Author: Kal

Church leaders call on Government to provide 100% redress for mica and pyrite families

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Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland bishops, and a leading Presbyterian clergyman, have called on the Irish Government to offer full and immediate redress to the thousands of people whose homes have been affected by the mica/pyrite crisis. Numerous family homes have been seriously damaged because defective building blocks were used in their construction. The church leaders said:

“Housing and homelessness are recognised as key political and social justice issues of our time. In this context, immediate action is needed to alleviate the mica/pyrite crisis which is affecting the health, well-being and safety of homeowners and their families. As church leaders, we are gravely concerned at the families’ plight. While many of our impacted citizens live on the periphery of our island, it is disturbing that their basic need for good housing also seems peripheral to the agenda of our political leaders. A number of us have had the opportunity to visit some of the affected homes and heard from campaigners. Our foremost concern now is getting support for these families.

“There appears to be a disparity in the way people in our region are being treated compared to those elsewhere. Homeowners in Leinster were awarded 100% redress for the pyrite problems there. The citizens of Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Tipperary, Clare and Limerick deserve no less. This is a matter of fairness, justice and compassion.

“There may come a time for assigning responsibility for what has happened. One thing is certain, though: the homeowners are not to blame.

“The cost of repairing the damage is beyond the means of most families. The mica/pyrite scandal is now a test of our compassion as a society and of the State’s resolve to help its most vulnerable. We must move quickly to end the anguish and uncertainty for all those affected by mica or pyrite in homes that they have bought or built.

“The affected homeowners need three guarantees of support:

– 100% redress from the government for homeowners;
– a 40-year, state-backed scheme, guaranteeing full redress in the event of future problems; and,
– the remedy of 100% redress made available to all those affected.

“We realise there will be significant costs involved, but the State has found resources in the past to rescue the banking sector and, more recently, to deal with the pandemic. The mica and pyrite families need our sympathy, our prayers and our help. They have our full support, as church leaders, in their pursuit of their three demands.”

SIGNED:

CHURCH OF IRELAND BISHOPS

Rt Rev Patrick Rooke, Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry

Rt Rev Dr Ferran Glenfield, Church of Ireland Bishop of Elphin

Rt Rev Andrew Forster, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe

ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS

Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala

Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry

Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin

Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Bishop of Raphoe

Bishop Paul Dempsey, Bishop of Achonry

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Rev Keith Hibbert, Moderator of Derry & Donegal Presbytery

CAPTIONS:

Photo 1: Msgr Michael Canny, Bishop Andrew Forster and Bishop Alan McGuckian outside the O’Donnell family home, near Burnfoot, which is being demolished because it was built with defective blocks

Photo 2: Stephen O’Donnell shows the churchmen round the damaged interior of his home

Photo 3: Mica Action Group spokesperson, Michael Doherty, on right, discusses its campaign

Photo 4: Bishop Andrew walks round their home with members of the O’Donnell family

Photo 5: Lynette O’Donnell says she misses the view from their home, which they’ve had to vacate

Photo 6: The Breslin family home, at Ludden, near Burnfoot, has become a building site

Photo 7: The three church leaders surveyed rubble that was removed from the Breslins’ home

Photo 8: Gary Breslin explains why the family home has to be knocked down two months ago because of mica

Photo 9: The Breslin family have moved into a temporary home on the site.

Photo 10: The Breslins’ home has been demolished to its foundations

Photo 11: Mary O’Regan, and her neighbour, Declan Glackin, share their plight with the church leaders at Mary’s home in Manorcunningham

Photo 12: Mary in conversation with the bishops

Donegal Confirmation

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The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, was in south Donegal, on Sunday afternoon, for a Service of Confirmation for young people from the Donegal, Killymard, Lough Eske and Laghey Group of Parishes.

For many months, churches in the Diocese of Raphoe had been prevented from proceeding with Confirmation Services because of Covid restrictions imposed by the Irish government. These were relaxed a week ago, precipitating a surge in services. The service, in Christ Church, Lough Eske, was the seventh of eight confirmations the Bishop has officiated at this week – all but one of them in County Donegal. He confirmed young people at three different services on Sunday alone, and was assisted at two of them by the Rector of the Donegal Group, Archdeacon David Huss.

The Bishop told the five confirmands at Sunday afternoon’s service that the bible reading included the most important question that anyone would ever be asked. “It’s a question for each one of us, and it’s a question that Jesus posed to the disciples as follows, and he simply said this: ‘Who do you say I am?’ [Mark 8 v 29]

“Did they think he was just a wise teacher, or a miracle worker, or a really nice man or whatever? ‘Who do you say that I am?’ And Peter – one of the followers – gives the answer. In Matthew’s version of the story he says, ‘You are Christ, the son of the living God.’ And that answer for us is actually the answer that our hearts and our lips need to give to Jesus: that he’s the son of God; that he loves us; that he came into the world for us; that he forgives us our sins. There’s no answer more important than him in our lives.”

In his sermon, Bishop Andrew explained to the young people what the rite of confirmation would require of them. “This afternoon, for our candidates, I have questions for you that I’ll ask of you, and those questions – whenever we distil them down – are not that far from the question that Jesus asked Peter: ‘Who do you say that I am?’ It’s the most important question in the world, and the answer is the most important answer in the world.”

Bishop Andrew told the confirmands and their families that the things that mattered in life, and the things that made a difference, were faith, love and hope. “It’s about faith in God, it’s about having the love of God in our hearts and it’s about knowing his hope in our lives in the world. Faith, hope and love. What changes us? It’s faith. What makes a difference in our lives? It’s love. And what will help us live in the future? It’s hope.”

This week’s Confirmation Services – in both jurisdictions – complied with local Covid regulations and Church of Ireland guidance, requiring family groups to sit in ‘bubbles’, alternate pews to be cordoned off, and face coverings to be worn in church.

Service of Introduction in Moville

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The Rev Alan McCracken came face to face with his new parishioners for the first time as Bishop’s Curate of the Parishes of Moville Upper and Lower, Donagh, Cloncha and Culdaff, at a Service of Welcome and Introduction led by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster.

The Rural Dean for Inishowen and Diocesan Registrar, Rev Canon David Crooks, provoked laughter from the congregation in St Columb’s Church in Moville when he described the Rathcoole man as the most northerly priest in the diocese, “so probably the closest to God”.

Rev McCracken was joined in church on Saturday 11th September, 2021 by his wife, Karen, his mother Rita, and members of the wider family for a Service attended by clergy from the local Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and Methodist Churches.

In his sermon, Bishop Andrew reminded the new curate, that he had asked him – at his ordination, on Wednesday evening last – a series of questions. “I said, ‘Will you…Will you…Will you?’ And some of the questions were ‘Will you expound the scriptures? Will you be diligent in prayer? Will you fashion your life upholding the way of Christ? Will you be faithful in visiting the sick and caring for the flock? Will you promote unity, peace and love?

“Now, whenever we read those questions,” Bishop Andrew said, “and whenever clergy see those questions, year in, year out as we attend ordinations, for me they lay an onerous burden upon us, because one day we all realise that it’s not, ‘Will you? Will you? Will you?’ that will be asked us, but one day God will ask, ‘Did you? Did you? Did you? The onerous task of ministry is placed upon you as a priest in the Church of God and now as Bishop’s Curate of this Group of Parishes.

“Sometimes I ask myself what is it, ultimately, that our parishioners want from us? And there could be lots of answers to that, actually. But, ultimately I think we can distil that down to three things. I think there are three things that ultimately the people of God want to see in the life of the shepherds of God, and it’s these three things – it’s very simple: number one, that you love the Lord; number two, that you love the people; and number three, that you love the place. Yes, there’ll be lots of different things that will be asked of you; yes, there’ll be lots of different opinions on what the Bishop’s Curate should be like, but ultimately, I think. it comes down to those three things: that we love the Lord, love the people, love the place.”

Addressing his congregation for the first time as their Bishop’s Curate, Rev McCracken said he was there in Moville, Greencastle, Carndonagh, Culdaff and Malin to build and to grow the Church.

“Whenever the opportunity came for myself and Karen to come and visit the lovely people in the Inishowen peninsula,” Rev McCracken said, “we came up with an open mind – coming from north Belfast – but we came up with God in our hearts, and we came to see the people, and we came for the people.”

The new minister thanked the local community for getting the rectory ready for him and his wife, and for making them feel so welcome. He said he looked forward to getting to know them all individually, and looked forward to preaching to them. “That’s what I’m here to do. I’m here to build. I’m here to grow. I’m here to build God’s kingdom in this place and in these parishes and – with the help of all you people – I will succeed.”

There were speeches of welcome, from the Archdeacon of Raphoe, Ven. David Huss; the Parish Priest of Moville, Fr Patrick O’Hagan; the Rector of Ballynure and Ballyeaston (Ballyclare), Rev Johnny Campbell-Smyth (who was Alan’s training rector); Rev Philip Poots of Moville Presbyterian Church; and Rev John Montgomery of the Methodist Church in Moville. There was an apology from the Archdeacon of Derry, Ven. Robert Miller Miller, who was unable to be at Saturday’s Service, but who will supervise Rev McCracken as part of the latter’s training.

Bishop Andrew and Canon Crooks thanked the Rev Mervyn Peoples and the four parish readers for sustaining worship in the various churches during the two-year vacancy which followed the departure of Rev Suzanne Cousins to the Diocese of Armagh. Both men expressed regret that Church Warden David McKinlay – a stalwart of Moville Parish – was unable to be there because of ill health. George Mills, from St Buadan’s Church in Culdaff, welcomed her successor, assuring Rev McCracken that the hard work of parishioners had meant he now had five churches that were economically sound. “During the vacancy,” Mr Mills said, “we were incredibly well looked after. We had a vacancy and Covid, and we still never missed one scheduled service.”

Service of Ordination in All Saints, Clooney

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The onerousness of their new ministry was brought home to the Rev Andrea Cotter and Rev Alan McCracken during their Service of Ordination as priests in All Saints, Clooney on Wednesday evening, 8th September, 2021. “Your ministry will be one of joy as well as of responsibility,” Bishop Andrew Forster told them, “of happiness as well as of diligence. Yet remember in your heart that if it should come about that the Church, or any of its members, is hurt or hindered by reason of your neglect, your fault will be great and God’s judgement will follow.”

The new curates came to the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe by way of the Diocese of Connor, where they completed training as intern deacons. Rev Cotter, who completed her internship in the Parish of Skerry, Rathcavan and Newtowncrommelin, has been appointed Curate Assistant of All Saints Parish, Clooney, where she will serve with Rev David McBeth.

Rev McCracken undertook his training in the United Parish of Ballynure and Ballyeaston, and he will be to the Moville Group of Parishes, at a service on Saturday afternoon.

Bishop Andrew extended “the warmest of welcomes” to Andrea and her husband Richard, and Alan and his wife Karen. He said all in the diocese looked forward to seeing what plans God had for the new priests’ lives and ministries. The Bishop said he was sure that both couples would enjoy the support and prayers of their new congregations.

If the seriousness of priesthood sounded daunting, Rev Cotter and Rev McCracken were assured by Ven. Robert Miller, in his sermon, that God wasn’t sending them out without equipping them for the task. “In John’s Gospel, which we heard read this evening, we read the words, ‘God is sending you’. And I wonder as a child were you ever sent to run a message for your parents, or were you ever sent to the school office by the teacher to collect something? I’m sure you were, unless you had a very privileged existence. And if so, you probably were greeted with the words: ‘Who sent you?’ Or you may have announced yourself with the words, ‘My mum has sent me to collect.’ But ‘Who sent you?’ is often what people want to know.

“And these important words of sending in our Gospel reading this evening remind us that we all – as God’s people – are sent. The passage allows us to hear Jesus’ words of sending to His apostles after the resurrection, and He speaks to them: ‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’”

Archdeacon Miller told both new priests that they were to be messengers, watchers, stewards of the Lord; they were to teach and admonish, to feed and to provide for the Lord’s family; to search for God’s children in the wilderness of the world’s temptations and to guide them through its confusions, so that they may be saved through Christ forever. “As the disciples were sent by Jesus, and empowered by the gift of His holy spirit, so you too are to be ordained this evening and God is asked to pour out His holy spirit upon His servants for the office and work of a priest in His church.

“God is sending you, but He doesn’t send without equipping, for God also – as we were reminded by our reading from Isaiah – God is anointing you. The invocation of the Bishop, with the laying on of hands by your fellow priests, is an intercession for God’s anointing: ‘Pour out Your holy spirit upon Your servant for the office and work of a priest in Your church. As God’s people we are all given the anointing of the holy spirit, and when I reflect on His role in my discipleship and ministry, or – if you prefer – in my following and my leading, I’m reminded of what the Rev Canon David Watson taught: if you think of the Holy Spirit as an ‘it’, you’ll want more of it; but if you remember He is a person, then you will want Him to have more of you.”

Archdeacon Miller reminded the two new curates, and the other clergy present, that they were “co-workers with Christ”. He said God was making His appeal through them. “This ministry of joy and responsibility needs God’s anointing, as indeed the calling of each of us as believers needs to be done so in God’s strength. Each day, each moment of each day, we are called to turn to Him. And St John reminds us that the role of His holy spirit is to lead us into all truth – truth about God, truth about the world we are called to minister in, and truth about ourselves.

“Our ministry is not as a professional Christian, but as a follower. And so, His sending and anointing is for a purpose. And His purpose, as St Paul reminds us from our reading in Corinthians, is that we are ambassadors for Christ – God making His appeal through us. Now, if that doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable, then I don’t think anything will.

“In our epistle, it reminds us why we have been given the Lord’s anointing. We need it. Ministry is impossible without it. God is making His appeal through us – really. He is engaging with the needs of the world through me. It is a truth that should drive us to our knees.”

Wednesday evening’s service was arranged by the Rector of All Saints Clooney, Rev David McBeth and was carried out in accordance with the Northern Ireland Executive’s guidelines and Church of Ireland guidance. Bishop Andrew thanked the Rector, his team, the choir and musicians. He also thanked the two archdeacons who assisted in the service, Ven. David Huss and Archdeacon Miller.