 am in Christ Church Cathedral.
Representatives of third level colleges, the College of Education, and all primary and junior schools in the United Dioceses are invited to attend this service to seek God’s blessing on the work carried out in schools and God’s blessing on pupils, teachers and all those who are involved with schools in the dioceses during the new academic year
Inter–Parish Hockey Tournament
Parishes from across Dublin & Glendalough are preparing to bully off at the annual Diocesan Inter–Parish Hockey Tournament, which takes place on Wednesday June 6. This fun tournament provides the opportunity for parishioners to show off their athletic prowess competing ultimately for the Archbishop’s Hockey Cup on reaching the Winners’ Final. The bottom teams in each section will contest the Losers’ Final for the Archbishop’s Chamber Pot. The tournament, which is also a great social event, will be held in St Andrew’s College, Booterstown Avenue, Booterstown, Blackrock, commencing at 6.00 pm on June 6.The usual rules apply.
Presbyterians back talks with Sinn Fein
Belfast Newsletter – The Presbyterian Church in Ireland this week gave its unequivocal backing to one of its ministers engaging in reconciliation talks with Sinn Fein. The Rev Lesley Carroll hit the headlines at the weekend when Sinn Fein revealed at its annual conference … Report includes news of other church activities.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/presbyterians-back-talks-with-sf-1-3901048
NI has most adults still at home
BBC News – Northern Ireland has the highest percentage of young adults living with their parents, according to Office for National Statistics figures.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18256006
Northern Ireland tops list of fuel poor homes
Belfast Telegraph – Northern Ireland has more fuel poor homes than anywhere else in the UK or Ireland, it has emerged. The revelation came ahead of a five-nations conference at Stormont this week aimed at finding a solution to the growing problem. Experts from the province were joined by their English, Republic of Ireland, Scottish and Welsh counterparts in the Long Gallery in Parliament Buildings to examine the fuel poverty policies in place in the different countries.
Of the four UK nations, Northern Ireland (44%) has the greatest proportion of fuel poor households, followed by Scotland (33%), Wales (26%) and England (18%), according to the Annual Report on Fuel Poverty Statistics 2011
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-tops-list-of-fuel-poor-homes-16165349.html