JOURNEYING TOGETHER IN FAITH
It may have seemed a daft idea to walk around the boundaries of the nine parishes of the new Union of Wexford and Kilscoran - even though it is not an unusual event in the Church if England - but here, it has not been done too often. For 7 days we set off at 3 p.m. I had expected to do long stretches of this walk alone. No such thing happened. Each day people turned up to walk, to send off, to wish well and offer support and from Horetown, Bannow, Mulrankin and Wexford we ended the journey each day with refreshments. We were met on the road by people who joined us for a while or who came to meet us for the last leg of the journey. Even Bishop Michael kindly sent us on our way from Mulrankin.
From my point of view, it was wonderful to be joined on the journey, and often by people who do not do church in the traditional manner. The people who walked knew and know enormous adversity in life and yet took this on. Over the days, we teased each other, walked in silence up hard hills, counted blisters and at times talked and shared very deeply with each other on the road. The countryside was breathtakingly beautiful: mares, fouls and young cattle galloped to check us, out. The winter barley, fields of beans, woodbine, the vistas of sea and hill could be seen properly - on foot. John Evoy of the Men's shed Movement joined us on the walk from Killurin to Horetown and €1800 was raised towards a new shed in Wexford.
I learned from this that so much of our energy in parishes is concentrated on the maintenance of walls, to boundary our meetings and fellowship. But at times it is important to go walkabout and meet and talk with people in new ways. I learned we have to do church in many different ways. This was one way and for those who walked many stages, the bonds of fellowship were real and sincere. Sincere thanks for all who supported this venture. It was definitely worthwhile.
END OF YEAR SERVICE
The end of year service will be held in St Iberius on 26th June at 11 a.m. this has been an important year for the school as it has settled into it new improved building and new principal and teacher. It has been a good year and sincere thanks to the staff, parents and Board of Management that have put in so much work over the year for the benefit of the children.
CONGRATULATIONS
Kate Rothwell received a double first in her degree in English and German from UCD. This is a monumental achievement and we wish her every blessing in the next stage of her career. Evelyn Griffith from Castlebridge graduated from Carlow Institute of Technology with a Degree in Social Science. Well done - it is great to see such hard work and dedication acknowledged.
CONFIRMATION
Ten young people have made their preparation for confirmation with Ursula and Svend and the rector over the last three months. They will be confirmed in St Iberius on Trinity Sunday 19th June at 11a.m. Sincere best wishes to Jamie Doran, Amie Caulfield, Katie Helen, Robert Kelly, Emily Kilgannon, Rachel Lawlor, Luke McRedmond, Patrick Malec, Chloe and Aaron Whitehead.
ROSSLARE SUMMER SALE
This hugely popular fundraising event will take place in Rosslare Community Hall on Thursday 21st July 2011 at 7 p.m. We need extra helpers, so please contact Patricia Cody if you are available to give a hand.
LAY MINISTRIES
- Sunday Schools6 There are two Sunday schools in operation in the parishes, in Wexford, led by Yvonne Treacy and Aine Ennis and in Taghmon by Lorraine and Joyce Simmons. At the end of year awards it becomes obvious how much dedicated work goes into these ministries as the children thoroughly enjoy themselves. Profound thanks to all who have given so selflessly to the children's religious education.
- Hospital6: Hilda Plant has joined the clergy team in hospital visiting and has won the hearts and gratitude of patients and their families. Her spiritual depth and innate kindness have proved very comforting to many people at times of real distress.
- Music6 it is impossible to think of worship without music and Sunday by Sunday, a lot of people make this possible, Eanna McKenna, Ruth Miller, Anna and Helen Skrine, Heather Boxwell, June Scanlon, Georgina Rothwell, Terry Mc Cabe and the Third Sunday choir, the children’s choirs from the school. Sincere thanks to you all.
- Fundraising6 We couldn’t survive without fundraising and year in year out, many people work their tails off on Golf Days, Christmas Sales, Rosslare Summer Sales, Cushen's Coffee morning, Table Quizes, parish lunches and Johnstown Castle field Day. Without that hard work this parish would not function. We live in hard times and will have to do more of this but your help and support are invaluable. A sincere thank you.
BBQ
The parish BBQ will take place at Park on Friday, 19th August at 6.30 p.m. Bring a plate of food, a beverage and the cost will be €5 per individual and €10 per family of parents and children. The weather these last years has been just awful, so we live in hope this year will be a scorcher.
ISLE OF MAN WEEKEND
There will be a meeting of all interested in travelling to the Isle of Man in September at the Park Rectory on Thursday, 4th August at 8 p.m.
HELP 1 LTD
This year there is a turn over of 10 people from the Community Employment scheme, as many people have come to the end of their eligibility to be on the scheme. Margaret Griffin has come to the end of her time as caretaker in St Iberius Church. She has offered kindness in a quiet, discreet way to many people who have entered the church in times of grief and pain. We wish her every blessing in her forthcoming surgery and life.
George Furlong has been with us a long time as gardener in Killurin, Taghmon, Horetown and of late the rectory in Park. He has been a tremendous worker and the rectory garden is testimony to his meticulous hard work. Best wishes to George in his future work.
Angie Morris has managed the 25 people on the scheme with consummate care and efficiency. Sincere thanks to her for her excellent work and to the Board of Help1 that keep this project working so well.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Forty-three people turned up at the Easter General Vestry and during the rather long count of votes, each was given a questionnaire to complete anonymously. This was taken from a parish audit used in the Episcopal Church in the US. The objective was to discern how people perceive their church and community and the ministry in this place. People were generally happy with the level of pastoral care and the ordering of worship, with the fellowship and identity as Anglican, with ministry to the young and welcome of newcomers.
People were asked to state whether they strongly, partly agreed, disagreed or couldn&39;t make up their minds on the following statements.
- Our community is like a close-knit family
- Our community is spiritually alive
- Our community is working for social justice
- Our community helps members deepen their relationship with God
- We are trying to increase our membership
- We see ourselves as Anglican
- We are a moral beacon in our community
- We welcome new ways of doing worship and ministry
- Our worship services are uplifting
- Our congregation has a strong identity it is trying to preserve
- Members are optimistic about the future of our church
- New members are incorporated easily into the life of the community
- We have a clear sense of mission and purpose
- The community around the church is well-informed about us Children’s ministry is strong
- Young adults lose out
- We are cared for pastorally
The highest scoring results showed that participants strongly agreed with statements on pastoral care, Anglican identity, the ordering of worship, strong community identity, welcome of newcomers, fellowship and ministry to the young. Where people were unsure related to the community as a moral beacon, as working for social justice, with a clear sense of mission and purpose, whether people are incorporated easily and whether the community actually helps members deepen one's relationship with God.
HOLY BAPTISM
On Pentecost Sunday, Lucia Rosa Jiaquin Goodall-Turner is to be baptised. We wish her health and all God's blessing in her new family with her mother Mary and sister Isabella.
HOLY MATRIMONY
Congratulations to Michelle Meadowes and Johan-Henri Rousseau who are to be married in Kilscoran on 16th July. Best wishes to them in their married life.
SINCERE SYMPATHY
Derek Mitchell died in James' St. Hospital and was laid to rest in Killurin. He had been cared for with tremendous selfless attention by his wife Margaret for years. Derek didn't 'do' church but he utterly supported both Margaret's hugely successful nursing career and her faith commitment. On her sad loss of her husband and friend of 50 years, we extend our deepest sympathy.Gary Williams' death in France came as a horrendous shock to his parents Anne and George, his sisters Rhonda and Laura and brother Roger. The sincere sympathy of the community goes to the Williams family at this dreadfully hard time.
Sincere sympathy to the Revd Daniel Nuzum and the Nuzum family on the death in Wexford General of Sam, beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather.