Diocesan News04 Oct 10

Tuam, Killala and Achonry Diocesan Synod

The Diocesan Synod of Tuam, Killala and Achonry met on Thursday 23rd September in Ballina. Archdeacon Gary Hastings opened  with a Scripture reading and prayer and, after certain formalities, Bishop Richard Henderson made his Presidential Address.

Opening his remarks, the Bishop welcomed our 'ecumenical guest', Very Revd Sea Killeen, Vicar General of the Diocese of Killala and representative of Bishop John Fleming. The Bishop also welcomed two new members of the clergy staff of TKA, Revd Adam Pullen of Ballisodare and Revd Wendy Callan, soon to be instituted to the cure of Kilmoremoy. Bishop Richard then went on to the body of his address in which he  principally spoke to the subject of 'The Care of the Elderly at Home'.

'We must not see our old people as a problem, not least because many of them are too ready to see, and say, that of themselves. Our senior people are our roots, our wisdom, our dignity, the reason and means of our being.' With this opening sentence the Bishop set the tenor of  his whole address. In it, Bishop Henderson explored the needs and aspirations of the elderly side by side by the  stresses and anxieties of families. He offered suggestions as to helpful publications on the subject and reminded us that '...love and emotion can actually complicate things.' At the same time he pointed out that '...there is help out there'. He went to ponder whether we have made '...an almost absolute virtue of independence.' 'I want to ask' he said, 'are we ever truly independent and no burden to others? From a Christian viewpoint, surely it is true that God has made us social and God intends us to find our true identity in interdependence.' Concluding this part of his address, Bishop Henderson introduced Ms Catherine Donoghue, Director of Nursing at Ballina Hospital who gave a compelling, professional and compassionate presentation to Synod on 'Care of the Elderly' which was followed by a discussion in which members of TKA participated.

Bishop Henderson celebrated Holy Communion at this central point of the day making the act of worship our fulcrum. After lunch Synod moved on to the business portion of proceedings. The report of the Diocesan Council  was followed by the reports of the diocesan committees and boards including an excellent address given by Mr Steve Brickenden, TKA Youth Officer.

The Bishop closed synod with a prayer and thanked everyone for attending, expressing special thanks to the Diocesan Secretary, Mrs Heather Sherlock.