“Questioning Faith” series at TCD, Rev J Moore obit, Dromore institution, Retirement in retirement!
“Questioning Faith” series at TCD Chapel
Details have been announced of the autumn series of visiting speakers at Trinity College Dublin Chapel. Among those who will address common questions about faith in the context of the 10.45am Sunday Eucharist are the well-known broadcaster and author Fr. Brian D’Arcy, the Independent Senator Dr. Katherine Zappone and the former president of Dublin City University Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski.
Commenting on the programme, the TCD Dean of Residence, the Revd Darren McCallig, said: “The ‘Questioning Faith’ series is an attempt to address some of the common queries people have about the religious and spiritual life. Over the course of the eleven Sundays of Michaelmas term we will, with the help of our distinguished visiting speakers, explore such questions as ‘Why believe in God?’, ‘Why do good people suffer?’ and ‘Must we chose between the sacred and the secular?’ The goal is not to provide once-for-all answers to every possible question. Rather, we hope to encourage a practice of faithful questioning where no-one is expected to leave their brain at the door of the church.”
The full list of visiting speakers is as follows: The Revd Katherine Meyer, Christ Church Sandymount (9 October); The Very Revd Ian Corbett, Former Dean of Tuam (23 October); Fr. Brain D’Arcy, Passionist Priest, Author and Broadcaster (6 November); Dr. Katherine Zappone, Independent Member of Seanad Éireann and member of the Irish Human Rights Commission (20 November) and Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen (4 December). The TCD Dean of Residence, the Revd Darren McCallig, will preach on the other Sundays (2, 16 and 30 October, 13 and 27 November and 11 December).
All the addresses are in the context of the Sunday morning Choral Eucharist at 10.45am. All are welcome. Full details of the series and recordings of the addresses are available on the TCD Chaplaincy website: www.tcd.ie/chaplaincy
Rev. Jack Moore
The death took place last week of the Reverend Jack Moore who was Rector of Templepatrick (Connor) from 1965 − 1985. Following training at St Aidan’s, Birkenhead, he was made deacon in 1957 and in turn served in Glenavy, Kingcourt and Carnmoney parishes prior to his appointment to Templepatrick. He was a keen rider to hounds and was associated with the East Antrim. In retirement he worshipped in Portstewart Parish Church.
Dromore institution
Bishop Harold Miller instituted the Revd Colin McCormack as rector of The Grouped Parishes of of Clonallon & Warrenpoint with Kilbroney, in the Diocese of Dromore, on Friday 2 September. The preacher at the service was Canon Charlie Leeke, rector of Dromara and Garvaghy. This was also the last institution at which the Archdeacon of Dromore, Ven John Scott, officiated ahead of his retirement at the end of the month.
Colin is a native of Lisburn and has many family members still living in its vicinity. He studied Electrical Engineering at Queen’s University and subsequently obtained an education diploma. Thereafter, he taught mathematics at “Inst” in Belfast, followed by a spell of teaching in England. It was at this point that he felt a call to ordination. This involved a 3 year training period at St. John’s College Nottingham and Nottingham University.
Colin is married to Marylyn, who sang a beautiful solo during the service. She was born in England but raised in Kenya. She said, ”God called me subsequently to live and work in Jerusalem, she says, “and it was only after returning, years later, to Madeira, where my parents had retired to and died, that I met Colin in Portugal. After our marriage I joined him in the Costa Blanca, where he was ministering as Anglican Chaplain to the 6 churches of Torrevieja Chaplaincy south of Alicante, in Spain.” The couple returned to Northern Ireland from Spain in late 2008.
Speaking of their new task in the Mourne Area Deanery, Colin and Marylyn said, “We are looking forward to our time among the people of Clonallon, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor and getting to know them. We pray that this new period in which we are moving forward as a grouped parish will be a time of great blessing to us all.”
Retirement in retirement!
Canon Eric Kingston will retire on 1 October 2011 after 35 years as the Diocesan Curate of Down & Dromore. Bishop Harold Miller recently visited him and his wife Kathleen in their home in Ballynahinch with some tokens of appreciation for their faithful service to the diocese.
Eric was invited to be Diocesan Curate by Bishop George Quinn and, recalling all those years of service, he believes he made only “2 mistakes,” (although we don’t think they really count as mistakes – rather circumstances beyond Eric’s control). “There was one occasion, 5 years ago, when I had to get 24 different harvest preachers – which was probably about 60 calls!” he recalled.
Eric is a meticulous record keeper and the many arrangements he made over the years are kept in ‘the book’. Given the length of his tenure as Diocesan Curate, ‘the book’ could now be regarded as an historical document. As he brought it out and showed us the plan for the coming month his pleasure in serving the diocese in this way was evident.
“It’s been a wonderful thrill for me because I’ve kept in touch with many of the retired clergy. The men and ladies have been so faithful,” he said, “and when they say they’ll do a thing, they’ll do it and it’s done.”
A Cork man, born in Bantry and brought up in Bantry Parish, Eric met Kathleen when he helped out with the Methodist choir in Newry one Harvest. He was a late ordinand, joining the deaconate at the age of 45 in 1969 after 25 years in the printing industry.
Eric served curacies in the Diocese of Down, in St Patrick’s, Ballymacarrett and then in St Columba’s, Knock. He became incumbent of Annahilt (later joined with Magherahamlet) and saw it grow from 90 families to 180 families. He retired from full time parish ministry in 1993 and the couple enjoy travelling, reading, walking and bowls.
Throughout Eric’s ministry, Kathleen raised their two daughters and was very involved in Mother’s Union. She was Down and Dromore Diocesan President and for 6 years the All Ireland President (1983–89).
“I was President at a very exciting time, during the Centenary Year of Mothers’ Union in Ireland,” says Kathleen. “It was absolutely fantastic. I drove myself the length and breadth of Ireland and I’ve preached in every diocese in Ireland.” And with a twinkle in her eye, she went on to tell the story of the Sligo rector who declared that she was, “more famous than her husband!”. Kathleen retired from the All Ireland Council at the beginning of this year.
Eric has now retired from preaching and Kathleen enjoys having him sit with her in the pew, but he still helps out a little in Magheradroll. His rector there, Canon Warren Russell, will become the new Diocesan Curate.