Diocesan News22 Apr 15

House Call For New Mayor

Mayor Elisha McCallion visits Bishop Ken Good at the See House

The new Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council, Elisha McCallion, paid her first visit to the See House in Londonderry on Tuesday to meet the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good.

Their meeting followed an invitation from Bishop Good and took place less than a month after the Sinn Féin councillor became First Citizen. The See House – Bishop Good’s home – is in the Ballyarnett ward, which the Mayor represents on the new council.

During a discussion lasting over an hour, the Mayor outlined her priorities for her term of office, including action to address unemployment locally. The Derry and Strabane district has the highest rate of unemployment in Northern Ireland and one of the highest in the UK. The pair also discussed the local economy, and problems facing young people and the elderly in the North West.

Bishop Good outlined to the Mayor the Diocese’s plans for 2016’s ‘Year of Opportunity’. Parishes throughout Derry and Raphoe will seek to achieve growth in the church and in the community, in line with the Diocese’s ‘Transforming Community, Radiating Christ’ initiative.

Speaking after the meeting, Bishop Good said he hoped the Mayor and her fellow councillors would be successful in delivering jobs and prosperity to the region. He also hoped that relations between the various parties on the Council – and between local citizens – would continue to improve.