Albert Dawson is Ordained Priest for Local Ministry in Manorhamilton Group of Parishes
Congratulations to Revd. Albert Dawon who was ordained a priest for local ministry by Bishop Ferran Glenfield at a service in St St George’s, Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday 19th September. Revd. Albert will be serving in the Manorhamilton Group of Parishes.
Revd. Albert has felt the calling to ordained ministry for many years. After he married his wife, Anne they lived in Dublin where he is from before moving to Limerick where he became involved in the parish of Kilmallock and Knockainey (now part of the Adare Union). He was commissioned as a Parish and Diocesan Reader during that time and regularly took Wednesday morning services in the Cathedral. Revd. Albert says he enjoyed taking services in the parishes and it was wonderful to be part of Cathedral worship. This was a busy period in his life with a young family as well as serving on the Diocesan Council and as Secretary to the Glebes Committee.
In 2000, Revd. Albert moved to Sligo to develop on-campus housing for a construction company. At this time, Revd. Albert and his wife started their own property management company and a tourism company. While they lived in Sligo they were involved in the Cathedral Group of Parishes.
Revd. Albert and his wife then moved to house they had built overlooking Glencar Lake and became involved in the Manorhamilton Group of Parishes. The parish appointed a part-time clergy person who would not be living in the parish and Bishop Ferran Glenfield asked Revd. Albert to help out. Revd. Albert says that ‘from that point on I was hooked’ and he delved into parish and diocesan life again. It was this experience that led to Revd. Albert’s ordination to local ministry.
Revd. Albert found training for the OLM ministry very interesting. He particularly, enjoyed sharing in faith and fellowship with people from all over Ireland as they learned together and supported each other on the journey.
The Manorhamilton Group of Parishes consists of six churches covering North Leitrim and into Co. Donegal. Likewise, the Diocese stretches from Cavan to Donegal, Fermanagh to Longford and Roscommon. This makes for an interesting and challenging ministry! Revd. Albert is also the diocesan representative for Bishops Appeal and sits on the Finance and Glebes Committees, Diocesan Synod and General Synod.
Speaking about his ministry Revd. Albert says; ‘I am looking forward to encouraging the parishioners in these challenging times, particularly as we come out of the restrictions, supporting parishioners who have lost loved ones during this time, developing and working with the parishioners in the long term future of the parishes, reaching out to the wider community and working with the local Priests and Ministers and most of all leading worship in our parishes which is a great privilege’.
Inbetween all this, Revd. Albert continues to run his property management and tourism business which was hard hit over the last eighteen months but is now beginning to recover. He is looking forward to travelling to various parts of the world again!
We pray for every blessing on Revd. Albert and his wife Anne as they continue their work in the Manorhamilton Group of Parishes.
