NEWS BRIEFS

Harvest photo shoot

Drumbo Presbyterian Church provided a photo background facility as part of the Harvest Thanksgiving activities.

Blessed are the beloved pets in Limerick

Proud owners and their pets pictured at the blessing of the animals ceremony

Pet owners brought their favourite companions along to a special religious event this weekend in Limerick.

A Blessing of Animals service took place in St Michael’s Primary School, an event organised by Church of Ireland Limerick City and Limerick Animal Welfare.

The free event aimed to raise awareness surrounding animal welfare in Limerick and was a great success according to Rev Paul Fitzpatrick, who led the service.

“It was a great event, and we’re very happy with the turnout,” said Rev Fitzpatrick, who lost his own beloved dog since last year’s blessing was held.

“Since we gathered here last year, our beautiful samoyed snow-white, fuzzy, furry and faithful friend Freddie passed away through terminal illness,” he said at the event. “He was eleven and a half years old.”

“We were heartbroken, distraught and genuinely bereft of a family member,” he said, “the process under the great care of our vet was traumatic.

“We miss our beautiful companion. We were blessed indeed. Thank God.”

Connor Youth Council launches Shaken

Connor Youth Council has launched Shaken, a unique resource for young people, written in partnership with The Big House as part of the AFFIRM project.

The resource guides young people to consider how they can respond to difficulties they face in life from a Christian perspective.

While providing practical advice, Shaken is founded in Biblical truths and demonstrates how faith is integral in discussions with young people around coping with difficulty.

Christina Baillie, Diocesan Youth Officer, said: “It has been a joy to write the resource with the Big House staff team, drawing on their specialist expertise.

“We have also developed a leaders’ guide to support leaders in our parishes, to use this with groups of young people. The resource is set up for every young person to have their own copy, to try out a variety of healthy coping mechanisms.”

The resource has sections on the value of talking to others, listening, and spotting feelings. It then provides 20 different healthy coping mechanisms for young people to try together or in their youth group. Within the resource, it encourages young people to review each coping mechanisms knowing that each young person is unique and will have their own ways of coping well.

There are free copies for every parish in Connor and these can be obtained by contacting Christina on [christinabaillie@connordiocese.org.]

The Shaken leaders’ guide is available free online HERE.
[[] connor.anglican.org/children-youth/youth/engage-connor-youth/ ]

The AFFIRM project and the Shaken resource have been funded by Church of Ireland Priorities Fund.

Clergy farewell to Canon Val Rogers

The clergy of Tuam, Killala and Achonry gathered at the end of September at Mullaghmore to wish Canon Val and his wife Jossie a fond farewell and a long happy retirement. They met at Classiebawn Castle.

Lessons from Auschwitz

End of the line at Auschwitz-Birkenau

The Rev Brian Anderson recently attended a European Workshop on Peace and Reconciliation in Poland. During the course of the workshop he also visited Auschwitz. In the November issue of the Methodist Newsletter he reflects on the terrible events of the past and how we can learn from them for the future.

Brian concludes his very moving article with this paragraph:

The grave cannot have the last word; neither can death. Out of the remains of the bones of Auschwitz, new life must arise. It must be a place that helps the world be aware of the dignity of each individual, a place that calls us to our great responsibility to be peacemakers. Just as once people were transported to death in Auschwitz from all over Europe, so we were transported away from that place convinced again of the need for us to be courageous and committed to the work of peace, reconciliation and solidarity.

Full text of the article in the November issue of the Methodist Newsletter to be published shortly

Mission family bereavement

The CMSI staff team has offered its sincere condolence to Keith, Lyn and the entire Scott family circle on the death of Keith’s dad in the States last Saturday. Prayer is requested for the Scotts as they are currently attending a CMS Africa conference in Nairobi. Please pray that they will be surrounded by God’s love and presence in a powerful way. Jenny Smyth was flying out to meet Keith and Lyn. Pray that she will bring comfort and encouragement at this time of mourning and grief.

[https://memorials.bradleyfhmarlton.com/Scott-W.+Eric/3990468/]

Food for thought