360 Miscellany

News and views

BBC Radio Harvest Thanksgiving service from St Columba’s, Knock

BBC Radio Ulster’s service of Harvest Thanksgiving will come from St Columba’s, Knock, on Sunday 4 October at 10.15am.

The rector, Canon John Auchmuty, will be the celebrant and preacher. Worship will be led by the organist, Dr Joe McKee with Dr Christine McKee and Mrs Lynda Barrett.

The service will be available after broadcast on the BBC website.

Fifteen “Partners in the Gospel” catechists commissioned for the Diocese of Elphin

Fifteen volunteer catechists were commissioned for service in the Diocese of Elphin, by Bishop Kevin Doran, at Mass in Sligo Cathedral on Sunday 27th September.

Known as “Partners in the Gospel”, the Catechists are lay parishioners from all walks of life and from parishes all over the Diocese, who have completed an intensive four year formation programme, including academic studies in Theology and Catechetics at St Angela’s College NUIG.

Speaking at the Mass of Commissioning, Bishop Doran explained that the mission of the Partners in the Gospel will be to provide opportunities for adult learning at parish level, which will help the whole parish community to grow into a deeper lived relationship with Jesus Christ and to become, in the words of Pope Francis, “missionary disciples”. There will be two teams of catechists, corresponding to the two regions of the Diocese.

Bishop Doran commended the new catechists for their courage in taking on this very important mission and thanked them for the generosity of their commitment which involved many hours of study over a four year period and long journeys to get to their to lectures even in the depth of winter. He reminded them that they are called to be “Partners” and invited them to work closely with the priests and deacons, with their fellow parishioners and with the religious sisters who are active in the life of many of the parishes.

C of I Children’s Ministry Network’s Newsletter for autumn

The organisers state – We have compiled some simple ideas for families, pods, and Sunday Clubs, always with prompts for the wider parish to be involved so people stay connected with the full life of the Church. Much of our focus in this edition is outdoors, encouraging faith in everyday life.

To read more about how to go on a Psalm walk or make a chalk prayer walk; make nature bracelets, wrist bands and journey sticks; do crafts and challenges; and hold drive–through or family pod church services.

Archbishop returns for Clogher ordinations

The Archbishop of Armagh, Most Rev John McDowell returned to Clogher Diocese to lead an ordination service (See top of page photo). Two clergy in Clogher Diocese, the Revd Colin Brownsmith and Revd Abraham Storey, have been ordained to the priesthood, the first in the Diocese following their training in Ordained Local Ministry. They had spent the past year working as Deacons. The service in St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen, on Wednesday, 23rd September, with the congregation socially distanced and wearing face coverings, was led by the Archbishop of Armagh who was back in the Cathedral on the 9th anniversary of his consecration as Bishop of Clogher. Joining him was the Dean of Clogher, the Very Revd Kenneth Hall; Archdeacon Brian Harper, Archbishop’s Commissary; Canon Colin Moore, Registrar for the Province of Armagh and Canon Paul Thompson, who preached. The hymns, “Pour out thy Spirit from on high,” Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire” and “Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,” were led by members of the Cathedral Choir.

The next Bishop of Colombo in the Church of Ceylon

The next Bishop of Colombo will be Fr Dushantha Rodrigo, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced today.

Archbishop Justin was asked by the Diocesan Council to select its next Diocesan bishop in accordance with its constitution, when they found themselves unable to do so last month. He did this in his capacity as Metropolitan of the Church of Ceylon.

“Please accept my apologies that it has taken me a little time to understand the needs of the diocese, and to identify the qualities that will be needed in its next bishop. I am most grateful to all those who have expressed their views to me so clearly and candidly – not only the members of the formal Consultative Body but also members of the Diocesan Standing Committee, former bishops, and many more.

“All have given me invaluable insights, and I am confident that in reliance on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Fr Dushantha will find the strength he will need to lead and reconcile this lively church ‘at such a time as this’ in united witness to the love of Christ amid all the social, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity in the communities that will be in his care.

Irish Emergency Alliance Appeal

“We could not bear the cost of any treatment in case one of our family members gets infected.”

The fear of being infected with Coronavirus is massive for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

You can support our response to keep people safe:
[ https://tinyurl.com/y4mf3uu8 ]

Well said

God in creation

‘Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward.

For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.’
– Hebrews 10:35-36