Press Releases

New Diocesan Communications Officer for Derry & Raphoe  3rd Sept 2007

Bishop Ken Good has announced the appointment of the Revd Earl Storey as the new Diocesan Communications Officer for Derry and Raphoe with effect from 1 September 2007. He replaces Canon Sam Barton who has decided to step down from this role.

In thanking Canon Barton the Bishop said: "Sam has served as Derry andRaphoe's Diocesan Communications Officer for more than twelve years. He has been involved in the development of diocesan media work since the idea was formalised into a comprehensive system of diocesan officers. We are all very grateful to Sam and thank him for the work he has done.

"Earl is Director of the Hard Gospel Project, and continues in that full-time position. I thank Earl for taking on this responsibility, and wish him well."

The Revd Earl Storey can be contacted through the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Office: 028-7126 2440, (m) 07752 841802 

or by e-mail at dco@derry.anglican.org <mailto:dco@derry.anglican.org>

New Parish Grouping: Planning for Future Development   28th Aug 2007

The Church of Ireland Benefice of Christ Church, Londonderry, and the Grouped Parishes of Culmore, Muff and St Peter’s are to be amalgamated into a new parochial group.

Following the retirement of Canon Matt Moore, the former rector of Culmore, Muff and St Peter’s, Revd Gloria Lee from Canada has been serving in a short-term capacity as Priest in Charge. She has now returned to her home diocese of Nova Scotia.

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, The Right Revd Ken Good, has had discussions with representatives of those parishes and of Christ Church, and has announced that the newly enlarged grouping is to go ahead, subject to the formal ratification of the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Council.

Canon Bill McNee, who has been Rector of Christ Church since 2004, will take on pastoral responsibility for the whole group, and he will be assisted by Revd Katie McAteer, who has been serving as a deacon in Letterkenny.

Bishop Good has welcomed the new arrangements. “The formation of this new Parish Group is a very constructive development. Great credit is due to Canon Bill McNee, to Revd Gloria Lee, and to the representatives of each of the parishes involved in the recent discussions. They have all demonstrated a desire to structure these parishes for effective ministry and future development, while taking into account the significant movement of large numbers of Church of Ireland families from the City side in recent decades.”

ATTACKS ON HOMES

Statement by Rt. Rev. Ken Good issued Fri. 19th Jan 2007

“We all value our home as the place where, above all, we should be able to feel safe and secure. An attack on anyone’s home is a deeply unsettling personal violation of their most basic civil rights.

“The provocative paint bombing of Wendy Park’s house on the Waterside is a cowardly outrage which we must all condemn.

“Wendy’s dignified response to this intimidating violence has been brave and impressive, as has been the way in which her neighbours have rallied around to express their disgust at what has happened. The strength of local community support for Wendy has been heartening, and I am pleased to hear people’s conviction that mixed housing is the way forward for our city and must not be allowed to be threatened in this way.

“It has also been distressing for us all to witness the fact that Councillor Pat Ramsay and his family have, understandably, felt it necessary to move from their home in the Bogside because of persistent attacks on their home over several years.

“Intimidation of this sort diminishes us all and does not reflect the kind of shared future we long to see in this city.”

EASTER MESSAGE 2006

  The Right Rev Ken Good

Bishop of Derry and Raphoe

  Hope appears to be in less plentiful supply than it once used to be. Experts are giving stern warnings about the implications of global warming, of a bird-flu pandemic, of a looming energy crisis and of gloomy pension fund predictions. Nearer home, even in a more prosperous society, there is evidence of the impact of job losses, high levels of personal debt, family and marriage breakdown, youth alienation and increasing rates of suicide.

  Holy Week brings us face to face with the fact that the events of Good Friday and Easter morning were pivotal turning points in human history. Their full significance is beyond our human comprehension, but it is sufficient to know that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have opened up a future and a hope that changes everything.

  The future and the hope which God has made possible through the cross and the empty tomb, however, must never become purely personal or self-centred in their application. Those who experience the new life that Christ offers must become agents of his hope in a society where hope is in less plentiful supply. Active engagement with real social issues must be the outworking of any life that finds new hope and purpose through faith in the risen Christ.

Rt Rev Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe

 ARCHBISHOP EAMES TO VISIT DERRY

Archbishop Robin Eames will speak at a special event in the Guildhall in Derry on Wednesday 18 January 2006 at 8.00 pm to launch the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

  The Archbishop will be returning to the city where he served as bishop thirty years ago, to address a large inter-denominational gathering on the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness. The special form of service has been devised by Irish Christians from different church traditions, for use in many countries during Unity Week.

 The service will be led by Bishop Ken Good, Church of Ireland , Bishop Seamus Hegarty, Roman Catholic Church, Rev Joe McCormack, Presbyterian Church and Rev Sam McGuffin Methodist Church and a large inter-denominational service choir will lead the singing.

 Bishop Good comments, ‘This will be a significant and constructive event in the life of the city, and we as church leaders very much hope that Christian people of all ages and traditions will take the opportunity to meet together to in such an impressive setting.’

HURRICANE KATRINA

 Statement by the Right Rev Ken Good

The scenes of total devastation which Hurricane Katrina has left in its wake and the consequent human suffering we witness daily in the media are horrendous. We assure those affected, and the people New Orleans in particular who we know well because of close links through the Ulster Project, that we are praying for them and that we assure them of our support.

  This diocese has greatly appreciated the friendship and generosity of the people of New Orleans over many years, as they have welcomed and given warm hospitality to cross-community groups of young people who have travelled from Castelderg.

  I commend Canon Walter Quill and the people of Castlederg for the initiative they have taken in setting up channels by which money can be collected and sent quickly where it is needed most urgently.

CLOSURE OF DONEGAL HOSPIRA FACTORY 

 Statement by the Right Rev Ken Good

The news that so many jobs are to be lost to the people of south Donegal, with the closure of Hospira, is deeply disturbing. For over quarter of a century, this factory and the local community have been mutually dependent on each other, and it is distressing that the work of so many loyal employees can now be brought to an end so abruptly.

  I am very conscious that a great number families and individuals are suffering considerable shock at this news, and I trust that co-operative efforts will be made by all those agencies involved in ensuring that the employment prospects (particularly of young people) in south Donegal will be protected through this crisis.

DESECRATION OF HEADSTONES

IN CLONLEIGH PARISH GRAVEYARD, LIFFORD, CO DONEGAL

 Statement by the Right Rev Ken Good  

“I share entirely the distress and shock felt by Dean Hay and the parishioners of Clonleigh at the wanton destruction of headstones in the parish graveyard on Saturday night, 13 August... The eleven badly damaged headstones, many of which are over 200 years old, are an irreplaceable part of the heritage not just of the Church of Ireland but of the whole community in Lifford.

  "The Church of Ireland community greatly appreciates the support of Father Kilpatrick, of local councillors and of so many others who have spoken publicly of their outrage at what has happened.”

Bishop Good leads prayers at the funeral Service of

Chris McElhinney and James McKinley

At the Funeral Service for Chris McElhinney and James McKinley in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Church, Dunfanaghy, Bishop Good led the prayers, and prefaced them by saying:

‘The sudden and tragic loss of Chris and James has been a devastating blow for their families and for all of us. It has highlighted again the slenderness of the thread which separates life from death, and the suddenness with which that thread can be broken.

  I wanted to be present at this service today to convey to Robert John & Roberta, to Willie and Gloria and to your families my personal support and prayers at this time of pain and loss.

  I have also come to assure you and the wider McElhinney and McKinley families that countless numbers of people throughout the diocese, and far beyond, are with you in heart and in spirit. We are all deeply conscious of your loss, and we wish you to know of our love, our goodwill and our support. We remind you that you are surrounded, and I hope strengthened, by the prayers of many, many people.’

Statement by Bp. Good on the death of Pope John Paul II

  In the death of Pope John Paul II the world has lost a remarkable Christian leader. For more than a quarter of a century he has exercised a unique moral influence during a period of enormous transition in Europe and far beyond.

He consistently and courageously championed the value and dignity of human life. The world has watched with admiration as he courageously faced his own death with great dignity and faith.

  I wish to express to Bishop Hegarty and Bishop Boyce and to all the Roman Catholic people in the Dioceses of Derry and Raphoe my sympathy at this time of great loss.

The Bishop of Derry The Right Rev Ken Good Welcomes the visit of

REV DR KEN NEWELL, PRESBYTERIAN MODERATOR,  

TO LONDONDERRY FOR THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

  The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Ken Good, warmly welcomes the visit of the Presbyterian Moderator, Rev Dr Ken Newell to the city this weekend.

  ‘The co-operation and goodwill that already exist between the clergy and the churches in the city is very heartening, and I am sure that Dr Newell will issue a challenge to us all about the role that our shared Christian witness can play in bringing healing and reconciliation in a divided community. I hope that many people from our different churches will make an effort to join together for this special event.’

  The Presbyterian Moderator, Rev Dr Ken Newell, is the guest speaker at a service in Carlisle Road Methodist Church on Sunday 16 January at 8.00 pm to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The choir of St Eugene’s Cathedral will lead the singing. The service is open to the public, and everyone will be welcome.

  The next morning, Monday 17 January at 10.30am, the Moderator will address the clergy of the four main churches at a meeting to be held in Kilfennan Presbyterian Church. All clergy will be welcome.

DERRY DIOCESE SUPPORTS BISHOPS’ APPEAL

In appealing for a generous response to the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal for the Indian Ocean tsunami victims, the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Right Rev Ken Good, today paid tribute to what has already been achieved by members of his diocese in their recent response to a diocesan project, Lets Go out of our way for Orissa!

Bishop Good said: “It has been very heartening to see the generous way in which parishioners from all parts of the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe have recently given over 23,000 to the Bishops Appeal for the Indian region of Orissa. The people of Orissa suffered the devastating impact of a super-cyclone not very long ago, and are now, along with millions of others, contending with the horrendous impact of these devastating tsunamis.

Assisted as we are by the media to see the overwhelming scale of human suffering, I know that everyone will do all that they can to help ease the overwhelming sense of pain and loss, and help rebuild peoples lives and communities. I ask that in every parish in the diocese a further opportunity be provided in the near future for parishioners to respond to this urgent appeal.”

THE NEW BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER LAUNCHED WITH

FOUR AGAPE  COMMUNION SERVICES

The Church of Ireland has a new Book of Common Prayer. Officially launched at the recent General Synod in Armagh, it will be the Church’s authorised Prayer Book as from Sunday 6 June 2004, Trinity Sunday. Sales of the book have far exceeded the publisher’s expectations, with the second print already well under way.

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, The Right Rev Ken Good, has warmly welcomed the new Prayer Book. ‘I see the arrival of this publication as a wonderful opportunity to raise to a whole new level people’s awareness and appreciation of worship.  It is an occasion for teaching, for fresh approaches and for liturgical renewal that we must all grasp wholeheartedly’.

Each diocese has marked the launch of the book in its own way, with Derry and Raphoe choosing to do so in the context of four Agape Communion Services this week in Londonderry, Letterkenny, Omagh and Limavady, each presided over by the Bishop.

The Bishop describes an Agape Communion as ‘an opportunity for us today to experience something of what the early Christians did when they met together for “the breaking of bread”. Seated at tables in a large hall, the 120 people from neighbouring parishes present in each venue, share together in a service of Holy Communion in the setting of a four course meal.’

‘I have been present at several Agape Meals in other dioceses, and have always found them to be spiritually significant and highly memorable for everyone present. The singing and the praying, the conversation and the dining, the word and the sacrament all combine together in quite powerful ways.’

‘I chose this context in which to launch the new Prayer Book to encourage us all to be reminded of the fact that worship today can and must be fresh, meaningful and relevant. The structure and flexibility in this Prayer Book make all this possible’