Diocesan Seminar for Treasurers & Members of Select Vestries

Diocesan Seminar for Treasurers & Members of Select Vestries – Two such seminars have been planned to provide information on financial arrangements etc in our diocese.  It is not easy to understand how it all works. The last Diocesan Concil meeting showed that! The calculations that provide the Diocesan Budget, Assessments etc are not easy to understand; especially for those who have little knowedge of  the previous arrangements. Oh that we could just multiply people by sums of money to arrive at the answer – but investment income allocations, basic common amounts, population and one or two other factors come together to  give us the result. Some parishes have a lot of investment income, some none.

Attendance at seminars like these do help with understanding!

So:

Wednesday, 30^th October 2013 in the South School, Abbeyleix

Monday,      11^th November 2013 in the Parochial Hall, Bunclody, Co Wexford@

Both @ 8pm

Diocesan Synod

Diocesan Synod – When  Bishop Michael takes the Chair at the Diocesan Synod on 23^rd Ocotber 2013, the dioceses of Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ossory, Ferns & Leighlin will become one United Diocese with one Synod and one Diocesan Council.

 Over the years, requests were made to allow more and more sharing until last year it was decided to meet together in May 2013 to vote for or against union. The result in May was almost unanimous and the fruits of the labours various committees set up to work out the logistics of such a union were achieved.

A remarkable growing together has been achieved and  if we continue in that attitude, we can expect amazing results.

In this parish, we need to find a vision of being part of something greater than ourselves. We do not have a tradition of being an integral part of the diocese, let alone of the wider Church family. We need to leave behind old ways and attitudes and look forward into the future. If we do not we will become weaker and more and more remote and insular.

We need to find a welcoming spirit, a willingness to be truly a part of the community of faith. And to help others become part of parish life – not just bodies in pews, but active and included.

We need to open our church doors, be there to greet the stranger and to do all in our power to behave as true Christians.

Diocesan Synod –

This will take place on Wednesday, 17th October 2012 at Kildalton College, Piltown. All members should make the effort to attend. The business of hte Synod is to review the business of the Diocese during the past year and to make decisions, which are then, usually, delegated to the Diocesan Council to implement. As we will be voting on whether our Diocese bcomes one administrative unit in March 2013, the elections to Diocesan Council are taking place annually to enable a smooth and immediate move to unity should March 2013’ vot be favourable. This process has been complicated and in depth for those who represent our diocesan committees, it has gone well and we should pray that we decide to work togther for the benefit of all as one body united in heart, mind & spirit.

Commissioning of new Diocesan Readers –

Nine new Diocesan Readers will be commissioned by the bishop in St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on Advent Sunday, 2nd December 2012 @ 7.00pm – present Diocesan Readers will be relicenced. Note that Diocesan Readers are subject to the 75 Birthday retirement requirements and like clergy, of all types, may continue to serve in an informal arrangement.

Schools’ Festival Service –

The Service for this year in Cashel, Waterford & Lismore area of our diocese will take place in Cashel Cathedral on Friday, 11th June @ 11.00am

Schools’ Festival Service –

The Service for this year in Cashel, Waterford & Lismore area of our diocese will take place in the Cathedral in Cashel on Friday, 11th June @ 11.00am

Confirmation 2011 –

The bishop has set the dates for next year’s Confirmation Services. We will be part of the service planned for Sunday, 21st May 2011 in Lismore Cathedral. One person has indicated their desire to be confirmed so far. Please give the Rector a ring or speak to her after Church soon – we will need to begin classes immediately after Christmas. If you are in 6th class or older (it’s never too late) and have not been confirmed ask now! – If you have not been baptised & would like to be and then confirmed, just have a word with me!!

Diocesan Synod –

Will be held in Wexford on, Wednesday, 20th October 2010 in the afternoon and evening. We have six members and hopefully all will be able to attend – it is of the utmost importance

Institution –

The Rev Tom Gordon will be instituted as Rector of the Leighlin Group of parishes, installed as Dean of the cathedral and commissioned as An tOllamh (Adult Education Officer) in Leighlin Cathedral on Sunday, 26th September 2010.

Diocesan Synod –

Will be held in Enniscorthy on, Wednesday, 20th October 2010 in the afternoon and evening

Ordinations –

Please pray for Alec Purser who will be ordained deacon in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Abbeyleix on 20TH June @ 3.00pm and for The Revs Ruth West, Ivan Dungan & Christine Smyth who will be ordained priest in Waterford Cathedral on 30th May @ 4.00pm

Institutions –

The Rev Ian Poulton will be instituted as Rector of Cloneanagh (Mountrath) on Tuesday, , 18th May @ 8.00pm. His wife Katherine Poulton will be instituted as Rector of Kilkenny Group of Parishes and installed as Dean of Ossory on the following Friday evening at 8.00pm.

Ordinations –

The Revds Ivan Dungan, Ruth West & Christine O’Dowd Smyth will be ordained priest 30th May in Waterford Cathedral – The Bishop will ordain Alex Purser, Carlow Group of Parishes deacon on 20th June in Abbeyleix to serve in that parish. Please pray for all of them and for Jim &Brendan, from our diocese,who are at present studying in our Theological Institute.

Teenagers –

“Anois”, the Church of Ireland Youth event in Kilkenny College on Sunday, 25th October 2009 – details later.