Today, Tuesday 8th March, an 85 strong group will depart Belfast for Jerusalem in a pilgrimage led by Canon John Mann and Rev Jonathan Carmyllie.
The Rev David Humphries, who along with Canon John Mann was to lead the Connor pilgrimage to the Holy Land, has been taken ill.
Canon Mann said: “It is with great sadness that we have to report that the Rev David Humphries, co-leader of the pilgrimage has had to withdraw, due to becoming ill on St Patrick’s Day at the Eucharist in St Molua’s. He is in hospital and will be in our prayers as we leave without him for the Holy Land on Tuesday
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“David has been integral in the planning and preparation of the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land as one who is an experienced leader of groups to Israel/Palestine. We shall miss his presence and wisdom and we travel with concern for him uppermost in our minds.”
Canon Mann continued: “In his place, another good friend and colleague is to join the party and be leader in the second coach. He is the Rev Jonathan Carmyllie.
“Like David he has led a number of pilgrimages to the Holy Land. Jonathan and I met in the Holy Land in 1995 and have worked together a number of times since, including leading a joint pilgrimage to Iona for a week over a decade ago.
“We are fortunate that Jonathan can make himself free from his parish in Manchester, at such short notice, to join us.”
The group is made up of parishioners and some clergy from across the diocese, and they will be joined by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, and the Archdeacon of Connor, the Ven Dr Stephen McBride, who has been Bishop’s Commissary for the past few months.