NEWS BULLETIN

War veteran celebrates his 100th in Mount Merrion parish

The folk at Mount Merrion Church hosted a very special community party last weekend for war veteran Teddy Dixon, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday.

Teddy lives opposite the rectory and was one of the first residents of the Cregagh Estate. He witnessed both the house and the church being built and has always been a great neighbour to the rectory family – “a true gent”, says current rector, Revd Adrian Green.

As well as Saturday’s party in the church hall and a magnificent birthday cake, Teddy also had a visit from Bishop David. The bishop had a chance to pray with him and to hear something of his amazing life story.
Dachau

In 2014, Teddy was the subject of a BBC NI documentary From Belfast to Dachau which followed him on an emotional journey back to the concentration camp which he had helped to liberate 60 years before.

What makes Teddy’s story even more remarkable is that, during the second world war, he was fighting with the American Army.

Teddy’s family emigrated to the US in the early 1900’s and in 1920 Edward Copeland Dixon was born in New York City.

Five years later the Dixon family returned to Belfast and life went on as normal for Teddy, until war broke out and in 1944, aged 24, he was drafted into the US Army. Teddy joined the 42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division which took recruits from “all over the place”.

The 42nd division landed in France in December 1944 and advanced through France as part of the 7th Army, entering Germany in March 1945. It was during the division’s rapid advance through Germany in April 1945 that Teddy’s new 12–man squad of buddies came across scenes of utter revulsion as they liberated 33,000 survivors from Dachau, north of Munich.
The difficult memories have never left him.

As the war drew to a close in 1945, Teddy’s unit was involved in the capture of Hitler’s deputy – Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering – in Austria, and it was the newly–promoted Sergeant Dixon who dispatched to check out reports of a salt mine filled with priceless artworks, and then tasked with guarding the treasures at Salzburg Castle.

Back in civilian life some years later, Teddy worked in the Ormeau Bakery and produced many splendid cakes for his neighbours. It was lovely for them to be able to reciprocate on this very special occasion

Chamber choir treat in St. Macartan’s Cathedral, Clogher

One of the newest A Capella choirs to be formed in the west of Northern Ireland will be performing in St. Macartan’s Cathedral, Clogher, on Friday, 13th March at 8pm.

The concert by Chamber Choir West will raise funds for the Cathedral.

The choir will be conducted by Dr. David Baxter with accompanist, Derick Weir with the special guest appearance from Miss Chloe Hanna (flute).

The choir is a small ensemble of 12 voices which sings choral music from four to nine parts, mostly a capella. Most of their repertoire comes from the classical area although they have a growing contemporary collection.

It is Purim

It’s Purim! We recall how the Jewish people were saved from Haman in ancient Persia. He planned to kill the Jews, the story we recount in the Book of Esther. Alongside other traditions, we eat hamantaschen, 3-cornered pastries bursting with a sweet centre! Chag Purim Sameach!

All are welcome in this place – Cork Confirmations theme

Nearly 80 young people from the Church of Ireland Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross who are preparing for Confirmation later this year, joined their Bishop, Dr Paul Colton, for a morning of meeting each other, chatting with the Bishop, games and activity on Saturday 7th March.

The Canon Packham Hall, Douglas and St Luke’s National School, Douglas provided the campus once more for this now annual morning of fun, laughter and learning. As ever, the Bishop was supported by clergy and youth leaders from the Diocese.

Bishop Paul Colton said: “In a small Diocese like this, the young people mostly know me already, but this is a chance to meet informally before the ‘big day’ of their Confirmation. What is really important is that they have a chance to ask questions, and to see also that they are part of a bigger group. Those from smaller parishes realise they are part of something much bigger, and even those from populous parishes realise that there is a world of Christianity far beyond their own setting.”

Once everyone had signed in, with special provision this year for sanitising hands throughout the morning, the games got under way. Diocesan Youth Worker, Hilda Connolly, had found out that the Bishop has a significant birthday next week so ‘happy birthday’ was sung before splitting into groups.

All the young people took part in four group sessions. Mr Peter Stobart, who directs the Diocesan Church Music Scheme, was on hand again this year to teach the young people and leaders a hymn new to them which will be this year’s Confirmation hymn sung at all Confirmation Services in the Diocese.

The hymn chosen by the Bishop for this year was written by American contemporary hymnwriter Marty Haugen: ‘Let us a build a house where love can dwell .. All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.’

Order Happy Easter Eggs before 18 March

The Happy Easter Egg is a great tool to help you reinforce the Resurrection message and helps your parishioners share the Easter message with their family and friends. It can’t be found in the shops and is only available through local churches and groups.

The high quality Irish chocolate egg and honeycomb crisp milk chocolates (total 195g) are from ethically sourced cocoa beans, made in Ireland and supporting Irish businesses. For every Happy Easter Egg purchased, 10c is donated to the Irish charity the Hope Foundation.

The Happy Easter Story booklet inside the box tells the Easter story in illustrated rhyme whilst The Happy Easter story is also online to watch, with free Easter competitions and more.

Visit the website: [ www.happyeasteregg.ie ]

How to order Happy Easter Eggs
Designate one person to take orders with the Sign Up Sheet
Display the Poster with their name and announce about the Eggs
Place your first order once you reach 20 Eggs
Place further orders in 10s, up to our 5pm Wednesday 18 March order deadline
We’ll deliver all your orders together in time for Palm Sunday

Click here to print out Resources for your Church – Info Sheet, Sign Up Sheet and Poster

Each Happy Easter Egg costs just £6.50, including free delivery.
We deliver any number over 20 Eggs for free, once it’s a multiple of 10 Eggs.
Orderline +353 (0)85 229 3722 Email: [ info@happyeasteregg.ie ]

God in creation

Looking to Jesus, let us run the race that is set before us.
Rooted in the faith of the saints, let us keep an even pace.
Grounded in catholic love, let us rejoice in God’s grace.