Past pupils of St George's School in Tubbercurry, County Sligo attended a Thanksgiving Service in St George's Parish Church on Sunday, 3rd November 2002 to give thanks for the 150 years of the school following its closure earlier this year. The school has a remarkable record of achievement in community service and Christian mission including the funding last year of six goats and three hives of honeybees for Africa. The school was closed by the Department of Education on 31st August 2002.
Realism and hope must be the key words for Northern Ireland in 2002. Our hope must stem from what has already been achieved in facing up to our problems. Despite all the political and community obstacles we must not forget how far we have already come. But our hope must be based on realism.
The Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, has paid tribute to Bishop Mehaffey who retires as Bishop of Derry and Raphoe on 31 January 2002.
This Easter I am particularly conscious of the needs of children and young people in this world. Almost every day TV screens portray across the globe the anxious and often tearful faces of children caught up in war, ravaged by hunger, deprived of parents or homes – desperate faces of innocence. Equally we see so much evidence of young people forced to play a part in the horrors of wars and violence – the child soldiers. Nearer home the number of cases of attacks on children is on the increase. On a global scale the most precious part of any community, its children, are victims in horrific ways of man’s inhumanity to man.
The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Robin Eames, will launch the Restoration Appeal for St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral at a special luncheon to be held in Armagh District Council Offices at the Palace on Thursday, 18 April 2002. The Appeal aims to raise £500,000: