Diocesan News07 Oct 13

Bishops Learn About The City Of Culture And Peace Making In Derry / Londonderry

The Church of Ireland archbishops and bishops have come to the UK City of Culture 2013 for one of their residential meetings. As well as discovering more about how the City of Culture designation has benefitted the community, they are also spending time learning how the initiatives in Derry/Londonderry have worked to build peace.

During their visit, they will meet with a range of people in the city. As well as those involved in leading the City of Culture, they will also meet leaders from the Loyal Orders, the business community as well as local mediators. They will also visit The Apprentice Boys’ Museum and Exhibition and the Museum of Free Derry, tour the City Walls and meet with the Mayor at the Guildhall.

Dr Richard Clarke, The Archbishop of Armagh, said ‘It is a great pleasure for the archbishops and bishops to join the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, his diocese and the people of Derry/Londonderry for this engagement with the 2013 UK City of Culture. The hospitality is remarkable, and we are learning much, as well as having an enjoyable visit.’

Bishop Ken Good (Bishop of Derry and Raphoe) is hosting and has planned the itinerary for the two–day residential. He said, ‘This continues to be a highly successful year of cultural celebration in the city – culture is a celebration of life. We have witnessed the generous meeting of cultures especially in the recent Fleadh and the Walled City Tattoo. But at the same time we know that we are still living in a wounded society and that we have some distance to travel together to achieve greater healing and reconciliation.’

‘The meetings, the visits and the conversations in which the bishops are involved this week remind us that the path to building peace requires patience, engagement and creative resolve. In tackling the various obstacles imaginatively, the people of this city have demonstrated the inspirational words of Abraham Lincoln who said “The best way to predict your future is to create it”.’

The Church of Ireland Archbishops and Bishops residential is taking place in Derry / Londonderry on 7 – 9 October.

Picture above: The Archbishops and Bishops at the Guildhall with Mayor, Councillor Martin Reilly (photo: Paul Harron/CoI Press Office)