Diocesan News
Venerable John Murrary's Address to the Cashel & Ossory and Ferns Diocesan Synod
CASHEL & OSSORY AND FERNS DIOCESAN SYNOD
Wednesday, 7th June 2006
Address by the Archdeacon of Cashel & Ossory,
The Venerable John Murray
Members of Synod,
At the opening of this conjoint Synod I would like to say just a few words of welcome to you all and to thank you for coming here to this magnificent venue on such a beautiful day - when you might well prefer to be elsewhere.
Our thoughts today go out to those young people who are starting on their Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations. With so much at stake for them it is hard to concentrate on the three ?r?s when the sun is blazing down outside and so many others are out enjoying themselves.
Our thanks are due to the management and staff of the Hotel for their help and cooperation in preparing for this meeting.
Our Diocesan Secretaries, Denise and Georgina, have also been busy and we acknowledge with thanks their work on our behalf not only today but all through the year. We just couldn?t manage without them.
Since our Synod in 2005 we have had the ordination to the Diaconate of the Reverend Elaine Murray, Bishop?s Vicar in Kilkenny. The Reverend Olivia Williams was instituted as rector of Carlow in September. The Reverend Isobel Jackson has taken up the newly created position of Children?s Ministry Officer and Curate-assistant in the Lismore Group of Parishes. The Reverend Gunilla Aquilon Elmqvist has come as Curate assistant in the Wexford Group and the Reverend Stan Evans has moved into the Old Leighlin Group where he is a non-stipendiary minister.
Last Sunday three deacons were ordained in St. Canice?s Cathedral - the Reverend Richard Greene who will be serving in the Waterford Group, the Reverend Robert Stotesbury, Ferns Group and the Reverend Margaret Sykes, Ardamine Group. I think I am correct in saying that all three have already been here as Lay members of Synod, but this year we welcome them to the other side of the house as clerical members and wish them long and fulfilling ministries in our Dioceses.
On the debit side - Canon Gary Dowd has been instituted as Rector of Glenageary (he was still in Carlow ? but only just - when we last met). Canon George Knowd will be retiring at the end of this month and we wish both him and Gwen a long and happy retirement. The Reverend Philip Heak, who has been our Youth Officer for the past six years has been appointed to the incumbency of Naas Parish. Our good wishes go with him as he moves to a different area and type of ministry in September. The Reverend Michael Johnston has been appointed to a position in Belfast where he will be working with adults with special needs. We wish him, Evelyn and family well in their new surroundings.
On the educational front Canon Jack Black has been replaced by Mr. Philip Gray as headmaster of Kilkenny College. We wish him many happy years in that position.
Our resident retired Bishop, the Right Reverend Noel Willoughby died last February. The huge attendances at his funeral services both in Wexford (where he had been made a freeman) and in Kilkenny spoke volumes of the high regard in which he was held right across the community.
Only a short while before his death Bishop Willoughby had spoken with his usual eloquence and wit at the Jubilee Mass in St. Mary?s Cathedral, Kilkenny celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Bishop Lawrence Forristal?s ordination as priest. Almost half of those fifty years were spent as Bishop of Ossory. Now I hear that Bishop Forristal has passed another significant anniversary ? the 75th of his birth - and accordingly is sending his resignation as Bishop of Ossory to Rome. I would be grateful if his representative here today would convey our very best wishes to him with sincere thanks for his friendship and cooperation during the time of his Episcopate.
The United Diocese was stunned last January by the sudden announcement of the resignation of the Right Reverend Peter Barrett after just three years as our Bishop. During that short time he had endeared himself to many people around the Dioceses and had initialised many developments in the life of the Church in Cashel Ossory and Ferns. We continue to remember him, Ann and their family in prayer at this very difficult time in all their lives.
During the vacancy we owe a great debt of gratitude to Bishop Walton Empey, who has stepped into the breach so that the planned list of confirmations could go ahead almost as planned. Also Bishop Roy Warke has helped by conducting our renewal of Ordination vows and blessing of oils on Maundy Thursday as well as a confirmation to be held in Stradbally (Waterford) later this month. We also thank Archbishop John Neill for his care and oversight during the vacancy and for conducting our two ordination services ? Deacons last Sunday and Priest on St. Peter?s Day at the end of this month.
The last six months have been difficult without a doubt. However, after a period of recovery, during which time the Very Reverend Michael Burrows has been appointed Bishop-elect of our Dioceses and will be consecrated Bishop on the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, the 3rd of July in Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin.
Many of you will have heard or read the pastoral Letter from our Archbishop in church last Sunday. As the Archbishop said we must now put the past behind us and look to the future We look forward with faith and joy to making Michael, Claire and their four children welcome among us: and we look forward to his ministry as our Bishop, and I am certain that he can count on our fullest support and encouragement as he leads his people in the work of promoting Christ?s Kingdom in Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ossory Ferns and Leighlin.