Sep 30 2021

New trustees commissioned at annual MU Diocesan Service in Omagh

Seven new trustees were commissioned to office for the Diocesan Mothers’ Union, this evening, in St Columba’s Church in Omagh. The women were commissioned by Bishop Andrew Forster during the branch’s annual Diocesan Service. Restrictions introduced in churches to minimise the threat of COVID-19 meant the service went ahead without the usual pageantry that makes…

Sep 23 2021

Canon Welsh Installation

The newest member of the Cathedral Chapter of St Columb, Rev Canon Colin Welsh, was installed formally on Thursday evening, 23rd September 2021, at a Service led by the Dean of Derry, Very Rev Raymond Stewart, and attended by two bishops – the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, and the retired…

Sep 16 2021

Bishops demand full redress for mica families

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…

Sep 12 2021

Donegal Confirmation

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…

Sep 11 2021

Service of Introduction in Moville

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…

Sep 08 2021

Service of Ordination in All Saints, Clooney

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…