NEWS BRIEFS

Dunmanway Junior Bell Ringers tour West Cork bell towers

Ten young people between the ages of 8 – 16 are learning to ring the Sam Maguire Community Bells at St. Mary’s Church in Dunmanway, County Cork. This is in addition to a group of 10-15 adults who are already learning to ring the bells.

On Friday 21st of February the group of young people went on a tour of the bell towers of West Cork. This was a challenge for them, as the bells in the other towers are much heavier than what they are used to ringing in Dunmanway.

Their tour took them to the bell towers in Skibbereen, Rosscarbery and Bandon where they rang the bells and were made most welcome.

The Rev. Cliff Jeffers who trains the young ringers said, “I am delighted with the progress that they are making.”

Many of the junior ringers join with the adult ringers to ring the Sam Maguire Community Bells at St. Mary’s church to call people to worship on Sunday mornings.

Bishop’s reactions

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Dreich night for Derry institution

The Rev Rosie Diffin has been instituted as Rector of Kilcronaghan, Ballynascreen and Six Towns, in succession to the Rev Carmen Hayes. Two previous rectors, the Rev Canon Walter Quill and the Rev John White, were in Kilcronaghan Parish Church, on Friday evening, to see the new rector being instituted by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Andrew Forster.

The preacher, the Tobermore–born Rector of Mossley Parish in the Diocese of Connor, the Rev Peter Jones, told the congregation, “She may be small in stature, but Rosie is a dynamo”. It was a measure of the affection in which the new rector is held that many of her former parishioners from Kilmore and St Saviour’s in the Diocese of Armagh travelled through the Sperrins, on what Bishop Andrew Forster called a “dreich night”, to attend the Service. One of them, a teary–eyed Mrs Marlene Hobson, hugged Mrs Diffin in the porch afterwards and told her, “There’s room on the bus for you.” The new incumbent was joined inside the church by her husband, Ronnie, and their sons Ronnie, William and Wilson

Moderator’s praise for CAP

During his tour of South Belfast congregations, the Moderator of the PCI visited Lowe Memorial, Finaghy. Dr Henry commented, “Great to witness the work of CAP_NI in Lowe_Church Seeing the local church caring for local community and needs is what the church is about!”

Men’s breakfast popular in St Paul’s, Lisburn

At the Men’s Breakfast in St Pauls, are, from left: Gary McKitterick, organiser; Alan McCracken, guest speaker; Cllr Alan Givan, Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council; and the Rev Arthur Young, rector. Photo: Norman Briggs.

A Men’s Breakfast at St Paul’s Parish Church, Lisburn, on February 29 drew a big crowd.

Organised for the second time by Gary McKitterick, the guest speaker was Alan McCracken, who has been on a 15-week placement in St Paul’s. The men were joined by Councillor Alan Givan, Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

God in creation