News & Events
Berkeley, California
President Michael D Higgins has asked for an appropriate response from all communities in Ireland to the tragedy in Berkeley, California. Revd Stan Evans has arranged for a Book Of Condolence to be placed at SuperValu, Clifden from June 19th for all those who might wish to express their support to those affected by these sad circumstances.
Connemara Wild Escapes
Family Day at St Mary’s Roundstone
The New Tapestry in Christ Church, Clifden
This month saw the completion of a year long project carried out by a group of parishioners and friends of Christ Church, Clifden, under the watchful eye of fellow parishioner and tapestry expert Tricia Willder. The initial idea came from Rosemary Evans who had been part of a similar project while her husband Revd. Stan Evans was serving in the Adare Union of Parishes, a number of years previously.
The idea behind the project was simple – a kneeler was to be constructed for the church from individual panels woven in tapestry. These would then be sewn together in sections to create a long cushion to sit in front of the church communion rail. Each person was assigned a panel and given complete freedom to arrive at the design. There was just one requirement and this was that each design should in some way capture for the individual, the meaning of church or spiritual life here in Connemara.
I was among the eighteen people assigned the task which I took on with some trepidation, given my total ignorance of the process of tapestry. Then there was the business of arriving at a design which seemed more than a little daunting at first – I mean how does a person get to the essence of something so intangible and rework it into an A4 size panel? The key for me ( and it would seem for many others ) lay right in front of my eyes – Connemara. The marvel of this extraordinary part of the world, its ancient and powerful landscape, it’s flora, fauna and bird life, represent for many the essence of spiritual life here. The natural world is strongly represented in the final tapestry and it is what makes this production so particular to Clifden, now and for generations to come. Other panels represent church life more literally through a favourite biblical passage or story and the combination of these is a feast for the eyes.
On the practical side, project leader Tricia guided each person carefully through the different techniques of weaving coloured threads through canvas to create an image. She deserves much credit for her unstinting commitment to the year long project in which she gave her rallying support to each of the crafters, many of us novices. Tricia stretched each completed panel on a wooden board to straighten them before completing the side panels, adding each person’s initials in gold to the front of the cushions in a final flourish. Aggie Freeman from Aughris then sewed the pieces together and filled each length to form the finished kneeler.
The participants in this project were Rosemary Evans, Jan Barry, Diana Canning, Liz Campbell, Sue Bowen-Colthurst, Bridie Conneely, Doreen Dowcett, Rosemary Gates, Anne Henning-Jocelyn, Gifty Lawson-Kearns, Caroline Kruger, Nicola Musgrave, Carol Passemard, Debbie Watkins, Sarah White, Mo West, Tricia Willder, Cathy Wolfe.
Revd. Stan Evans would like extend a welcome to all of the community in Connemara to view this impressive and evocative tapestry in Christ Church, Clifden.
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Killala
Summer Issue of Tidings
Nepal Emergency Appeal
| The Situation: |
On Saturday 25th April, a powerful earthquake hit Nepal, leaving devastation in its wake. Bishops’ Appeal immediately became a conduit for any funds donated for rescue and relief efforts. Today, Archbishop Richard and Archbishop Michael have elevated this response to a Major Emergency Appeal.
Currently over 4,300 people are dead with that figure estimated to rise to 10,000 as entire villages remain unreachable at this time. Thousands of injured people line the streets as buildings are either demolished or unstable and hospitals inundated.
Information is still coming in from the major cities, and rural areas near the epicentre have been completely cut off by avalanches. In some areas near Gorkha, it is estimated that 80% of households have been destroyed or severely damaged.
The Government of Nepal has declared a state of Emergency.
The Response:
Bishops’ Appeal has released £10,000 and has directed these funds towards search and rescue efforts, the setting up of makeshift medical centres, water purification and shelter. All funds channelled through Bishops’ Appeal will be in support of the invaluable efforts of Christian Aid and Tearfund partners in the most affected areas of Nepal.
Bishop Patrick, Chairperson of Bishops’ Appeal states: ‘We urge individuals, parishes and dioceses to give generously to help the eight million people who have been affected by the earthquake. We pray that those responding on the ground gain access to the resources that they need to bring hope and healing.’
Bishop Patrick also requests that donations to the earthquake victims are given over and above general giving to Bishops’ Appeal so that other impoverished communities do not suffer at this time due to redirected funds.
Christian Aid have highlighted that as little as £5 or €6.85 can provide a hygiene kit and £100 or €137 can provide a waterproof temporary shelter for 4 families.
Donations can be sent to: Bishops’ Appeal, Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6.
Electronic donations can be made to Bishops’ Appeal Euro or Sterling accounts with the word ‘Nepal’ in the subject line. If you wish to receive an acknowledgement of funds donated, please email: bishopsappeal@ireland.anglican.org. Bank details can be found on our website www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/donate
Thank you for your support.
The Mediterranean Drownings’
From Peter Lloyd a member of St Andrew’s Church in Valetta, Malta,
Just back from the funeral of the 24 young men whose unidentified bodies were recovered from the recent drowning of some 800 or so migrants in the Mediterranean. It was held in a large tent outside the morgue at Mater Dei Hospital in the presence of the great and the good of Maltese Society.
First impressions were the huge numbers of bouquets of flowers on the paths approaching the tent and reading the many cards of sympathy. Then the arrival of the coffins. I have never been to a funeral for more than one person before and seeing the soldiers bringing the coffins in with groups of four reminded me of the sheer numbers who have lost their lives both in this and other incidents in the Mediterranean. As the coffins came in the Muslim women began their traditional wailing which close up is very emotional. Then in the midst of the brown coffins there was one white one, I presume for a boy rather than an adult. We had music from a harp and a bugle lament and then readings and prayers from the Imam and the Bishop of Gozo who spoke well taking as his text the Good Samaritan. Coming out you there was the scent of all the flowers.
As we left the there was a queue of some six hearses waiting to take the coffins for the private burial at the cemetery.
Last night there was a silent march in Sliema of some 1,000 carrying candles and remembering the dead. I could not make it as we were doing our regular English language teaching to migrants in the International Centre but I kept looking at the young men arriving for the language class who we now know and thinking that they were no different from those who had drowned and it could have been them
Easter Newsletter
Sunday, April 5th – Easter Day – proved to be a busy time for Revd Stan but also the most fulfilling day in his entire ministry. It started at 7:00 am when Stan was chief celebrant at the annual ecumenical Dawn Service which was attended by fifty people beside the Boat Club in Clifden. A very particular word of thanks goes to Simon and Edwina at the clubhouse for providing an early morning breakfast to everybody, which was a friendly occasion filled with fellowship. The day itself was to prove to be one of those very magnificent Connemara days, with warm sunshine and light breezes. Following this lovely start to the day, Stan was again chief celebrant at St Mary’s, Roundstone, where seventy people gathered – a wonderful show of support by the many visitors who come west for their holidays. Then Stan, once again, celebrated Holy Communion at Christ Church, Clifden, at 11:30 am where the congregation of one hundred and ten people gathered for the Easter celebration. Omey is pleased to welcome all who come to join with us and who bring such warmth and encouragement to our western outpost. The message is clear, the Church of Ireland is very much alive in Omey Group and growing in strength and confidence. St Mary’s and Christ Church both looked beautiful with their splendid displays of colourful flowers, and our thanks go to all those who helped with these preparations.
We offer a warm welcome to Tomás and Carol Little who have decided to move from their home roots in Colorado to Clifden. They both have a love of singing, including Gospel music, and Tomás is a specialist in keyboards, harmonica, flute and mandolin with a range of styles covering Trad, Country, Soft Rock and Gospel. We will have music!
For those of you who might follow the Boat Race, this year’s event on Saturday, 11th April will be of particular interest to us in Connemara. The Cambridge crew – which is the heavier and favourite – will see Henry Hoffstot making his second consecutive appearance. Henry’s family have a house in Moyard and have been regular visitors from the US for many decades. Constantine Louloudis will be stroke of the Oxford crew and making his fourth appearance having been a winner of the past three contests. Constantine has been an annual guest of Nick Tinné – himself an Oxford Blue and the fourth in a long line of family ‘Blues’ – for the past fifteen years. Nick is putting his money on the dark blues!
Ann Henning Jocelyn, our local playwright, is proud to present her latest Play, ‘Only Our Own’ which opened in the West End and which will be performed In Galway on April 16th and 17th in An Taibhdhearc, Middle Street. Box Office ring 091 – 562024.
Congratulations to our resident artist, Margaret Irwin (Mo West), who featured in a superb article by Lorna Siggins in this weekend’s edition of the Irish Times Magazine. Mo’s latest retrospective exhibition opens at the Leinster Gallery, Dublin on Thursday, 16th April, the day before her 89th birthday, and we wish her continued success.
The Annual Easter Vestry for Omey Parish (Clifden/Moyard) will take place on Monday, 14th April at 7:30 pm in Christ Church and all parishioners of this parish are urged to attend. There will be a very brief meeting of the Select Vestry in Christ Church at 7:15 pm prior to the Easter General Vestry.
The Annual Easter Vestry for Moyrus Parish (Roundstone) will take place on Thursday, 23rd April at 4:00 pm in St Mary’s.
A very special concert by the St Cecelia Singers, the Dublin-based mixed voice choir, will be held at Christ Church on Saturday, 18th April at 8:00 pm. The performance will include Choral works from the Renaissance to Contemporary music. Tickets €10 (including Wine Reception 7:30 pm). Watch out for further details.
Last, but very definitely by no means least, we extend our warmest congratulations to Stan and Rosie on the birth of Adam, their latest grandchild and brother to twins Jennifer and Sinead and to Lisa, and our very best wishes go to proud Mum and Dad, Claire and Jude. A little bird tells me that Adam has already been to his first Hunter trials.