Photos from the 2015 Cork, Cloyne and Ross Ordinands’ Retreat at Mirfield

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Each year, candidates for ordination in Cork, Cloyne and Ross travel to the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield, West Yorkshire for their pre-ordination retreat.  In 2014 the Bishops of the Church of Ireland also went there on retreat together.

This year’s candidates – the Reverend David Compton, who was ordained Deacon on Sunday last, 20th September, and the Reverend David Bowles, who is to be ordained priest on Friday, 25th September (St Fin Barre’s Day) – travelled to Mirfield in the company of the parish clergy who will be responsible for their on-going training: Canon Paul Willoughby and the Venerable Adrian Wilkinson, Archdeacon of Cork.  They were on retreat from 14th to 18th September.

About to go on the Cork, Cloyne and Ross 2015 pre-ordination retreat (l-r) Canon Paul Willoughby, the Reverend David Bowles, Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson and the Reverend David Compton.

About to go on the Cork, Cloyne and Ross 2015 pre-ordination retreat (l-r) Canon Paul Willoughby, the Reverend David Bowles, Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson and the Reverend David Compton.

The Reverend David Compton took many photographs of this inspirational and inspiring place, and he shares them now:

The guest wing of the House of the Resurrection at Mirfield, West Yorkshire

The guest wing of the House of the Resurrection at Mirfield, West Yorkshire

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Bell-Ringing in Churches of West Cork

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Bell-ringers from Church of Ireland churches in West Cork – Skibbereen, Rosscarbery and Bandon – were joined by nine bell-ringers from the U.K. for a weekend of bell-ringing and social activity on the weekend of 11th to 13th September last.

Bell-Ringers at the West Cork Ringing Weekend

Bell-Ringers at the West Cork Ringing Weekend

The West Cork Ringing Weekend takes place over the 2nd weekend in September annually. The basic idea is to get some experienced bellringers to come to West Cork from the UK, to give the ringers of Rosscarbery, Skibbereen and Bandon the opportunity to ring with a steady band, which makes learning much easier.

Ringing the Bells at the West Cork Ringing Weekend

Ringing the Bells at the West Cork Ringing Weekend

This year, there were 9 ringers from England, and 1 from Bangor, in the North of Ireland. Free accommodation and transport was offered to those who needed it.   As well as many sessions of ringing (1 on Thursday evening, 3 on the Friday, 4 on the Saturday, plus Sunday service ringing), there was also a dinner on the Saturday evening at the Celtic Ross Hotel. After dinner the local handbell team (Carbery Bells), augmented by 2 experienced handbell tune ringers from the UK, entertained guests with a selection of tunes.

Carbery Bells

Carbery Bells

Following Service ringing on the Sunday, the guests and local ringers were given a soup and sandwich lunch at Martin and Jane’s house in Drinagh, and a chance to ring on their miniature ring of 12 bells. Following this, everyone went up to Cork to finish the weekend off with ringing on the 12 bells at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, where the Cork ringers provided tea and biscuits, and the chance to ring on their six bell mini ring, which is currently set up within the Cathedral. Six learners from Skibbereen, one from Rosscarbery, and six from Bandon all benefitted from people generously giving their time to come to West Cork, and pass on their knowledge and experience.  Bell-ringers are looking forward to doing it all again next year!

From above - the 12 bells of St Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork

From above – the 12 bells of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork

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Ordination of A Deacon in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Sunday evening, 20th September, the eve of the Feast of St Matthew the Apostle, David Compton was ordained Deacon in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork by the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton.  David was presented for ordination by his sponsors: his wife, Mary Katherine,  Dr Katie Hefelfinger from the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Kate Nielson and Heidi McCann from his home parish of Ballydehob Union, and the rector of that parish, the Reverend Stephen McCann.  The preacher was the Reverend Anne Skuse.  The deacon at the Service was the Reverend David Bowles, serving at a Diocesan liturgy for the first time, and the sub-deacon was the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne under whose watchful eye all the preparations for this solemn and joyful occasion had been made.  The congregation, clergy and readers from around the Diocese received hospitality afterwards from members of the Cathedral parish.

At the Ordination of David Compton as Deacon in St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork were (l-r) the Reverend Elaine Murray (Bishop's Chaplain), the Reverend David Bowles (Deacon), the Reverend David Compton (the newly ordained Deacon), the Bishop, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne (Dean of Cork), the Venerable Adrian Wilkinson (Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross), and the Reverend John Ardis (Bishop's Chaplain).

At the Ordination of David Compton as Deacon in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork were (l-r) the Reverend Elaine Murray (Bishop’s Chaplain), the Reverend David Bowles (Deacon), the Reverend David Compton (the newly ordained Deacon), the Bishop, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne (Dean of Cork), the Venerable Adrian Wilkinson (Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross), and the Reverend John Ardis (Bishop’s Chaplain).

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David Compton to be Made a Deacon in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork today

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross
David Compton

David Compton

David Compton, who lives in Aughadown, west of Skibbereen, County Cork, in the Ballydehob Union of Parishes is to be made a Deacon today in an Ordination Service  presided over by the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral at 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

David is a native of Atlanta, Georgia in the USA and is a proud citizen of his adopted country, Ireland.  Before this David has been a financial journalist and book editor and a New York Times bestselling author, following a career in marketing and strategy with several multinationals in the food and pharmaceutical sectors.  He has been involved in lay ministry in the Church for over thirty years, and has a special interest in pastoral care, prayer life, spirituality, Christian education, music and liturgy.

What is a Deacon?  The Book of Common Prayer sets out the answer clearly:

Deacons in the Church of God serve in the name of Christ, and so remind the whole Church that serving others is at the heart of all ministry.

Deacons have a special responsibility to ensure that those in need are cared for with compassion and humility. They are to strengthen the faithful, search out the careless and the indifferent, and minister to the sick, the needy, the poor and those in trouble.

When called upon to do so, they may baptize, preach and give instruction in the faith.

Deacons assist the bishop and priest under whom they serve. When the people are gathered for worship, deacons are authorized to read the Gospel, lead the people in intercession, and distribute the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

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Church of Ireland Parishes in Cork, Cloyne and Ross begin to Mobilise in Response to Refugee Crisis

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

A number of Church of Ireland parishes in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross have responded already to the unfolding refugee crisis in Europe, and others are actively making plans to reach out and help.

Community volunteers, including parishioners from Kinneigh Union of Parishes, sorting through donations at the BEDA Hall, Ballineen, for Syrian and other refugees.

Community volunteers, including parishioners from Kinneigh Union of Parishes, sorting through donations at the BEDA Hall, Ballineen, for Syrian and other refugees.

In Kinneigh Union of Parishes (Ballineen and Enniskean, Co. Cork) forces have been joined with other churches, community groups and volunteers to gather and sort donations.  The organiser of all this in the locale is Kinneigh parishioner, Mary Cooper. Mary recruited the volunteers and mobilised them; an incredible amount of very generous donations were sorted, packed and ready for transport on the day by 5.30 p.m. The rector, the Reverend Stella Jones, speaking about the refugees’ desperate need for help,  is strongly of the view that working together like this is the way forward. She says::

Right now, people are getting together regardless of their creed, or lack of it, so we don’t need to label our charity.  The Church is only part of the people of God and in times like this, there is a wonderful spill over that mingles us all together in a way that I am sure God is truly delighted with!

Carrigaline Union of Parishes held a ‘Weekend of Activity’ last weekend in initial response to the refugee crisis.   On Friday 11th September, a prayer vigil was held from 8pm till Midnight in St Mary’s Church where people were invited to come and spend some time in quiet prayer.  During this period also the parish hall remained open to accept donations and supplies for the Cork/Calais Solidarity Group.   On Saturday 12th the supplies were sorted and bagged by the Woodworth family (Simon, Michelle , Alice and Sean) and three full carloads were delivered to the depot in Cork City.   On Sunday 13th a retiring collection was held in both St Mary’s and St John’s Monkstown (and there will be another collection next Sunday 20th). On 14th, the Monday Club gave up their normal ‘slot’ in the parish hall to host an ‘Afternoon Tea’  organised and inspired by Hazel Fleury and Mary Murphy and this initiative raised an astonishing €1,200 for Bishops’ Appeal in just two hours.

Mary Murphy (left) and Hazel Fleury of the Monday Club, hosted an afternoon tea which raised €1,200 for the Bishops' Appeal

Mary Murphy (left) and Hazel Fleury of the Monday Club, hosted an afternoon tea which raised €1,200 for the Bishops’ Appeal

The Woodworth family gave up their Saturday morning to sort donations and supplies, and to deliver them to the Cork Depot for the Cork/Calais Solidarity Group.

The Woodworth family gave up their Saturday morning to sort donations and supplies, and to deliver them to the Cork Depot for the Cork/Calais Solidarity Group.

 

 

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