Dr Maria Voce, President of the International Focolare Movement, will be speaking in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on Thursday June 14.Dr Voce, from Coscenza, Italy, is in Ireland to speak at the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin.
The Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev John Mann, said her visit to Belfast for this Service of Prayerful Reflection would be ‘a wonderful chance for many people to hear a prophetic voice addressing the subject of what we understand by Communion.’
Dr Voce will speak on the subject ‘Building Communion through a Culture of Trust.’ Dean Mann said: “This in itself is indicative of not only The Focolare’s insistence on the core Christian desire for unity, but that that is found in its joy as much as its pain in the discovery that trust, risk in the offer of love, and abandonment into the hands of others on the pattern of our Lord is the way to progress through the self–imposed barriers that only too often surround us.”
The Focolare Movement was founded in Italy during World War Two. With its focus on the two–sided coin of Jesus’s prayer for unity and his cry for abandonment on the cross, the Movement’s spirituality soon spread beyond Italy and is now present in 198 countries throughout the world.
It has given rise to many social projects and relationships between people of different ethnic background, religion and conviction.
Dr Voce has been the Movement’s President since the death of its founder, Chiara Lubich, in 2008. She has made dialogue and building relationships of trust a key priority of her Presidency.
During her visit to St Anne’s, Dr Voce will speak in Italian and her words will be translated. There will be a brief liturgy by the Cathedral and the Focolare.
The service begins at 5pm and is expected to last 45 minutes. All are welcome. ]]>
This is part of the parish’s celebrations of 100 years of the Mothers’ Union.
The festival opens with a special service at 7.30pm on Thursday May 31 when the guest will be Lady Christine Eames, wife of Lord Eames, former Archbishop of Armagh.
Visitors will be able to view the floral exhibits and artwork from 10am until 9pm on Friday June 1; from 10am until 8pm on Saturday June 2 and from 1pm to 6pm on Sunday June 3.
On the Sunday evening, beginning at 7pm, the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, will preach at a closing service.
The flower festival will be designed and co–ordinated by the Rev William McMillan MBE, international floral artist, along with members of Ballymacash Flower Club.
For more information visit www.christchurchlisburn.co.uk or contact Marie Anderson 02892 665636 or ivanj.anderson@yahoo.co.uk or Valerie Christy 02892 683590. A poster can be downloaded here.
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The Church of Ireland Men’s Society will be heading to the Antrim coast for its annual outing on Saturday May 26. Members will visit Carrickfergus Parish Church and Glenarm Castle and Grounds where there will be a talk on the McDonnell family. The evening meal will be in the Londonderry Arms, Carnlough.
Cost of the outing is £48. Everyone is welcome and full details including pick–up points and booking form are available at www.cims.ireland.anglican.org. ]]>
The third Rural Deanery Meeting in Connor Diocese’s Vision Strategy process took place in Antrim Parish Hall on Monday May 14.Around 130 people representing Select Vestries and parishioners from Ballynure and Ballyeaston; Connor and St Patrick’s; Drummaul, Duneane and Ballyscullion; Kilbride; Muckamore, Killead and Gartree; Templepatrick and Donegore; and Antrim attended the meeting.
The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, spoke about the background to the Vision Strategy and the reasons for it, in particular the need for churches to adapt to the changing culture and communities in which they minister.
The Rev Alan McCann, a member of the Vision Strategy Group, gave a presentation of the findings of a survey of parishes in the diocese, and Bishop Alan then addressed some of the specifics of changing culture and context, something he had explored in depth in his recent series of Lent seminars
As part of the process, the Vision Strategy group has been identifying examples of good practice in parishes across the diocese, and a Powerpoint on some of the projects and ideas parishes have found successful was presented by the Archdeacon of Connor and Vicar of Antrim, the Ven Dr Stephen McBride.
This illustrated the breadth and variety of projects that have been initiated, highlighting the positive outcomes of each project as well as identifying things that, with hindsight, parishes would do differently.
At the meeting each parish was given a copy of the presentation to take back to their churches to prompt ideas and inspire parishes to consider what projects might best serve the needs of their community.
Everyone then split into parish groups, and each group discussed a series of set issues relating to changes in the context around their parish, signs of a widening gap between the church and the community and their fears and hopes about engaging with the community. They were also asked to think about possible next steps for their parish.
These discussions will continue within parishes as the strategy progresses.
Following a break for refreshments, Bishop Alan addressed any questions and looked towards the next stage in the strategy before the meeting closed with a short act of worship.
The next Rural Deanery Meeting as part of the Vision Strategy process takes place in St Patrick’s Parish Hall, Ballymena, on May 23, beginning at 7.30pm. For further details on Connor’s Vision Strategy, follow the link to the left of this page. ]]>
Congratulations to the Rev Alan McCann, rector of Holy Trinity, Woodburn, and the Rev Rob Craig, Presbyterian Minister of Kilfillan, Londonderry, who are pictured at their graduation on Friday May 11. Both were awarded Doctor of Ministry degrees from Union Theological College, Belfast.
Alan’s thesis title was: An examination of the Ecclesiology of the Emerging Church Movement in respect of an Anglican Ecclesiology and its application to the local Church of Ireland Parish. ]]>
Connor Diocese did itself proud in the annual Central Communications Board Communications Competition.Winners for the best newsletters/magazines, websites and innovative use of social media by parishes, dioceses and church organisations are announced every year at the Church of Ireland General Synod.
Connor winners were: Connor Connections in the Diocesan Magazine category; Connor Mothers’ Union for its In Touch magazine in the ‘Other’ Organisations Printed Publications category; and Lisburn Cathedral in the Parish Website category.
The Good Book Shop, based in Church of Ireland House, Belfast, was runner up for the most innovative use of ‘social media’ over and beyond websites.
The results were announced on Saturday May 12 by the Archbishop of Armagh. The competition was run by the Church of Ireland Press Office but externally and professionally judged.
There was praise to all the entrants for their efforts in communicating within their own contexts in each category, with clear evidence of communication work of a very high standard across the island. Constructive feedback is available for all entrants – please get in touch with the Church of Ireland’s Press Officer, Paul Harron.
Citations on the winning Connor entries were as follows:
• Connor Diocese’s Connor Connections
This is designed and produced to an excellent standard with a very good use of pictures and well written articles. The cover is effective – cleanly designed with a strong title and clear and striking cover image. Most importantly, the magazine is very much centred on the people of the diocese, capturing a sense of a ‘diocesan family’. Overall, it has been very well edited and enjoys strong headlines and interesting stories and features.
• In Touch with Connor Diocese Mothers’ Union
This magazine sustains its strong position, doing just what it should. It packs a lot of information in, uses all the space fully and imaginatively and is clearly produced by people who have an eye for a story. It is a zesty and enthusiastic publication in which text and images relate exceptionally well.
• Lisburn Cathedral
This website (www.lisburncathedral.org) impressed both visually and in its content which was up–to–date and with clear staff and vestry information. The menu stays helpfully on the screen for ease of use and there are regular blog postings and podcasts. The front page is clean, strong and colourful without being overly busy.
• The Good Book Shop, Belfast
Here is a church–connected business which is making commendable efforts to build up a community of book–buyers in a challenging market. The link–up between website, facebook and twitter is well done and savvy. www.goodbookshop.com
The full list of winners is as follows:
Parish Magazines/Newsletters
Winner: Shankill Parish, Lurgan – ‘FOCUS’
Runner Up: Celbridge & Straffan with Newcastle–Lyons: ‘CSNL News’
Diocesan Magazines
Winner: Connor Connections (Connor)
Runner Up: N:Vision (Derry & Raphoe)
Other Organisations Magazines
Winner: In Touch with Connor Mothers’ Union
Runner Up: CMS In Mission
Parish Websites
Winner: Lisburn Cathedral (Connor)
Runner Up: Holywood Parish (Down & Dromore)
Highly Commended: Willowfield Parish (Down & Dromore)
Diocesan Websites
First Place: Down & Dromore
Runner Up: Dublin & Glendalough
Other Organisations Websites
Joint First: Down & Dromore Youth
Joint First: St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
Highly Commended: St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork
Social Media
Winner: The Dock, Titanic Quarter
Runner Up: The Good Book Shop, Belfast
Highly Commended: Holy Trinity, Rathmines, Dublin
Photos by Arthur MacartneyThe Rev Robert Jones was instituted as rector of St John’s Parish, Malone on Sunday May 13.
Robert, who was previously Dean of Clonmanoise and Incumbent of Trim, in the Diocese of Meath, is a native of County Carlow.
He was ordained in the Diocese of Down and Dromore, where he spent 10 years, first as a curate in Banbridge, then as a curate in Bangor Abbey, before moving to Rathfriland and Ballyward as rector.
In 1989 Robert moved to the Diocese of Connor where he was rector of St Polycarp’s and Finaghy until 1993, and later rector of All Saint’s, Craigyhill and St Patrick’s Cairncastle, also Diocese of Connor.
In 2002 he was appointed Dean of Clonmanoise in the Diocese of Meath, and was Dean at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Trim, and rector of St James, Athboy.
Robert is married to Alison who comes from Larne, County Antrim.
At St John’s he succeeds the Very Rev John Mann who is now Dean of Belfast. ]]>
The Rev Tracey McRoberts has been appointed incumbent of St Matthew’s, Shankill, Belfast.Tracey, 44, is currently curate assistant of the Parish of St Thomas, Belfast. A native of Donaghadee, Co Down, Tracey is a past pupil of Glenlola Collegiate, and was an active member of Donaghadee Parish, where she still has strong links.
She left school at 16 and went to work at Spence Bryson Carpets. At the age of 28 she studied for a BTh at Union Theological College, Belfast, and later did a PGCE which qualified her to teach RE at secondary school level.
Tracey was appointed Church Co–ordinator at Orangefield Presbyterian where she was very involved in the new church building.
Before she was selected for training for Ordination in the Church of Ireland, Tracey moved to Ballymacarrett Group of Churches in East Belfast, where she was ministry assistant.
During her two years training in Dublin, she completed a Masters Degree in Leadership and Pastoral Care at All Hallows College and following her ordination in 2009 she went to St Thomas’s as curate assistant.
Looking to the future Tracey said: “I am looking forward to meeting the people and sharing with them in ministry within the local community. I want to encourage everybody to play their part whatever their background or ability. I am a strong believer in the idea of team.”
She said she had a keen interest in strategic development. “I am very supportive of what Connor Diocese is doing in the Belfast area and am keen to get involved in what is happening beyond the doors of St Matthew’s,” she said.
Tracey has a son Philip, 17, who is studying at Further Education College.
Her institution as rector of St Matthew’s will take place on Tuesday July 3 at 8pm. ]]>
The Rev Tracey McRoberts has been appointed incumbent of St Matthew’s, Shankill, Belfast.Tracey is currently curate assistant of the Parish of St Thomas, Belfast.
The date of the institution is not yet set. ]]>
Desi Maxwell will be running a series of seminars offering participants the opportunity to explore the richness of the Hebrew worldview.The seminars, on May 15, 22 and 29, are designed to enthuse and resource people in ministry.
Desi will share some of the insights from the Jewish context that have excited and enriched his ministry in six introductory lectures spread over three mornings.
The seminars take place in the Conference Room at the House of Vic–Ryn, Moira Road, Lisburn, and a fee of £60 includes the six lectures, notes and refreshments.
Registration is essential – visit www.xplorations.org or mail 24 Thistlemount Park, Lisburn, BT28 2UN. Cheques should be made payable to Xplorations. ]]>