Focus: Diocese of Clogher

The Diocese of Clogher prepares to mark a milestone next year in celebrating the 1500th anniversary of the death of Macartan. A companion of Patrick, Macartan established his base at Clogher and from there proclaimed and lived out the Christian message. Those who succeed Macartan today, as Christians within the Diocese of Clogher, are concerned also with proclaiming and living the way of Christ.

The parishes of the Diocese have been concerned with the mission of God’s Church, overseas as well as within the areas of Fermanagh, Monaghan and Tyrone (and small parts of Donegal, Cavan and Leitrim) which the diocese covers. One most practical ways of strengthening bonds with the wider church came in the wake of the dreadful tsunami disaster on Boxing Day.

Bishop Michael Jackson called for a practical and generous response by supporting the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal, “In 2005 let us resolve to see in the face of our international neighbour the face of Jesus Christ and to respond in goodness and generosity.”

Parishes within the diocese were asked to take up special collections during the month of January. Many people responded generously and enthusiastically, with a sum in excess of £100,000 raised.

Parishioners also donated clothing, linen, hand tools and kitchen utensils in response to requests and so three containers of aid were sent to Sri Lanka in early March, co-ordinated by the Rev Dennis Robinson. Ms Florence Creighton went from the diocese to assess areas of need. In addition, Bishop Jackson announced that a special partnership would be established with the Diocese of Colombo and in consultation with Bishop Duleep, possibilities for further help would be examined. One such project is the ‘Fishing for Life’ programme, to enable Sri Lanka’s fishermen to repair their boats and equipment and thus be enable to resume their living.

Links with the worldwide church are also strengthened through the work of the Mission Agencies. Overseas visitors to the CMS mPower conference stayed with families from the diocese and enriched the Sunday worship of churches they attended. Each month Crosslinks holds its X-plore meeting for young people, a time for games and meeting together, but also to look at the Bible and focus on mission activity in one part of the world. During 2005, people from the diocese will travel under the umbrella of the mission agencies to Nepal, China, Romania and Arctic Canada, to name but a few areas.

The diocesan youth committee’s J1 ministry is also taking on an international flavour next year, as it plans to send a team to Chile in association with SAMS. The team, composed mostly of people aged between 18 and 30, will be based at San Pedro Church, Vina Del Mar. During their four-week stay, the team will be strengthening the church’s evangelistic programme, participating in street theatre and helping in small group Bible studies.

The Rev Kyle Hanlon, Diocesan Youth Officer, described the project as “the fruition of a 3-4 year programme in developing the faith of young people.”

Closer to home, clergy and parishioners alike face the challenge of serving Christ in largely rural areas, where the Protestant population is often in the minority. On both sides of the border, people are coming to terms with living in what is termed a ‘post-conflict situation’. This theme was taken up at the recent residential conference for clergy in May, looking at ‘the church in the life of the community’. This annual conference in Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal affords clergy a time apart from their parishes for reflection together in a relaxed environment. Each of the conference sessions were introduced by Mr David Bolton, of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation, who had worked in the field of post trauma support in the wake of the Enniskillen and Omagh bombings.

In a comprehensive first session, Dr Duncan Morrow, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Relations Council, gave a basic political analysis of the ‘troubles’ and the spiral of violence not just within Northern Ireland, but with reference to Great Britain and the Irish Republic also. Tribute was paid to the role of the churches, that in spite of failures and shortcomings, they did maintain a sense of normality for most people and provided a message of non-retaliation.

A more localised model of co-operation was explained as clergy heard from two Omagh-based clerics, Revs Kevin Mullan and Robert Herron, who spoke of their experiences in the wake of the Real IRA bomb in 1998 and of the work of the Omagh Churches Forum. Dr David Stevens, Executive Officer of the Irish Council of Churches, provided an ecumenical analysis of the role of the churches and possible ways forward.

In terms of ministry within the diocese, we are facing a reduction in the number of clergy and are looking at ways of ministering effectively to scattered rural congregations, vibrant and yet often with limited resources. The ministry of diocesan readers is greatly appreciated, especially in parishes which have been vacant for some time, but the diocese is seeking new models for ministry that will engage with people’s lives in closer ways.

The Clogher Commission on Ministry, the successor to previous review committees, was established last year to devise possible strategies and models for ministry within the diocese. Under the chairmanship of Dean Raymond Thompson, it is about to embark upon a process of consultation with parishes to assess needs and work out a vision for the future. The Commission seeks to instil a sense of confidence amongst parishioners, that the process be seen as opportunity for witness, rather than managing decline.

The Mothers’ Union in the diocese continues to promote family life, with fun events to bring family members together as well as a programme of meetings on marriage. This month sees the official launch of the Clogher MU website at www.clogher.mothersunion.ie

The revamped diocesan office, under the direction of Glenn Moore, Diocesan Administrator, provides much-needed practical backup to the parishes in their mission and ministry. Glenn is also developing the diocesan website at www.clogher.anglican.org

Next year, the 1500th anniversary of Macartan’s death, is earmarked as a year of celebration. A programme of events is planned, centring on the cathedrals in Clogher and Enniskillen, which each bear the name Macartan, albeit with different spellings. The life and work of Macartan will be celebrated in musical and community events, rooted in the past and yet moving towards the future with vibrancy and imagination.

by Revd. B. T. Kerr, Diocesan Communications Officer

The Church of Ireland

Diocese of Clogher