IRISH NEWS BULLETIN

North Belfast Centre of Mission

Church Army Evangelist Stephen Whitten, from the North Belfast Centre of Mission, at work in the community garden

Just before the restrictions imposed as a result of coronavirus really racked up, the North Belfast Centre of Mission issued a newsletter, outlining the vital work that Connor’s Church Army Evangelists Karen Webb and Stephen Whitten are doing at Connect Base.

This is Connect Base’s fourth year in Shankill Road, and a number of ministries are run from the centre. They include Baby Basics which supports new parents and their babies; an after-school drop-in in Ardoyne; the Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) mentoring project which is working with pupils from two different schools, and a community garden.

Download the North Belfast Centre of Mission Newsletter and enjoy reading the good news at –
[[] https://connor.anglican.org/2020/03/30/north-belfast-centre-of-mission-update/ ]

Cork’s Covid–19 Community Response Forum

At the request of Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD, a Covid–19 Community Response Forum (CRF) is being put in place in Cork City and will be co–ordinated by Cork City Council. A similar initiative will be set up in County Cork.

Bishop Paul Colton, accepted an invitation from the CEO of Cork City Council, Ann Doherty, to be a member of the CRF and, he joined nearly 30 others for the first meeting yesterday held using an online meeting facility.

From yesterday Monday 30th March a dedicated community support helpline is being running from 9am–5pm seven days a week to help ensure that vulnerable members of the community or those living alone can access deliveries of groceries, medicine and fuels and can avail of social care supports, if needed.

The new phoneline is just one aspect of the Forum’s work. Its core aim is contributing to the community–wide effort to limit the spread of Covid–19 by ensuring a co–ordinated community response. The Council’s Covid–19 CRF will work to ensure that local community resources are getting to the people that need them including social care support and social contact.

Taking part in the Cork City CRF are Cork City Council, the HSE, GAA, Tusla, Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross – Paul Colton, Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross – Fintan Gavin, the Age Friendly Network, Alone, Cork Education and Training Board, Migrant Forum, Citizens Information, the Cork City Volunteer Centre, the Red Cross, Civil Defence, the Order of Malta, An Post, An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, and the IFA amongst others.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dr John Sheehan, said: ‘Cork City Council wants to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone in our city and so I am urging everyone to stay safe and follow all the stay home, physical distancing, hand hygiene and coughing etiquette advice from HSE Public Health. However, doing this can be particularly hard on our most vulnerable, some of whom are particularly isolated already and this is where the Cork City Covid–19 CRF comes in to bring some support to those at greatest risk at these times’

Cork City Council Chief Executive Ann Doherty said: ‘There are many, many agencies currently doing super work in delivering care to older and vulnerable people in our communities and this forum is aimed at building on this, not duplicating it. These groups are operating independently of each other and our role is to provide a targeted, integrated and coordinated approach to the delivery of these much needed services to our more socially isolated citizens. We want to build on the existing good local knowledge that the voluntary groups and agencies have about those at risk in our communities.’

Bishop Paul Colton said: ‘This is a time for partnership and for pooling our resources. We unite from many backgrounds and roles, to share expertise and weigh in together with what needs to be done. I am pleased to be involved on behalf of the Church of Ireland in Cork as our people have a lot of gifts, experience and energy to bring to this current time.’

Details of this new service will be promoted on [ www.corkcity.ie ]

An information leaflet including the new freephone number and other information will be distributed around the city, particularly to vulnerable households.

The new Cork City Covid–19 CRF helpline is 1800–222–226. Support can also be accessed via [ covidsupport@corkcity.ie ]

Clogher Diocesan Magazine online

April edition of Clogher Diocesan Magazine

The April edition of the Clogher Diocesan Magazine is now available to read online on this website.

Because of the restrictions imposed by governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, arising from the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, it has not been possible to print this edition and distribute magazines throughout parishes in the normal way.

Instead this April edition is available for everyone to read free on the Clogher website and shared among the parish websites.

This month’s magazine, in addition to parish notes around the diocese, has advice for parishes and individuals on how to deal with the Coronavirus, there is an interview with the Bishop of Clogher as he looks ahead to his new role as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland and there is coverage of the funeral of the late Canon Mark Watson, Rector of Maguiresbridge and Derrybrusk, who sadly died at the beginning of March.

For the parishioners of Magheraculmoney at Ardess, Kesh, there is coverage of the announcement of the appointment of their new rector, Revd Francis Rutledge.

To read the magazine, click on the Magazine tab on the tool bar at the top of the home page of this website or by clicking on the link below;
[ http://clogher.anglican.org/Magazine/ ]

Book spot

Prayer requests

Pray for people who are more likely than others to become severely ill from Covid-19 — the elderly and people with chronic health conditions. Protect them from harm and be their comfort in this time of uncertainty.

Coronavirus is having and will have an impact on many in our society – particularly those who are already up against it and barely managing as it is. Please pray for all battling poverty at this time.

Pray for Church Army Evangelist Marjorie Griffin in Liverpool as she would normally lead a Your Church into Growth course as well as running a Start! course for new Christians. Pray for clarity over how best to proceed.

God in creation