Diocesan News30 Mar 09

Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Conference

“Church must be an agent of positive transformation in our local communities”. This is the view of Bishop Ken Good as the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe prepares for the first of two important diocesan conferences in The Everglades Hotel in Londonderry.

One of the key commitments of parishes in the United Diocese of Derry and Raphoe is to find ways of serving needs within their local community. At these special conferences, held on 28th March and 4th April, ten representatives from every parish in the diocese will come together. The purpose is not only to reflect on the variety of needs that exist within their local communities. It will also identify creative ways in which local parishes can use their gifts and strengths to serve some of those needs.

Bishop Good said, “The Church brings a message of hope. It is called to express its message in acts of service to others. In Derry and Raphoe diocese we are committed to demonstrating this by finding ways of serving need in the communities of which we are part”.  He continued, “Volunteering continues to be an important part of the life of every parish. Right across the diocese there are inspiring examples of church members volunteering their time and energy for the wellbeing of their local communities. These diocesan conferences are a way not only of recognizing the service that already takes place. They are also an important opportunity to ‘imagine’ how we can take new volunteering initiatives”.

Due to the anticipated numbers the event has to be held on two separate occasions to enable all parishes in the United Dioceses to take part.

The first conference took place in the Grand Ballroom of the Everglades Hotel, Londonderry, on Saturday 28th March from 10 am to 1pm.