NEWS BRIEFS

Adventure Cruise theme for parish holiday club

Fanlobbus Union held their annual holiday club from the 29th of July to the 2nd August in Cox’s Hall, Dunmanway. The theme this year was the Adventure Cruise which explored five stories about people from the Bible and the transformation and healing that occurred when they met Jesus. Over fifty children from the local community attended each day with 12 adult leaders and 18 teenage helpers. The Bible stories were explored through a variety of crafts, drama, story telling, worksheets, games and puppets. Children’s ministry continues throughout the year in the parish and is open to all of our community. Toddler group, Messy Church, Joy Club (primary school), Sunday School, Godly Play (for young families in Drinagh) and Youth group along parish activities – badminton, table tennis and bell ringing which are open to the involvement of children and young people.

A Gaelic History of East Belfast

A recent publication which reflects something of the place of the Irish language in the Church of Ireland is A Gaelic History of East Belfast which has been written by Dr Gordon McCoy who was a Cross Community Officer for the Ultach Trust and subsequently Irish Language Education Officer of Turas. Among the personalities who are profiled are Bishop Donald Caird who was a curate in St Mark’s, Dundela, in the early 1950s, and Canon Cosslett Quin who was Rector of St Mark’s from 1932 to 1935. Attractively designed by Wendy Dunbar, this is a good introduction to a little known subject.

Faith story boards in Dunmanway Church as part of Sam Maguire Trail

In recent times, St Mary’s Church of Ireland in Dunmanway, County Cork, has been in the news for its partnership with the local community and the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the church where Sam Maguire attended as a child and he is buried in the churchyard. Sam Maguire’s story has been told through the Sam Maguire Community Bells, a visitor experience and passport trail.

Recently, story boards have been designed so that visitors will have the opportunity to learn something about the Church of Ireland: the traditions and practices of the community who worship in St Mary’s Church today.

St Mary’s Church has been open every day from 1st July to 15th September for visitors and is part of the Sam Maguire Passport Trail, which is open all year round. Group bookings are possible throughout the year: please contact tours@fanlobbus.ie

Clogher Diocesan readers ordained for Local Ministry

Two Diocesan readers in Clogher Diocese, familiar to many congregations, are amongst the first in the Church of Ireland to be ordained as Deacons following their training for Ordained Local Ministry.

Abraham Storey and Colin Brownsmith (pictured) were ordained to the Diaconate by the Bishop of Clogher, Right Revd John McDowell at a service in St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen yesterday (Sunday) evening, 15th September.

They will then spend a further year based in a parish before being ordained for the Priesthood.

Both Abraham and Colin are being ordained after year one because they were both experienced Diocesan Readers.

The Church of Ireland, along with the Methodist Church in Ireland, has been developing training for Ordained Local Ministry (OLM).

An ordained local minister will not be an incumbent of a parish but will be someone who can exercise some leadership role within a local congregation.

Both Abraham and Colin have thanked their families and friends for all the support they have received during their training. Abraham thanked his wife, Gertrude and Colin thanked his wife, Flora Olivene (Olive) as well as all those who have encouraged them including Bishop John McDowell and their tutors.

 Meath & Kildare local ministry ordination

The Ordination of Carol Hennessy took place yesterday Sunday 15th September in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Trim. Carol was ordained as a deacon in the Ordained Local Ministry and will be attached to Geashill Union of Parishes, working with Canon Isaac Delamere.

in September 2018, twenty–six candidates from eight dioceses began training for OLM in the Church of Ireland; 12 from Northern Ireland and 14 from the Republic. A further ten candidates are expected to begin training this September.

Dublin Secondary Schools Annual Service

On Thursday at 3pm the Archbishop of Dublin will preside at the Secondary Schools Annual Service in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin.

Introduction of priest–in–charge of Clane union

In the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Clane, the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Most Revd Pat Storey, will introduce the Revd Ruth O’Kelly as part–time priest–in–charge of the Clane union of parishes which is composed of Clane, Donadea and Coolcarrigan. Ms O’Kelly, who was ordained in 2014, has been curate in Rathfarnham since 2015.

This week’s Christ Church lecture

The series of lunchtime lectures which highlight recent research on Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, in 21st century dictionaries and encyclopedias, continues in the cathedral on Friday. Terry Clavin from the Royal Irish Academy will speak about the Dictionary of Irish Biography.

Food for thought