NEWS BRIEFS

Photo above – Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor, Siobhan Hanley of Trocaire and Fr. Tim Bartlett of St Mary’s Parish in Belfast at the traditional Ash Wednesday Mass to launch the Trocaire Lenten campaign.

Visitors to cathedrals to have ‘Pilgrim Passports’

Cathedrals are offering visitors Pilgrim Passports to celebrate the Year of Cathedrals, Year of Pilgrimage 2020 project.

The passport-sized booklets, published by the Association of English Cathedrals and distributed this week, contain quotes, pilgrim poems, and prayers, a checklist of cathedrals by region, and blank pages for visitors to record their thoughts and have their passport stamped at each cathedral or holy place they visit.

The passports are available to buy online and in each of the 42 C of E cathedrals in Britain, as well as at St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, and the Cathedral Isle of Man. Special stickers can also be purchased.

Jackie Holderness, of Christ Church, Oxford, worked with Sarah Page, from Portsmouth Cathedral, to create the passports. The idea was to encourage visitors of all ages to experience their trip as a pilgrimage.

Ms Holderness explained: “Many cathedrals seek to engage with visitors on a deeper, spiritual level, so that even if they have arrived as tourists and strangers, they may feel pilgrims when they leave. We want all our visitors to develop and grow their own pilgrim heart.”

L’Arche will endure say Irish leaders

Heads of the charity’s centres in Cork, Kilkenny, Dublin & Belfast are working to help staff & supporters affected by the “betrayal” of founder Jean Vanier after revelations that he sexually abused multiple women.

Holywood Parish Weekend at Dromantine

On 21 February, about 70 adults, children and young people from Holywood Parish travelled to the Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre for a weekend together in the company of guest speakers Bishop Ken (Fanta) Clarke and his wife Helen.

The weekend was structured around sessions of teaching and worship with the Clarkes but included coffee breaks, wonderful food, a free Saturday afternoon and some family fun later that evening.

Associate Vicar, Ken McGrath, says: “Throughout the weekend we ran a crèche and separate programs for the children and teens so that everyone could be encouraged without distraction. A massive thanks to Hannah, Gemma, Paul, Bridget and Angela who looked after and blessed our children and young people and to our musicians who led worship.

“Referencing the first chapter of Philippians, Bishop Ken’s overarching theme was to encourage us to “Go Deeper and Grow Stronger” in our faith. He highlighted the crucial role of team in church life and the need for interdependent rather than independent Christians who have a real thirst for G&T (Grace and Truth!). Bishop Ken urged us to be MAD Christians, not crazy people, but ‘Make a Difference’ for Jesus people in a world which needs him so badly.

“Ken’s wife Helen shared with the group on Saturday morning. She spoke personally and very honestly about her recent studies in the book of Proverbs entitling her thoughts, ‘The Way of Wisdom’. There were indeed nuggets of wisdom for everyone to take away.

“Later on Saturday evening we gathered in the Coffee Dock for a beetle drive and quiz. It was great fun with a speedboat and a brand–new car among the prizes! A new discovery was parishioner Peter Crookes who treated us to a couple of pieces on the violin/fiddle (accompanied by a certain vicar playing the bodhran).

“It was a great weekend full of fellowship and challenge for us all (but don’t mention the 1,000–piece jigsaw).”

Election of Archbishop of Armagh postponed

The meeting to elect the Archbishop of Armagh, due to take place on 27th and 28th February, has been postponed due to a bereavement experienced by a member of the House of Bishops.

Mothers Union part of Anglican world mission

Anglicans all over the world are working tirelessly to help people in their communities out of poverty. The Mothers’ Union is just one example of this.

God in creation