NEWS BRIEFS

Clogher Diocese European Heritage Open weekend

Two church buildings in Clogher Diocese will be opening their doors to visitors during European Heritage Open this weekend on 14 and 15 September. Rossorry Parish Church, located at 162 Ballaghmore Road, Enniskillen (BT74 7HB) will be opening on Sunday afternoon, 15 September, only from 2pm–5pm. The church has an interesting history and recently marked its 175th anniversary. St Macartan’s Cathedral, Clogher, (Photo above) will be opening during the entire Heritage Weekend on Saturday from 10am–1.30pm and on Sunday from 10am–4pm. The Cathedral, which sits at the top of the hill in Clogher, has one of the finest archives of records.

Interchurch support at Mountrath

On Saturday 7 September parishioner William Whitten organised a Groundskeeping Workday at Seir Kieran Monastic Site in Clareen, Co. Offaly. The monastic site is a national monument and home to the Church of Ireland’s Church of St Ciarán: Saighir Chiaráin (anglicised to Seir Kieran).

“We were delighted by the generosity of our Roman Catholic neighbours who answered William’s call for volunteers to tidy this important historical site and turned an ordinary workparty into a lovely Ecumenical event, and indeed to our own parishioners who gave up their Saturday to tackle the heavily overgrown grounds.” said a member of the parish.

Volunteers from the Roman Catholic parish of Seir Kieran were:
Tom Connors and his sons Kieran and Thomas. Sean Dooley and his grandson T.J. Joe Bergin and his sister Annie. Duke Makim, Paddy Connors and Ann Marie Tierney.

Church of Ireland volunteers were:
William Whitten and his son Glenn. Yvonne Shaw with her husband Billie and their son Keith and grandson Darrah. Ian Coleburn, Margaret Grant, Joyce Warton, Randal Stanley and Mark

A haven of peace and calm at ‘the ploughing’

One such place is the Church of Ireland stand at the National Ploughing Championships which this year take place in Co. Carlow.

Helen Elliott (above) from Clogher Diocese has experienced the calm and relaxation on this stand in recent years when the event was held at Tullamore where she has volunteered her services. This year, Helen will be travelling to Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co. Carlow, to volunteer at the Church of Ireland stand once again, serving a welcome cup of tea or two but most importantly, having a quiet chat with many of the people who avail of this service.

As a tour operator, Helen has been to many of the major agricultural shows around the British Isles, bringing coachloads to events such as Tullamore Show, and the Royal Highland and Royal Welsh Shows, as well as visiting the war cemeteries of northern France. “I love the ploughing and at the Church of Ireland stand it’s a great chance to meet people from all over Ireland and internationally,” she said. As an active member of Rossorry Parish Church, near Enniskillen, Helen says she benefits greatly from attending and taking part in church services.

Music matters

This coming Sunday, there will be a service of Choral Eucharist in St Columb’s Derry at 11.00am with music by Harold Darke (Communion Service in F) and Edward Elgar (Ave verum). At 4.00pm, Choral Evensong with music by Tertius Noble (Evening canticles in B minor) and Ralph Vaughan Williams (O taste and see). All are welcome.

There will be a Concert by The Sperrin Choir in Molesworth Presbyterian Church, Molesworth Street, Cookstown, on Friday 20 September 2019 at 8.00 pm. Includes Nashville Gospel. No tickets. Retiring offering to include MENCAP.

New Area Deans for Mourne and Iveagh

Bishop Harold Miller of Down and Dromore has made two appointments – Bishop Darren McCartney as Area Dean for Mourne and Revd Colin Taylor as Area Dean for Iveagh.

Bishop Darren is rector of Clonallon and Warrenpoint with Kilbroney and Colin is rector of Dromara and Garvaghy. Speaking of his new role Bishop Darren said, “It is a joy to be ministering within the context of the local church and to see people living out the Christian faith within their particular community and context. I am humbled and happy to take on the additional responsibility of Area Dean and commit myself to helping the church live out her calling. I would like to ask that you remember myself and the deanery in prayer and should you be in the position, consider ministry within one of the churches that are currently vacant.

Colin said, “Over some 40 years of ministry I have benefitted from the support and fellowship of Area Deaneries, Area Deans, fellow clergy and others. I hope that in this role in Iveagh I may be able to work with colleagues in a similar way.”

The Wizard of Oz’ at Belfast Cathedral

Celebrating the 30th year of the Cinemagic Film Festival there will be a screening of the Wizard of Oz in Belfast Cathedral, coinciding with the classic’s own 80th anniversary, on Wednesday, 30th October, at 7pm. The 30th Anniversary Cinemagic Festival will unveil over 30 days of unmissable opportunities for young audiences in Belfast and across Northern Ireland. The 2019 Cinemagic Belfast Festival line–up includes Oscar–nominated Irish actress Saoirse Ronan and legendary actress Hayley Mills. The programme features over 100 public films and events, 30 industry workshops and masterclasses and 75 film education workshops. The film programme will officially close with the screening of as part of BFI Musicals! The Greatest Show on Screen, a UK–wide film season supported by National Lottery, BFI Film Audience Network and ICO. Feel welcome to come in fancy dress as the characters from the Wizard of Oz to celebrate this occasion. For further information or booking, visit [www.cinemagic.org.uk ]or telephone 028 9031 1900. The Cinemagic Festival is funded by Northern Ireland Screen, supported by the Department for (img)Communities, and funded by Belfast City Council and Tourism Northern Ireland.

Food for thought