Diocesan News19 Jun 08

Carrigrohane Church Hall renovated and reopened as Parish Centre

The parishioners of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes in Cork, Cloyne and Ross recently joined with many friends to celebrate the completion of work on their Parish Centre.  The old Church Hall has been renovated and extended over the last year and this was an opportunity to celebrate, and particularly to publically thank the engineer, builder and all the craftsmen who have worked on the project, as well as all the parish volunteers who have given so much in the planning and practical work. 

Bishop Paul Colton officially opened the Centre, prayed for the Parish and all the activities that would happen in the Centre.  He also took the opportunity to thank the Rector, the Revd William Olhausen, for all he has given to the parish and the diocese over the last four years – and to wish him well in his new ministry in England. 

It was a great family occasion, with hot-dogs, ice-creams and a tour of the new facilities.  The children particularly enjoyed the new playground which will also be available to the Parent & Toddler group when they return in September. 

As well as the addition of the playground in the front, the old ‘Hall’ area has been decorated and re-floored and the toilets and kitchen have been renovated and upgraded.  This part of the Centre is available at certain times for other groups from the wider community to rent.  The new build section houses the parish office, a large parish meeting room, new toilets, an office for the Youth Workers, a small meeting/prayer room and a youth lounge. The youth group ‘Sunday PM’ had completed a mural on their lounge wall  and the ‘Adventurers’ (Sunday School) had on display a banner that they’d been working on since September entitled ‘The King, the Snake & the Promise’.  (See www.carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ie to enjoy the artwork)