During the first weekend in March, the Cork Diocesan Youth Council held their first Retreat Weekend since before the Covid-19 pandemic at the Carhue Centre in Bandon.
Hilda Connolly, Diocesan Youth Officer writes:
It is strange to think that the last residential weekend that the Cork Diocesan Youth Council held was the Confirmation Retreat in March 2020. It is nearly ironic that the first residential weekend after Covid restrictions were lifted, was the Confirmation Retreat March 2022 for this year’s upcoming candidates.
Thanks to Judy Peters, the Rev. Cliff Jeffers, Steve Grasham from CIYD, and the ‘Young Leaders in Training’ group, the weekend was full of different events, including sessions on the Bible, worship and prayer. They also organised a mini “Bake Off” competition, judged by Judy and Steve, Pilates and Dancefit sessions with Cathy Sweetnam from Core Studio, and an African Drumming Session with Steve.
It was great to be able to see a new group of young people gathering again, and to see the Young Leaders in action for the first time with some help from the older Youth Leaders. There was a great buzz around the Carhue Centre in Bandon over the two days. It is great to be back!
The Rev. Ciff Jeffers, Rector of Fanlobbus Union, writes:
On Thursday 24th of February the Fanlobbus Youth Group visited Coolkelure Farm, which is owned by John and Viri Kingston Castro, who are participating in ‘regenerative agriculture’. The confirmation group and young people from the youth group toured the farm and had the concept of regenerative farming explained to them.
Fanlobbus Youth Group and confirmation group at Coolkelure Farm
Spring is a great time to visit Coolkelure Farm, with all the lambs, puppies and chickens. In the second half of the day, our young people assisted with the setup of a vegetable tunnel, laying down cardboard and covering it with wood chippings. The day concluded with some Mexican food, homemade burritos and a tasting opportunity of organic goats milk which is produced directly on the farm.
Thank you to John, Viri and their family for a great tour and an insight into their environmentally sensitive method of farming.
We reported previously about the spontaneous and generous support from clergy, employees and a number of parishes for the costs of the five vans being driven into Ukraine with medical supplies donated by the people of Cork. That report is HERE.
Naturally, in the following days, parishes began to take their own initiatives including in response to the call by the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal in partnership with other agencies, which was reported HERE.
The Bishop, Dr Paul Colton, paid tribute to the people of Cork, and especially to those from Cork, Cloyne and Ross for their immediate Christian and humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine. He said:
We all continue to be increasingly dismayed and devastated by the scenes we are witnessing through the media emanating from Ukraine as well as the scenes of refugees arriving in neighbouring states. As we have responded to other crises and conflicts around the world, and continue to do so, the response of the people of Cork in general, including the people of the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, has been immediate, compassionate and very generous.
It really is an example of the third of the Five Marks of Mission in Anglicanism: ‘to respond to human need with loving service.’ What is truly eluding us all in the current disaster, however, helpless as many of us feel, is what we we are entrusted with in part of the fourth of those marks of mission: ‘…to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation.’ I call everyone to fervent prayer, practical humanitarian responses, and also thank very sincerely the people and parishes for their initiatives.
Here is what is a flavour of what is happening in some of the parishes of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.
Abbeystrewry Union
A retiring collection was held in the churches over the weekend, which raised roughly €250.00 for the Red Cross in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian national anthem was played at our service in Abbeystrewry Church.
And a parishioner created a piece of artwork which is displayed in the porch in Abbeystrewry.
Artwork in Abbeystrewry Church
Bandon Union
Bandon Grammar School have launched an appeal to students and staff for donations of hygiene supplies to help those who are fleeing from war torn Ukraine.
Students at Bandon Grammar School
Carrigaline Union
The Healer/Prayer group led a very moving time of prayer on Ash Wednesday from 6pm to 7pm. There was a retiring collection which was sent to UNICEF for the Ukraine appeal. The Healer/Prayer group have also committed to pausing each night at 7pm to pray for peace in the world and all parishioners are invited to stop whatever they are doing at that time and join them in prayer.
Following an initiative from the Dean of Cork , together with church bells across the county, St Mary’s Carrigaline and St John’s Monkstown Bells rang for 5 minutes at 7pm on Thursday night to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
From Sunday, there will be a basket in each church to facilitate donations to Bishops’ Appeal for Ukraine. They are partnering with Habitat for Humanity and Christian Aid and encouraging parishes across Ireland to contribute to their response to help people seeking refuge.
Prayers for Ukraine at St Mary’s, Carrigaline
Cloyne Union
A Red Cross Appeal Street Collection will take place on Saturday, 12th March, and prayers have been provided.
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork
The Dean of Cork, Very Rev. Nigel Dunne and Chairperson of the St Fin Barre’s Quarter Development Group decided that the ringing of some of the Cathedral bells for five minutes at 7pm last Thursday night might be a simple way of doing this. Within 24 hours 12 churches decided to join the Cathedral’s lead and by another 24 hours the list had more than tripled. The churches continue to ring bells every Thursday night.
Part of the Bells of Ukraine initiative led by the Cathedral on Thursday night was the lighting of a dedicated ‘peace candle’ which has been installed in the Dean’s Chapel. Two prayers, one for the people and government of Ukraine and one for peace throughout the world are available at the candle for visitors to offer as they pray.
Peace Candle at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Douglas Union with Frankfield
Collections in aid of the Irish Red Cross appeal for Ukraine will take place on Sundays 6th and 13th March.
The Union have advertised a local initiative by the Polish community in Cork who are transporting essential items to Poland for the Ukrainian refugees there. Their temporary depot is a unit in the Kinsale Road Industrial Estate.
Church bells were rung in all churches for the ‘Bells for Ukraine’ initiative.
Collection in Douglas Union
Fanlobbus
The Union have set up a fundraiser on their iDonate page for people to make contributions towards the cost of sending a van to the Ukraine (the Bishop’s initiative). All parishioners received a text message saying that they can contribute online, in church or by dropping a donation into the rectory. This is their donation link: https://www.idonate.ie/ukraine783
Church bells were rung in all churches for the ‘Bells for Ukraine’ initiative.
Dunmanway, West Cork, Ireland. 3rd Mar, 2022. Church bells across County Cork rang out for 5 minutes this evening to show solidarity for the people of Ukraine. Rev. Cliff Jeffers and his team of bell ringers in St. Mary’s Church, Dunmanway, rang the church bells to show support for all Ukranians worldwide. Picture: Andy Gibson.
Kinsale Union
In the Kinsale Union after all Sunday services there is an opportunity to donate to the Ukrainian Appeals of the Irish Red Cross and Unicef.
At all services last Sunday a minute’s silence and the prayer commended for the people of Ukraine by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York took place.
Mallow Union
There was a coffee morning on Wednesday next (9th of March) in Eily’s bar, Doneraile, from 10am am to 12 pm. The money raised was lodged with the Irish Red Cross and GOAL International to enable aid to be given to people as they need it, and where they need it.
At Doneraile Church, the Church Warden, Mary St Leger, organised a collection of items to send to Poland for refugees arriving from Ukraine.
Today, Tuesday 8th March, at 2 p.m. 5 van loads carrying 13 tonnes of medical supplies and aid contributed by Cork people and organisations in Cork will depart for Ukraine, driven by a team from the Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery accompanied by Caitriona Twomey of Cork Penny Dinners. The cost of the ferry crossing from Rosslare to Cherbourg for the 5 vans has been covered, through an impulse offer of Bishop Paul Colton at lunch with Caitriona last Friday, by some of the clergy, employees and parishes of the Church of Ireland Dioceses of of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. The vans will travel onwards through France, Belgium, Germany and into Poland where, at the border with Ukraine, the Cork team will be met by members of the Redemptorist Order who will bring them into Ukraine.
Caitriona Twomey taking a lead in getting the emergency supplies sorted. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision
Bishop Colton tells the story:
Caitriona Twomey was being inducted into the Hall of Fame last Friday at the 29th annual Cork Person of the Year Awards lunch organised by Manus O’Callaghan and I had the immense joy of sitting next to her and one of her drivers. – Tomas – who speaks both Polish and Russian, and who told me he can manage Ukrainian too. Caitriona is the sort of person we in Cork always give a standing ovation to for her work with Cork Penny Dinners and her work for social justice in so many other ways.
Before lunch she was telling me about her trip – how Christy O’Donovan of the Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery team got a rush of blood to the head to go to the Ukraine to help. When he told Caitriona, she got a rush of blood to the head as well and said to him “I will go with you.” (Her mother had made about 50 similar trips to war-torn Bosnia in the 1990s).
Before lunch she told me that in a matter of days, the cost per van of the ferry crossing from Ireland to France had gone up by €290, from €500 to €790. I myself then got a rush of blood to the head – we were all getting rushes of blood to the head – and I said to her, Susan and I will pay €800 for the fare for one of those vans.
Then my soup arrived, I hadn’t told Susan, and I started to wonder where I would get the €800. So , letting the soup go cold in front of me, I sent a message to our clergy and employees’ WhatsApp group, told them the story, and asked if anyone wanted to chip in with my offer. By the end of lunch we had the full cost of 3 of the vans and by the next morning with a few parishes also weighing in, we had the full cost of all 5 of the vans.
This has been a remarkable and impetuous response of a small team of people in Cork, Cloyne and Ross to a great need. I am so grateful to them all, as I know Caitriona and the Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery Team are too. I am mindful as well that this is on top of what so many individuals and parishes in the Diocese are also already doing in response to the heart-breaking need in Ukraine.
Bishop Paul Colton and Caitriona Twomey grab a selfie during last Friday’s lunch
When Caitriona Twomey heard about this response she told Bishop Colton ‘We had some tears when I told the lads. Thank you!’
In recent days, the medical supplies which have been donated have been accumulated at the North Cathedral through the good offices of Bishop Fintan Gavin and his team in the Diocese of Cork and Ross, and they have also helped the travelling team to make links with Redemptorists in Ukraine.
Getting one of the five vans ready. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision
Bishop Colton added:
Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine, and now also with these friends from our City and County who are going out, this very afternoon with our support, to bring what help they can. I pray for God’s blessing on them.
With Caitriona Twomey after the Cork Person of the Year Awards lunch were Bishop Paul Colton and Bishop Fintan Gavin. Photograph: Kate Durrant
Hilary Dring, MU Diocesan President in Cork, Cloyne and Ross, writes:
On Sunday 27th February 2022, the Dean of Armagh, the Very Rev. Shane Forster welcomed members and friends of the Mothers’ Union to Armagh Cathedral for an All Ireland Festival Service of Thanksgiving and Commissioning.
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon as people filled the cathedral from all parts of the island to celebrate and give thanks together. The Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross was represented by Robert and Patsy Devoy, Hazel Sweetnam, and Hilary Dring, who were thrilled to be there and to have a chance to meet with people face to face rather than on Zoom.
A number of people were commissioned by Archbishop John McDowell: Mrs June Butler, for her second term as All Ireland President of the Mothers’ Union, along with the All Ireland Trustees, Joy Gordon, Hazel Speares, Margaret Jacob, Clare Stewart, Mavis Thompson, Ada Lawson and Ann Howard. In addition there was an ‘official welcome’ for the Rev. Ken Rue, the All Ireland treasurer and Mrs Iris Suitor, the newly elected Zonal Trustee for Ireland.
The Mothers’ Union theme for 2022 was “Transformation – Now!” and the Gospel reading at the service was about Zacchaeus, who climbed a sycamore tree so that he would be able to see Jesus. Archbishop McDowell spoke of how Jesus always welcomed people in, how he invited himself to the house of Zacchaeus, and how Jesus’ attitude of welcome, love and acceptance transformed lives. The challenge for us all is to also be truly welcoming to those we meet. Below is a link to the service if you would like to hear his sermon in full.
The music was uplifting – thank you to the choir and organist. It was wonderful to sing together again and to hear such fabulous music. After the service many of the members gathered at the Armagh City Hotel for food and fellowship, also a first for so many of us. Thank you to all who organised the whole event and welcomed us so warmly to a beautiful part of Ireland.
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