Courtney McGrailFaith and Life Convention
The third annual Down & Connor Faith and Life Convention will be held at Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, Belfast on September 24. This year’s keynote speaker will be former Westminster MP Sarah Teather. She is the current director of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Britain.
At age 29 she was the youngest MP in Westminster and served as Minister of State for Children and Families in the Coalition Government between 2010 and 2012.
The convention will offer over 20 workshops exploring themes such as faith and film, the realities of living as a Muslim in Belfast, ecology, faith and our divided society, what it is like to be a young Catholic in today’s world, exploring the spirituality of Patrick Kavanagh’s poetry, the intriguing life of Fr. John Sullivan SJ the pastoral response to drugs and alcohol and how a culture of welcome can be created for migrants and people seeking refuge.
To book tickets visit www.faithandlife convention.org
Carbury Parish launches new website
The parish of Carbury in Co. Kildare has launched its new online presence. With an eye not only to updates and activities locally, www.carburyparish.ie has been designed with parishioners now living overseas in mind.
The site adds to Carbury’s active Facebook page as a regularly updated source of news and events and is linked to the parishes four schools and numerous clubs.
Famine should make us aware of refugees – Higgins
Speaking at an event in Glasnevin Cemetery to mark the Great Famine of 1845-1848, President Michael D Higgins said the plight of Irish people then should make Europe aware of its humanitarian responsibilities today, including its responsibility towards refugees.
President Higgins asked: “Is there not a lesson for all of us, as we are faced in our own time with the largest number of displaced people since World War II, as the Mediterranean becomes, for many, a marine grave, as European nations fail to respond to their humanitarian obligations?”
Derry diocesan changes
A number of appointments announced by Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry came into effect on September 9. Fr Eamon Graham, Adm Long Tower, to be PP Lavey and PP Greenlough, residing in Lavey; Fr Aidan Mullan, CC St. Eugene’s Cathedral, to be Adm Long Tower; Fr Noel McDermott, CC Faughanvale, to be PP Faughanvale; Fr Brendan Crowley, CC Burt Inch & Fahan, to be PP Errigal; Fr James McGrory, CC Culdaff and Clonmany, to be PP Coleraine; Fr Patsy Mullan, retiring as PP Faughanvale, to be CC Faughanvale; Fr Charles Keaney PP Coleraine, to take a twelve-month sabbatical, before new appointment in September 2017; Fr Fintan Diggin to be CC Burt, Inch & Fahan; Fr Eugene Hasson, PP Lavey and Greenlough, to be CC Omagh (Drumragh); Fr Karl Haan, CC Errigal, to be CC Clonmany and Culdaff, residing at Culdaff; Fr Paul Fraser, CC Creggan, to be, in addition, Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre; Fr Dermott McGirr, CC Omagh (Drumragh), to be CC Ballinascreen and Desertmartin, residing at Desertmartin; Fr Peter O’Kane, Director of Diocesan Pastoral Centre, to enter the novitiate of the Dominican Order; Fr Brendan Collins CC Long Tower, to take a twelve-month period of sabbatical leave from ministry, before his next appointment in 2017; Fr Micheál McGavigan, CC The Three Patrons, to undertake further studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, Washington DC; Fr Christopher McDermott, newly ordained, to be CC St. Eugene’s Cathedral; Rev. Malachy Gallagher, newly ordained Deacon, to Parish of Templemore.
Mary in the writings of Martin Luther
The Methodist Church in Abbey Street, Dublin 1 will be the venue for A Reflection on ‘Mary in the Writings of Martin Luther’ at 2pm on October 1. Hosted by the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ESBVM), the presentation will be delivered by Dr Mary McCaughey of the Priory Institute. Further information can be gained from Dr Mary Frances McKenna at Dublin@esbvm.org.uk and 086 878 6517.
Meath diocesan changes
Bishop Michael Smith of Meath has announced a series of appointments to take effect from October 2 and 29: Fr Richard Matthews, Parish Priest of Killucan, becomes Parish Priest of Kilcormac; Fr Michael Walsh, Parish Priest of Kilcormac, becomes Parish Priest of Carnaross; Fr Mark English, Administrator of Kingscourt, becomes Parish Priest of Killucan; Fr Sean Henry, Parish Priest of Trim, will commence one year sabbatical leave in the Diocese of Bathurst, Australia; Fr Warren Collier, newly ordained, becomes Curate in Trim; Fr Conor McGee, newly ordained, becomes Curate in Clara; Fr Joseph Gallagher, Parish Priest of Tullamore, becomes Vicar Forane in Clara Deanery; Fr Padraig McMahon, Cathedral Administrator, becomes Vicar Forane in Mullingar Deanery.
The following appointments will take effect from 29 October 2016: Fr Michael Sheerin, Parish Priest of Lobinstown, is retiring and will remain as priest-in-residence in Lobinstown; Fr Gerry Boyle, Parish Priest of Multyfarnham, becomes Parish Priest of Rathkenny and Administrator of Lobinstown; Fr John Hogan, Administrator of Rathkenny, becomes Parish Priest of Multyfarnham.
Solemn Novena Ballyfermot
The Assumption Church, Ballyfermot, Dublin, is to host a Solemn Novena to mark the 150th year of the Redemptorists’ special mission of making the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help known throughout the world.
The Pilgrim Icon will be in the church for the duration of the Novena from September 23 to October 1.
The main sessions will be at 7pm each night with guest speakers most nights.
A special service of healing and blessing of the sick with take place on Saturday 24 at 11.30am.
There will be a blessing of babies and children on Sunday September 25 at 3pm.
For further details please see Ballyfermot Assumption Facebook page or contact parishcentreballyfermot@gmail.com or 01-6264646