NEWS BRIEFS

New Irish Youth Choir 2020

Registration is open for New Irish Youth Choir 2020

The Choir is returning to Ganaway, from 10th-15th August, for its Youth Choir residential and welcomes registrations from returning members and also from young people who haven’t been part of the group before.

As well as being a great opportunity to make friends, it is a great chance to develop your musical skills and expand your knowledge and love of God, deepening your worship of Him and living out the Christian life.

For full information, and to register please go to:
[ www.newirisharts.com/youth-choir ]

Youth leader follows in her mother’s footsteps

Photo – Stradbally woman Emma Purser with The Right Reverend Michael Burrows, after her commissioning as a Diocesan Reader in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory

A Sradbally woman followed in her mother’s footsteps at a special church ceremony in their home town. Youth leader Emma Purser was commissioned as a Church of Ireland diocesan reader, a role also currently held by her mother Gillian, at a service in St Patrick’s Church, Main Street on Sunday 12 January.

The commissioning service was a real family celebration, as Emma is also daughter of the Revd Alec Purser, priest-in-charge of the Stradbally Union of Parishes. Following the ceremony, both mother and daughter are licensed to take services whenever required in churches all over the diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory.

There was warm applause for Emma after the commissioning, licensing and dedication section of the service, which took place around the font and was led by Bishop Michael Burrows.

The preacher was Dean of Waterford Maria Jansson, who has been aware of Emma’s work as a youth leader in the diocese for many years and highlighted what she described as her “genius” with young people.

Encouraging Emma to develop her own authentic voice, to touch the darkness and give light, the dean said: “As a woman, you will preach differently. You have been given a voice – a woman’s voice – and you are to use it in every place where you feel God has called you to raise that voice.”

At the Stradbally ceremony, held on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Bishop Burrows focused on baptism and prayed for Emma as she opened a new chapter in her work, discipleship and ministry. Hymns included Brother, sister, let me serve you and refreshments were enjoyed in the church following the service. Report courtesy Laois Nationalist.

A Prayer by Michael Longley

Portrait of Michael Longley by Colin Davidson

Warm welcome to Cork

On Sunday afternoon, 19th January 2020, the Reverend Paul Robinson was welcomed to his new ministry in the Diocese of Cork, as priest–in–charge of the Parish of Saint Anne, Shandon, and as Chaplain to Saint Luke’s Home, Cork.

The Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Paul Colton, presided and, having welcomed the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dr John Sheehan, asked the congregation, as of first importance, to observe a minute’s silence to remember Cameron Blair and his bereaved family. Cameron Blair, a young 20–year old student from the Diocese, was killed on the previous Thursday night in the city.

Saint Anne’s Church, Shandon, was full for the occasion with parishioners, clergy and readers from the Diocese, visiting clergy and readers from England and Wales, representatives of partner organisations of the parish, and a contingent of 60 parishioners from Paul’s former parish in the Diocese of Liverpool.

The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, The Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, The Reverend Paul Robinson, Parish of Saint Anne Shandon and Lord Mayor Cllr Dr John Sheehan, after the Licensing and Commissioning.

The preacher was the Very Reverend Gerwyn Capon, Dean of Llandaff, in the Church in Wales. Among the clergy of the Diocese present were the Deans of Cork, of Cloyne and of Ross. The Rev Paul Robinson was presented to the Bishop by the Archdeacon, the Venerable Adrian Wilkinson. All of the arrangements were overseen by the Rural Dean of Cork City, Canon Dr Daniel Nuzum.

The choir of Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, crossed the river to sing the Service. The organists were Adam Nuzum (parish organist in Shandon), Robbie Carroll (Assistant Director of Music at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral), and Peter Stobart (Director of Music at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral).

Saint Luke’s Home was represented by the CEO, Tony O’Brien, Mrs Joan Jeffery, and by social worker Eugene Browne, as well as by some of the members of the Board of Directors: Alan Campbell, Derek Dunne and Ann Hevers.

Remarking that this is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Bishop welcomed especially ecumenical visitors: Fr John O’Donovan together with a group of his parishioners from the Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne nearby, Sister Antonia Murphy (Presentation Sisters) Sister Placida and Sisters at the North Presentation Convent, Fr Maurice Colgan, Dominican Pope’s Quay, the Rev Mike O Sullivan, Non–Subscribing Presbyterian Church, Dr Bejoy Philip from Mar Thoma Community, Cork, as well as representatives from Trinity Presbyterian Church, and the Religious Society of Friends.

Other local organisations in the city that work in partnership with the parish represented included: the Firkin Crane Centre, the Shandon Area Renewal Association, Eco–Congregation and Climate Justice. Pádraig Rice, Coordinator of the Cork Gay Project was present, as were representatives of LINC, and Choral ConFusion. Cllr Dan Boyle (Cork City Council) was also present.

Following the licensing and and speeches of welcome by the Bishop, Stephen Spillane (on behalf of the Parish), Tony O’Brien (on behalf of Saint Luke’s Home). Paul Robinson himself spoke about his strong sense of God’s calling to this new place and ministry, and he thanked everyone for their welcome. Afterwards everyone enjoyed the hospitality of the parish in the Maldron Hotel next door.

God in creation