Mrs Marie Norton, a parishioner of Bandon Union of Parishes, in the Diocese of Cork, trained, and was licensed, as a Reader in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf while she and her husband Fred were living in Qatar.  Having returned to live in West Cork Marie has now been licensed to serve as a Reader in the Church of Ireland within the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.  The Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, licensed her on Sunday, 15th February in Holy Trinity Church, Rathclaren, County Cork during the Sunday Eucharist.  Marie is looking forward to ministry as a Reader in Bandon Union of Parishes where the rector is the Reverend Denis MacCarthy.  A number of Readers from the Diocese attended the Service. Marie was presented to the Bishop by the Reverend Steve McCann who is Chaplain to Lay Ministers in the Diocese.

At the licensing of Mrs Marie Norton as a Diocesan Reader at Holy Trinity, Rathclaren were (l-r) the Reverend Steve McCann (Chaplain to Lay Ministers in Cork, Cloyne and Ross), Mrs Marie Norton, the Bishop, Dr Paul Colton, and the Rector of Bandon Union of Parishes, the Reverend Denis MacCarthy.