Latest News from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

New Rural Dean for the Church of Ireland Rural Deanery of Mid-West Cork

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

The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, has announced that he has appointed the Reverend Denis MacCarthy as Rural Dean of the Rural Deanery of Mid-West Cork. The Reverend Denis MacCarthy is Incumbent of the Bandon Union of Parishes and his work as Rural Dean will be in addition to parochial ministry.

Rural Deans assist the Bishop with particular aspects of oversight in designated areas of the Diocese. There are four such rural deans in Cork, Cloyne and Ross. The parishes in Mid-West Cork Rural Deanery are: Bandon, Fanlobbus (Dunmanway, Drinagh, Drimoleague and Coolkelure), Kilgariffe (Clonakilty, Timoleague, and Courtmacsherry), Kinneigh (Ballineen and Enniskeane), Kinsale, and Moviddy (Aherla, Templemartin and Kilmurry).

The Reverend Denis MacCarthy

Posted in Announcements, Appointments, Clergy, Diocese | Comments Off

200 Years of Prayer and Praise at Saint Luke’s Church, Knockmourne, County Cork

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The parishioners and community in north-east County Cork had a wonderfully uplifting time at St Luke’s Knockmourne over the weekend of the 5th to 7th of June when they celebrated the bicentenary of the church.

On the Friday evening the church was open to show off the skills of the parish and local flower arrangers. A booklet on the history of the church by Kevin Walsh and Tom Finn was launched, and there was a display based on the history, including photographs of rectors, past and present. This was followed by a Service of Compline.

On Saturday people gathered from many parts, especially those with a connection to the parish, were welcomed for afternoon tea. That evening the Church hosted a concert with music from Torcán, supplemented by local talent, Sineád, Margaret and Andrew. This was very popular and certainly filled the little church with joy.

Sunday dawned dry and the church was the starting & finishing point for a vintage car rally. A lovely collection of cars including a Morgan, a TR7, three VW beetles and a Honda Civic lined up to take a tour of the local countryside before returning to the church, where the human participants were refuelled with lunch and tea and cake. That evening there was a service of “Songs of Praise” with favourite hymns, which were sung to the accompaniment of the piano brought in for the previous evening’s concert played by Caroline Senior.

Later in the year, the celebrations will continue when the Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, will visit the parish to celebrate the Patronal Festival and Harvest Thanksgiving on Saint Luke’s Day, 18th of October at 3pm.

Here are photos from the weekend:

: Two Volkswagen ‘Beetles’

: Andrew England

: ‘As good as a Sermon’

: Enjoying Sunday evening

: Flowers of welcome!

: Our Rectors past and present.

: Sineád O’Keeffe

: St Luke’s Church, Knockmourne, County Cork

: St Luke’s Church, Knockmourne, County Cork

: The church in all it’s glory!

: ‘The’ Honda Civic

: The Morgan

: Torcán preforming

: Woven leaves.

Copies of “200 Years of Prayer and Praise” are available from the parish for €5.00 plus postage.

Keep in touch with what the parish is doing on the parish Facebook page.

Posted in Bicentenary, Church Services, Diocese, Parish News, Special Events | Comments Off

Blessing of Pets in Saint Peter’s Church, Bandon

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Nearly sixty people, and many more dogs and other animals, recently attended the ‘Blessing of Pets’ in St. Peter’s, Bandon. While dogs were in the majority, a lizard called ‘Puff’ and three tiny kittens were also in attendance. The kittens were a great favourite of ‘Holly’ the Curate’s Jack Russell terrier. (Although some doubted her motivations.)

Volunteers (Noreen, Linda and our parishioner Liz Atkins) from ‘Irish Dogs for the Disabled’ came to speak about their work. Noreen in her address explained that they are a unique charity founded in 2007 to improve the lives of children and adults living with physical disabilities in Ireland. The assistance dogs are specially trained to assist physically disabled children and adults to carry out a range of practical tasks in order to achieve greater independence. Every dog is trained to help with simple everyday tasks such as opening/closing doors, picking up dropped items, emptying the washing machine, sending for help or even helping a child with severe walking difficulties to walk with greater ease and balance plus much more.

Our parishioner Claire McCutcheon also spoke. She is a volunteer with ‘Irish Therapy Dogs’, a charity which bring dogs into hospitals, nursing homes, day care centres, schools and other places where people may be restricted from having pets and where the presence of dogs and their owners, will add comfort and support. Here are the photos:

: Liz Atkins from ‘Irish Dogs for the Disabled’ arrives with her family and ‘Hannah’ and ‘Hope’.

: Grace McCutcheon and ‘Ozzie’ from ‘Irish Therapy Dogs’ with Frin Carter and friend

: Three kittens arrive in the little carrier carefully watched by a certain Jack Russell terrier.

: Dogs of all sizes arrive with their owners.

: The Perrott family and ‘George’.

: ‘A Service of the Word’ in progress.

: Noreen from ‘Irish Dogs for the Disabled’ giving the address.

: Blessing of a Lizard.

: Blessing of a Dog.

: Blessing of a Dog.

: Blessing of the Curate’s Dog

Posted in Liturgy, Parish News, Special Events | Comments Off

‘Come and Sing’ Event Held at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork to Introduce New Hymn Book Supplement

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

“Thanks & Praise”, a new supplement to the Church Hymnal containing 227 hymns and songs for use during worship, is being published next September.

An informal ‘Come and Sing’ event was held in Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork on Monday 8th June which was an opportunity to hear and sing some of the contents, to find out about the size and feel of the book, and to ask questions. Over forty people gathered in the Deans’ Chapel, a group representative of choir members, organists, clergy, parishioners, students and children, and were expertly guided through some of the new material by the Revd Dr Peter Thompson who is the musical editor of the new book and a member of the Liturgical Advisory Committee. He also circulated details of a special discount offer for those who pre-order copies before the end of June, which has been circulated to all clergy in the Church of Ireland.

In thanking Dr Thompson for making the journey to Cork the Dean of Cork, the Very Revd Nigel Dunne, said that it was good to see interest in the hymnal supplement from such a wide age group who attended, not least the enthusiasm shown by a large contingent of third level students from UCC.