March 2012
The Rectors Ramblings: the condolences of the parishes are extended to Mrs Dorcas Lewis who lost her beloved Noel in early February. Noel passed away suddenly and his loss is felt very deeply. A great character who loved his wife, the church and the land, his passing was marked by a huge funeral and this was of great comfort to Dorcas. The condolences of the parishes are also extended to the Rothwell and Jordan families with the recent tragic deaths of George Rothwell and Michael Jordan. George was a first cousin to Patricia Masterson. I pray that Hilda and all the family are given time and space to come to terms with this double loss and I also pray that journalists think before they make up stories when they don’t have facts.
Spring is now in full bloom all around us and it is wonderful to see so many shoots of new life appearing in a landscape that has appeared so drab and dull throughout the winter. Spring is a time of change and growth and the same can be said within our group of parishes and the Diocese. On February 29th last Mrs Dorothy Hatton retired from her post as teacher in Gorey Central School. Dorothy has been a member of staff in the school for the past 6 years but was well known to the school population well before then as Dorothy had worked on a temporary basis in the school many times. A special assembly was held in the school on February 28th to mark the retirement and presentations were made by the staff, board of management, the pupils and the Parent Teachers Association. On behalf of the school population I would like to thank Mrs Hatton for all of her wonderful work in Gorey Central School over the years and the school will really miss her.
The Reverend Michael Stephenson has been appointed as rector-elect of Bunclody Union of Parishes. He will take up his duties in the Diocese in June. Michael is no stranger to the Church of Ireland-his father was a rector in Clogher Diocese and Michael served his curacy in Derry Diocese prior to commencing his duties as an army chaplain. I welcome Michael and his family to the diocesan family and pray that they will all be very happy here with us.
Many of our smaller rural schools are at risk from the cutbacks outlined by the Department of Education. School transport, teacher-pupil ration and budgetary cuts all threaten schools with less than 25 pupils. Even though we have a large school in the group of parishes we will also be affected by the cuts to rural transport, capitation is being cut by 3.5% this year and if a small school closes, teachers will have to be employed in the nearest school with the board of that school having no say or input into the employment of that teacher. All of this has implications for your children, grandchildren and our communities. Some feel that this is a direct attack upon denominational schools and perhaps it is but whatever the reason, we must make our voices heard to our elected representatives. If we remain silent and voice no objection then who knows what else will be removed from the rural areas in the name of fiscal necessity?
Please pray for the success of the forthcoming special Synod meeting in Cavan on March 9th and 10th. I fear that it may cause great upset and pain if handled badly but there is a great opportunity for genuine dialogue and growth. Much has been said both in papers and on television and radio with regard to the issue of human sexuality within our church and I pray that the example of Jesus Christ will be in the hearts and minds of everybody attending this meeting. It is very easy to point the finger and judge someone just because they may be different to us in some way but Christ calls us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
Keep the board of nomination for Crosspatrick/Carnew Union of Parishes in your prayers as they prepare for the task of appointing a new rector for the incumbency when it falls vacant next month.
Every blessing, Canon Mark. |
