MU Diocesan President is a ‘Woman of the Year’; Tribute to Clogher organist; Book launch; Media review – Majority of NI parents want school mergers – claim; Ireland gets worst ever global corruption ranking; Bishops say expert group ignores risks of legislating for limited abortion
MU Diocesan President is a ‘Woman of the Year’
Down and Dromore’s outgoing MU Diocesan President, Roberta Rogers, has become the Belfast Telegraph’s ‘Woman of the Year’ in the Voluntary Sector.
Roberta received her award on 5 December at a gala event in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast and is pictured below with BBC presenter, Wendy Austin. She was nominated by a fellow parishioner of St Columba’s, Knock.
Roberta works full time in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, presently in finance, but it is of course for the voluntary work fitted around her job and family life that she has been honoured. She is a tireless fundraiser for charities and her monthly tea and coffee events have raised around £7000 in the last 10 years for a wide variety of deserving causes.
However, Roberta’s positive influence has been most keenly felt throughout her 27 year membership of Mothers’ Union in which she has served at all levels. When she became Diocesan President in 2007 her vision was, “to broaden project work at branch level and support projects for young people”. She wanted members to “get their hands dirty”!
Roberta built on existing MU initiatives and worked closely with the membership to support those less fortunate in their community and abroad. During her presidency she initiated several new projects: the regular provision of basic items to two Women’s Aid Centres in Bangor and Newry; recycling to generate funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind and supporting the ‘House of Hope’ project in Dromore which works with single mums and families in need.
It is however the challenging work which members will continue in the Women’s Prison at Hydebank Wood that Roberta counts as her most important legacy as President. Her vision was to alleviate the hardship of inmates’ families and to give the prisoners a sense of self–esteem and value. This is happening through MU prison visits to those who have no close relatives and craft and cookery classes which allow prisoners to be creative and provide gifts to family members. MU has also provided swings and a slide for use in the garden for prisoners’ extended family visits. These initiatives are appreciated by both the prisoners and the Governor and there is on–going work with the Prison Chaplain to allow MU members to join them in their regular worship at particular times such as Advent, Easter, Harvest and Mothers’ Day.
“I am absolutely delighted and privileged to receive this award,” said Roberta. “It represents a wonderful end to my tenure as Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union in Down and Dromore and is worthy recognition of the hard work of the 1,800 Mothers’ Union members throughout the Diocese who continually help those in the margins of society. I am also very grateful to the parishioners of St Columba’s, Knock for their generous support in fund raising for so many worthy causes over the years and the difference this has made to so many lives.”
“I’m thrilled to hear that Roberta Rogers has been awarded the Belfast Telegraph award for ‘Woman of the Year’ in the voluntary sector,” said Bishop Harold Miller. “What a way to finish you term as diocesan president of the Mothers’ Union. Roberta has served with a great mix of warmth and reliability and has kept the Mothers’ Union firmly rooted in the community through a wide range of projects. Congratulations, Roberta, and thanks for all you have done.”
Roberta and the other winners will be featured in a Belfast Telegraph Special Woman of the Year Supplement next Wednesday 12 December.
Tribute to Clogher organist
Inishmacsaint Parish Church recently paid tribute to Mrs Betty Ferguson who has been parish organist for the last 57 years and an active member of the church choir. The Rector, Chancellor Stanley Bourke, in paying tribute to Betty said the parishioners of Inishmacsaint had been blessed with Betty’s talent as an organist and thanked her for her commitment and dedication to serving the Lord through music. He also spoke about her willing and helpful co–operation with him as Rector over the last ten years. The special occasion was marked during a recent morning service when Betty was presented with a watch and flowers. Betty was also presented with a certificate of dedication and appreciation for her long service to Inishmacsaint Parish.
Betty is a self taught organist and said her musical talent came from her father, the Late William Robinson from Tully who was a very active member of Church Hill Silver Band. Betty remembers her late father buying her an organ at a fair in Derrygonnelly and this is where she got her interest in music. At that time, the late Dr. Sides was the church organist and she asked Betty to help play the organ and 57 years later she is still a faithful organist.
Betty also recalls that when she first played the organ it had no electric and had to be pumped by hand. This required a great deal of skill and coordination between the organist and the person pumping the organ to ensure the music came on at the right time. Betty also recalls being recognised by the late Archdeacon Skuce who presented her with a Waterford crystal bowl for 25 years as organist. Betty isn’t hanging up her shoes just yet and will continue to help and support the church in the years ahead.
Book launch
Readers are warmly invited to the launch of ‘Baraka, Journeys to Africa’, a book written by Canon James Carson, on Thursday 13th December at 12.30pm, in the Good Book Shop, Belfast (Lunch provided)
MEDIA REVIEW
Majority of NI parents want school mergers – claim
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/majority-of-parents-want-school-mergers-16246763.html
Ireland gets worst ever global corruption ranking
Ireland is 25 out of an index of 176 countries, which Transparency Ireland says could have a harmful effect on its economic recovery.
http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-corruption-702115-Dec2012/
Bishops say expert group ignores risks of legislating for limited abortion
The group said that guidelines “may offer a way forward”, adding that abortion is “gravely immoral in all circumstances” and legislating for the X Case could “open the floodgates for abortion”.
http://www.thejournal.ie/bishops-abortion-catholic-church-702604-Dec2012/