News

Mothers' Union Notes for August 2012

 

CLOGHER MU PRESIDENT

Dr Margaret Knox, a retired GP, has been elected Diocesan President for Mothers Union in Clogher Diocese. Dr Knox is very well known and respected in the Irvinestown area and indeed beyond. She has been involved in MU for 37 years. At the moment she is the Indoor Members Contact for Clogher Diocese. She is also a Parish Reader in Irvinestown and Castlearchdale Parishes. She is the widow of Mr Cecil Knox and has one son David married to Freya and one baby grandson, Charlie.

Dr Knox will begin her term of Office on 1st January 2013. She follows, Mrs Geraldine Beattie, whose term of Office is completed on 31 December 2012.

A Commissioning Service will be held in the early part of 2013.


Dr Margaret Knox


65th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Mr Geoff and Mrs Kathleen Jeavons from Castlearchdale Parish celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary in March this year. They were married in St Columba's Church Omagh by Rev Charles Cullamore. Mr and Mrs Jeavons also share the same birthday on 5th March with a year in between!! Kathleen has been in MU since 1951.

They are seen pictured with Dr Margaret Knox.


Mr and Mrs Geoff Jeavons with Dr Margaret Knox (65th Wedding Anniversary)


DEATH OF OLDEST MOTHERS UNION MEMBER

It is with great sadness we record the death of the oldest MU member in Clogher Diocese. In the July edition of the diocesan magazine under Mums in May, Mrs Annie Hassard, from Cleenish was pictured at the Teddy Bears Picnic with the youngest baby attending, aged 6 weeks. Sadly following this Mrs Hassard became ill and died following a short illness. Mrs Hassard was 101. We extend our sincere sympathy to her family circle.


GERALDINE MEETS THE QUEEN!!

Our President, Geraldine had the pleasure of meeting Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh when they visited Enniskillen on Tuesday 26 June. Geraldine was among the voluntary sector members who met the Queen in St Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Enniskillen. The Queen asked her about Mothers Union, while the Duke of Edinburgh asked where she was from and how many were in her branch. Another member Susan Cathcart, All-Ireland Marketing Co-Ordinator, and her husband met the Queen and Duke as they arrived at St Angelo in a helicopter of the Queen's Flight.

I didn't meet the Royal Couple, but I saw them!! I was a member of the congregation at that memorable Service in St Macartin's Cathedral, where I am quite sure, the Royal Couple must have been impressed by the wonderful music.

It was an occasion which will be remembered for a very long time.


SERVICE IN CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL TO CELEBRATE THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF MU IN IRELAND

There is to be a Thanksgiving Service in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin on Sunday 23 September at 3.30 pm. It is hoped a coach will be going from the Diocese. Each Branch Leader has been notified. If you would like more information please get in touch with Diane Whittaker tel no 66341992.


LIVING SIMPLY

Earlier this year, Fiona Castle widow of Roy Castle, visited Kilmore Diocese. Some of us were fortunate enough to hear her at meetings, held at various venues. Branch Leader of Lisnaskea, Florence Creighton, heard her in Cavan and was very impressed by her book - Living Simply. In it Fiona encourages all of us to "live simply by decluttering your home and heart". The following are a few quotes from the book which I hope will encourage you to buy it in order to read the rest.

"seventy per cent of the world's population lives on only 30 per cent of the world's produce. For the cost of three cups of coffee from a station stall, you could feed and educate a child in Uganda for a week"

"each person in the UK produces around half a ton of waste each year. Disposable nappies take 300 years to biodegrade"

Clearing Clutter!! "Clutter makes it difficult to tidy or clean - so you feel as if your home is out of control. Clutter represents activities and events that are no longer part of your life - so you feel bogged down in the past and unable to move on."

It is a very interesting little book. Fiona explains how belongings can take over your life and can squeeze the spiritual part out. Go on, buy the book, then during those dreary days of winter you can de-clutter your home and feel a new person!


FOR YOUR DIARY:

Mu Autumn Council will be held this year in Maguiresbridge Parish, on Thursday 25 October. The Council will be preceded by Holy Communion at 7.30 pm. The Speakers will be Rev Stanley and Rev Sheila Johnston, Donegal.