Diocesan News06 Nov 13

Mark Russell (Church Army) preaches at the Celebration of Lay Ministry in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral (Cork, Cloyne & Ross)

He was the Guest Lecturer at the annual Clergy Conference entitled A Time for Confidence – Canon Russell’s first session, called ‘Confidence in Ourselves and our Vocation’. set the tone for the entire time. His talk ‘Confidence in Mission’ suggested that models of faith sharing are ever–changing. The Church must ‘bless’ as it reaches out in love, he said, and he stressed that our churches must be places where people find their home. We must reach out to the margins; be rooted in love and go to places where only Jesus would go. The point was raised that churches that are daily kept locked are a poor symbol of the hospitality we wish to reflect.

Bishop Colton also hosted a breakfast on Saturday, 19th October for leaders of the future in the Diocese at which Mark Russell spoke on the theme; ‘Will you step up?”Later the same day the Bishop presided and Mark Russell preached at a Celebration of Lay Ministry in the Diocese held in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.

Bishop Colton said: ‘Mark Russell’s visit to the Diocese was eagerly anticipated for many months and the expectation was rewarded. Mark’s infectious enthusiasm for the Gospel, his personal engagement with everyone he met, and his energetic talks and preaching brought real encouragement to all of us. His time of ministry here was a blessing and reinforced in us all that, in spite of the very real challenges of these days, not least economic and social, that this is indeed, “A Time for Confidence”’.