The Church 21 Parish Development Conference will take place on 25^th March 2017 in the Emmaus Retreat Centre, Swords, Co. Dublin.

Church 21 is about enabling parishes to develop:

• A clearer sense of direction
• A clarity of focus on priorities
• A commitment to collaborative leadership
• And confidence for the future

This event promises to be an uplifting day with plenty of opportunity to evaluate your own parish’s needs and share in the journey with others.

Click here for more information or contact Tessa Marsden (Church 21 administrator) at [email protected] or Tel: 0719147007.

On Saturday 26th November, the Mothers’ Union in Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh held a prayer vigil at St George’s Church, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim as part of the Mothers’ Union All-Ireland ‘16 Days of Activism against gender based violence’. Mothers’ Union is one of over 130 local groups across Ireland that have taken part in the 16 Days of Action campaign. This campaign aims to stand in solidarity with women at home and across the world who are suffering at the hand of gender based violence.

Worship at the Prayer Vigil to End Violence against women was led by Bishop Ferran Glenfield, Trudi Williams (Mothers’ Union KEA Social Policy Rep) and Dean Arfon Williams. The speakers on the day were  Mary McSharry from Invisible Traffick and Patricia O ‘Reilly from Roscommon SAFE Link (Domestic Violence Advocacy Service). Both speakers reminded us how hidden gender based violence can be despite the fact that it is so widespread. They encouraged those present to stand prayerfully against gender based violence and as friends, neighbours and family members to say that violence against women is not all right.

The organisers were grateful to all those who attended the Vigil for their support and demonstration of solidarity with the victims of violence.

 

(l-r) Patricia O’Reilly (Roscommon Safe Link), Hazel Speares (MU Diocesan President), Vida McCauley (MU KEA Faith and Policy Co-Ordinator), Mary McSharry (Invisible Traffic), Trudi Williams (MU KEA Social Policy Rep), Ferran Glenfield (Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh).

Trudi Williams (MU KEA Social Policy Rep), Charlotte Browne, Leila Beattie, Hazels Speares (MU Diocesan President), Violet Magee, Vida McCauley (MU KEA Faith and Policy Co-Ordinator).

Lorna Graham, Eva Gibson, Linda Lovett, Margaret Lawrence, Linda Bell

In solidarity with women across the world, Mothers’ Union is supporting the 16 Days of Activism Campaign for the second year running with an All-Ireland Prayer Vigil. This initiative highlights and calls for an end to violence against women locally, nationally and internationally.

 

Mothers’ Union in Kilmore, Elphin&Ardagh covering Counties Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Cavan will hold a vigil at St George’s Church, Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday 26^th November from 3 to 5pm. We will have speakers from SAFE Link Domestic Advocacy Service in Boyle and from Invisible Traffick in Sligo.  We wish to spread the very important message that violence against women and children IS NOT OKAY!! We need to take action; we need to change attitudes. Mothers’ Union is one of over 130 local groups across Ireland that have taken part in the 16 Days of Action campaign.

 

According to Lakshmi Puri (Acting Head of UN Women) “It is time for action when up to 70 per cent of women in some countries face physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. When one in three girls in developing countries is likely to be married as a child bride; when some 140 million girls and women have suffered female genital mutilation; when millions of women and girls are trafficked in modern-day slavery; and when women’s bodies are a battleground and rape is used as a tactic of war – it is time for action.”

 

Please join us even for a short while and show your solidarity with these women and children. For further information contact Trudi Williams on 086 8181110.

Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh Diocesan Synod 2016

 

The Annual Joint Meeting of the Diocesan Synods of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh took place this Saturday 15^th October in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. The Synod was preceded by a celebration of The Holy Communion in St George’s Church which began with the commissioning of Hannah O’Neill and Marian Edwards as our new Diocesan Youth and Children’s workers.  We pray for God’s blessing on both Hannah and Marian as they undertake the responsibility entrusted to them in service of the children and young people in our Diocese. Preaching from the book of Haggai, Bishop Ferran Glenfield reminded us of God’s promise to partner with us as we do his work. The Lord is with us, his Spirit is with us and we can know the assurance of Haggai 1:13 – ‘”I am with you” says the Lord’.  The business of the Synod followed shortly after the Service in the nearby Bush hotel.

 

KILMORE, ELPHIN AND ARDAGH: GOING FORWARD

 

Bishop Ferran Glenfield began his address to the Synod by observing that this year, for the first time, one Diocesan council would be appointed to represent the united Diocese – a landmark event in our journey together as a united Diocesan family. Bishop Ferran thanked all those whose experience and service has facilitated this coming together as one Diocese. Maud Cunningham, Diocesan Secretary of Kilmore, Rev. Hazel Hicks, Diocesan Secretary for Elphin and Ardagh and Anne Smith in the Diocesan Office for their continued efforts in developing the best model for organising the administration of the United Diocese going forward. Dean Nigel Crossey for his painstaking work in the preparation of detail proposals to ensure that there is fair and balanced representation on the many and varied committees within Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. Dean Nigel’s proposals were passed at this year’s Synod and will come into operation during 2017. And finally, Cannon Billy Stafford, Des Lowry, William Foster and Trudi Williams for their diligent and dedicated work developing a new financial scheme for the United Diocese which was approved at last year’s Synod and will come into effect on January 1^st 2017.

 

Bishop Ferran then announced a proposal to separate the Boyle and Riverstown group of Parishes in Elphin and the Kildallon and Swanlinbar group of parishes in Kilmore into smaller entities. During the meeting of the Diocesan Synod, resolutions were passed  to separate the Kildallon Group (made up of Kildallon, Newtongore and Corrwallen) from the Swanlinbar Group (consisting of Swanlinbar, Kinawley, Tomregan and Templeport) . Similar resolutions were passed to separate the Boyle Group (consisting of Boyle, Aghanagh, Croghan and Ardcane) from the Riverstown Group (made up of Taunagh, Ballysumaghan and Kilmactranny).

 

KILMORE, ELPHIN AND ARDAGH: INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CHURCH

Vision 20/20 for the church in Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh contains two aspirations for the local church. The first is that they should prioritise children from pre-school to third level, passing on the faith to successive generations. Our ministry and mission to the young is essential. The appointment and commissioning of Hannah O’Neill and Marian Edwards to co-ordinate youth and children’s ministry in the Diocese has been an important step in supporting this essential area of church life.

 

A second aspiration is that local churches are world-looking, visible and active in the community. During his address, Bishop Ferran announced a partnership with the Leprosy Mission Ireland (TLM) to provide a Mission Consultancy Service in the Diocese to promote mission. Earl Storey, who will be facilitating this partnership, shared further details of this initiative in a presentation to the Synod. He said that mission is core to why we exist as a church and denomination and that the Diocese, clergy and parishioners are key agents in delivering mission. He said that this new initiative aimed to encourage and support action at the local level.

 

Following the Presidential address, the Synod heard greetings from guests from other churches, including Monsignor Liam Kelly from the Roman Catholic Church and Revd. Jeremy Nicoll from the Methodist Church. It was also lovely to have the opportunity to engage with representatives from various church agencies as well as listen to presentations from the Diocesan Youth Council, The Scribe and the Mother’s Union.

For further information contact the Diocesan Communications Officer:

Jennifer Horner

Tel: (042) 967 5822
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.dkea.ie

Rev Nick Jones, REv Ian Horner, Canon David Catterall

Rev Jeremy Nicoll

Monsignor Liam Reilly

Mary Geelan, David Jones

Marian Edwards and Hannah ONeill

Earl Story

Earl Story and Bishop Ferran

Des Lowry, Willie Foster, Billy Stafford

Dean Nigel Crossey, Archdeacon Isaac Hanna

Rev Tanya Woods, Archdeacon Isaac Hanna, Bishop Ferran