New Kenyan Bishop to address CMS Ireland AGM; Eucharistic Congress Pilgrim Walk Launch at St Ann’s; Youth Worker appointed to Derry and Raphoe; Death of Canon Robert Rudd; Bilingual Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral; Holy Communion in Irish at Christ Church Cathedral; ICC temporary post; Safeguarding Trust (RI) newsletter; Lenten Lunches raise appetising €7750 for Drogheda Homeless Aid; Irish church at the crossroads: reform or bust; BNP leader lambasted on Ulster race claims; Charities say Irish Social Welfare Bill will push one-parent families into poverty; More top-grade UK university places
New Kenyan Bishop to address CMS Ireland AGM
The Rt Revd Gaddiel Lenini, Bishop of Kajiado Diocese, Kenya will be one of the special guests at the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the Church Mission Society, Ireland.
Bishop Gaddiel was consecrated in January, following the retirement of Kajiado’s first bishop, Jeremiah Taama, who was himself a regular visitor to Ireland and a valued friend of CMS Ireland. At his Consecration, Bishop Gaddiel expressed his own passion for mission and his desire to see mission at the heart of the church:
“The primary duty of the church is mission and evangelism, which is a divine enterprise that embraces the plan of God for every one of His children. All believers have a role to play in mission.”
CMS Ireland has worked in partnership with Kajiado Diocese for almost 30 years and during this time, the Society has helped to facilitate vibrant, two–way relationships between Kajiado and over 30 parishes in Ireland. Bishop Gaddiel’s visit marks an important new chapter in these relationships.
CMS Ireland’s AGM will also feature an update from Dr Rory Wilson, the Medical Superintendent of Kiwoko Hospital, who recently returned to Ireland with his wife, Denise and son, Gideon for a period of Home Assignment.
The AGM is taking place on Saturday 28th April at Howth Parish Halls, County Dublin, beginning with refreshments at 2pm and finishing in plenty of time for those wishing to attend the Heineken Cup match in Dublin!
Further information: www.cmsireland.org.
Eucharistic Congress Pilgrim Walk Launch at St Ann’s
Archbishop Michael Jackson and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will launch the Eucharistic Congress Pilgrim Walk at St Ann’s, Dawson Street, at 4.00 pm on Wednesday April 25. The Pilgrim Walk will take place from June 3 to June 17 (the week before and the week of the Eucharistic Congress). The walk will take congress pilgrims to seven Dublin churches with St Ann’s being the only Anglican church involved. It is expected that up to 20,000 pilgrims could take part in the walk over the two weeks. They will visit each church, pray the Eucharistic prayer and get a special congress walk ‘passport’ stamped at each location. At St Ann’s they will have the opportunity to learn about the church and its Anglican ministry.
Youth Worker appointed to Derry and Raphoe
Martin Montgomery who has been appointed Diocesan Youth Officer for the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.
Martin, 32, is originally from Dollingstown and for the last 5 years has been the youth pastor of Seapatrick Parish Church in Banbridge.
“I loved every minute working with the young people and volunteers there who energised me with their passion and reminded me why youth work is one of the best jobs there is,” said Martin. “I will really miss the people there, but I know the time is right for me to move on.”
Martin did a youth work degree in Ipswich and has been working with young people for about 10 years. “I definitely still feel called to this vocation, but I know God is leading me to do it in a slightly different way,” he said.
Martin expressed his delight at being offered the job in Derry and Raphoe and is looking forward to the new challenge:
“I am excited to be working for Bishop Ken Good, and the DRY board alongside all the volunteers and young people who I know have such a passion for seeing God move in the lives of young people in this diocese. Please pray for me as I move, however more importantly continue to pray for the youth leaders in the diocese who do the daily ground work of bringing Christ to our young people, and our young people to Christ.”
Martin hopes to take up his new duties in May this year
Canon Robert Rudd
A former Rector of Moira Parish, Canon Bob Rudd, has died. Born in 1934, Canon Rudd was ordained deacon in 1957. He served curacies in both Lurgan and Lisburn Cathedral before serving for four years as Curate Assistant in Willowfield in the Diocese of Down. His first incumbency was in Drumgooland with Kilcoo from 1966–75 and then he moved to Moira where he was rector for twenty years. Mr Rudd became a Canon of Belfast Cathedral in 1990 and retired from his third incumbency in Magherally and Annaclone in 2002. He and his wife Rosemary were living in Banbridge.
Bilingual Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral
A bilingual service of Evensong, celebrated in Irish and English, will take place in Christ Church Cathedral this Sunday, April 22, at 3.30 pm. It is hoped that this bilingual service can become a monthly event on the fourth Sunday of the month when the choir is in residence.
Holy Communion in Irish at Christ Church Cathedral
Holy Communion is celebrated in Irish in Christ Church Cathedral on the fourth Monday of every month at 12.45 pm. Further information about other services in Irish is available at:www.cumanngaelachnaheaglaise.blogspot.com/.
ICC temporary post
The Irish Council of Churches seeks a Finance and Administration Assistant (Maternity Cover) who will be based in the Belfast office. Salary £17,161 – £19,126. “We seek a friendly, competent and enthusiastic individual to set our values of integrity, trust and respect at the heart of our finance and administration. You will need to have 5 GCSE’s including English Language or equivalent qualifications, minimum 1 years’ experience in an administrative role, experience of managing finances, be familiar with accounting software and be able to relate to a wide cross section of people.” Closing date for applications Mon 23rd April noon. Interviews 1st May, appointment commencing early June 2012.
Vacancy for Crosslinks Ireland Staff Worker
Crosslinks is looking for the right person to fill a position, based in Ireland. This new and exciting role has been designed with the gospel at its centre, the whole world as its remit and working closely with and amongst God’s people to draw more people (especially young adults) into God’s worldwide, life–time’s mission. Further details at:
http://www.crosslinks.org/irelandstaffworker
Safeguarding Trust (RI) newsletter, April 2012
The April 2012 edition of the Safeguarding Trust (RI) newsletter may be accessed by clicking here or:
http://ireland.anglican.org/news/4062
Lenten Lunches raise appetising €7750 for Drogheda Homeless Aid
Drogheda Independent – The series of Lenten Lunches held in St Peters Church of Ireland produced a magnificent result of €7750 for Drogheda Homeless Aid. The organisers were delighted at the level of support they received, from suppliers, volunteers, and members of the …
http://www.drogheda-independent.ie/news/lenten-lunches-raise-appetising-7750-for-drogheda-homeless-aid-3084133.html
Irish church at the crossroads: reform or bust
Belfast Telegraph – The autocratic approach of Pope Benedict has brought the Catholic Church in Ireland to the brink of schism, argues Malachi O’Doherty. A revolution is brewing within the Catholic Church in Ireland. It is coming from the only stratum of the Church that has the power to affect radical change: the priests. The question is: will they have the numbers, the coherence, or the energy to force major change? They know what has to be done, because they have already recognised the difference between the character of the Church in Ireland and the kind of church Rome wants it to be.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/irish-church-at-the-crossroads-reform-or-bust-16146437.html
Irish priest returns home in middle of US sexual abuse trial
TheJournal.ie – Fr Michael Kelly was due to give testimony yesterday afternoon but has instead returned home to Ireland.
http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-priest-returns-home-in-middle-of-us-sexual-abuse-trial-421634-Apr2012/
BNP leader lambasted on Ulster race claims
News Letter – Outspoken British National Party leader Nick Griffin has been criticised after claiming that parts of Portadown look like “Africa or China”.
Referring to the growing ethnic minority in the Co Armagh town and other parts of Northern Ireland during a radio phone-in yesterday, the MEP claimed there was no “democratic mandate” for the influx of foreign nationals into the Province.
Mr Griffin, who has been previously convicted of distributing material likely to incite racial hatred, made a fundraising visit to Northern Ireland at the weekend.
Part of the itinerary included a stop in Antrim where organisers of a flute band parade reportedly ordered the BNP leader to move on.
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Stephen Nolan Show yesterday, Mr Griffin claimed he received a “great response” during his flying visit.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/bnp-leader-lambasted-on-ulster-race-claims-1-3747952
Charities say Irish Social Welfare Bill will push one-parent families into poverty
TheJournal.ie – The Social Welfare Bill being brought to the Dáil proposes to send single parents onto the dole when their youngest child turns 7.
http://www.thejournal.ie/charities-say-social-welfare-bill-will-push-one-parent-families-into-poverty-422215-Apr2012/
More top-grade UK university places
BBC – One in four university places is expected to be kept available for top-grade A-level applicants this year.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17760346