Activities

Getaway Weekend 2023

Ann Howard, Diocesan President of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh reflects on the Mothers’ Union Getaway Weekend October ’23. Valerie Power, Kathleen Rothwell, Linda Ward and Linda Condell from The Diocese attended the weekend

As Diocesan President, I’m so proud of how the members of KEA Mothers’ Union welcomed and helped to make this event a very memorable All-Ireland event. We were truly blessed to have so many gifted speakers and entertainers. It was headed up by Mrs Liz Greer and Mrs Wendy Halligan, assisted by Mrs June Butler, All Ireland President, and Mrs Hazel Spears, Action and Outreach All Ireland, Mrs Diane Stewart Young families represenatative (who also made book marks for us all) and our own KEA trustee body. Behind these great events there are a team of people preparing for weeks and months to ensure its’ success, and this event was no exception.

Mrs Melanie Douglas was a very powerful and moving lead speaker. She filled our hearts with love, joy and advice on ‘How to live an abundant life’. We were so blessed to have her join us for the weekend. It was also lovely to meet and get to know Ven Dr Stephen McBride, our All-Ireland Chaplain, and his wife Helen. Rev’d Richard Waller, our KEA chaplain, was our spiritual lead and was ever present for us all. My own talented sister-in-law Pauline Howard helped us relax and even laugh more by teaching us to dance and Leila Beattie with her chair exercises had us in stitches before we left for home. Our photos show our brilliant committee with guest speaker Melanie Douglas and some of the attendees from our diocese. The Hotel Kilmore, Cavan, were fantastic hosts, providing a welcoming and comfortable setting. We wish to express our deepest sympathy to the family of hotel owner, Mr Ross Mealiff, on his untimely passing.

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work”.

CFO Mothers' Union Harvest Festival

A large congregation gathered in St. Peter’s Church, Portlaoise on Sunday the 5th November at 3p.m., for the inaugural Mothers' Union Harvest Festival for Cashel, Ferns & Ossory Mothers' Union, where the guest speaker was Beverley Barbour, from the Methodist Church in Portlaoise. The service was led by the Diocesan President, Lesley Bayley, and the Unit Coordinator for Action and Outreach, Valerie Power.

Our thanks to Lesley for all of the time and effort she put into preparing for this service and to all those who contributed to the service and the refreshments.

Members/Branches were asked to produce a display for the church based on the hymn "Two little eyes"

Two little eyes to look to God,

Two little ears to hear His Word,

Two little feet to walk His ways,

Two hands to work for Him all my days.

One little tongue to speak His truth,

One little heart for Him now in my youth;

Take them, Lord Jesus, and let them be

Always obedient and true to Thee.

Mary Sumner

Founder of Mothers' Union

Mary Sumner Day 2023

Wednesday 9th August

A large number of members gathered at The Rectory in Bunclody to enjoy a wonderful afternoon of fellowship organised by William Bayley, Unit Coordinator for Fundraising and Communication, and Valerie Power, Unit Coordinator for Action and Outreach, to celebrate Mary Sumner Day.

The afternoon began with a short service led by Revd. Ger James, Diocesan Chaplain, with readings and music by Revd. Canon Trevor Sargent, Unit Coordinator for Faith and Policy.

William organised a baking competition entitled “A Victoria Sponge with a Twist” and there were over a dozen entries for the competition. There was a great array of different cakes and they were judged by Revd. Ger, Canon Trevor, and guest judge Rebecca Allen. All the entrants were asked to give a brief description of their cake and what was the “twist”. The winning cake was made by Áine Neville and the unique ingredient she used in her recipe was “Earl Grey Tea”. Everyone enjoyed sampling some of the cakes after sandwiches and finger food served by a caterer.

We were blessed with a lovely fine afternoon and Lesley thanked Canon Trevor and his wife, Áine, for hosting the event in the idyllic grounds of the Rectory. Lesley also thanked members of Bunclody Branch for all their work in preparing for the afternoon’s celebrations.

The Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence is observed by Mothers' Union members throughout Ireland.

From 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10th December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991.

Prayer for Month of November

(From the Mothers' Union Website)

God of justice, God of mercy, God of healing, we acknowledge the pain and brokenness of our world.
We pray for those who suffer degradation and violence through gender based violence.

We pray for those whose minds are warped by the need to control and imprison others in a world of cruelty and violence as a means towards self-gratification.

Gracious God, we praise you that you are continually at work in people’s lives, challenging and convicting, transforming and restoring,

As Mothers’ Union members, embed deep in us the courage to step out in faith, to stand alongside the victims, to dare the risk of challenging the status quo by speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
In the name of Christ.

Amen