Diocese of & Dromore Around and About Autumn 2013

Diocesan President Mrs Joy Silcock

Hello Fellow Members I hope you are sitting down comfortably with a Down & Dromore cuppa to read this edition of Around and About. Mothers’ Union As I write this I am drinking my tea from my new Scottish mug, It was a gift from our first AFIA Diocesan family who enjoyed their break in part ADVENT CAROL funded by our new Away From It All project. They are very grateful to Down & Dromore MU and SERVICE said to make sure I sent you all a big ‘Thank you’. THE MOTHERS’ UNION St Patrick's ANNUAL MEETING Seapatrick At our Diocesan Council meeting in November we Waterfront Hall, said a special thank you to some members who decided not to stand for re-election to our Trustee body. Carol Bingham, June Bunting, Edie Corbett, Monday Margaret Gallagher and Myra Williamson have, Saturday 21st June 2nd December over many years, worked tirelessly for MU. 2014 Mothers’ Union in Down and Dromore are greatly At indebted to these ladies who have given freely of  tickets will cost £8.50 each their time, supporting our organisation, holding 8.00pm  Service Friday night 20th in St many posts and taking on varying roles. Trustees Anne's Cathedral (no charge) plan to treat them to a meal early in 2014 and I  Each branch to advise their Area hope there will be space in our next edition to Please come along Secretary before the beginning of include a photo of that. February number of tickets they and bring your would like for each event. Thank you all for your friendships and words of friends welcome as I visit and take part in events all over  The Area Secretary then has to send a co-ordinated response for all our diocese. branches in her area to Diocesan Secretary Margaret Conn Warm welcomes will I am sure be extended to all by Monday 3rd February. the delegates who will visit Belfast next June when  Margaret Conn is then going to the MU General meeting returns to Ireland. It purchase in bulk the necessary will be a time for renewing friendships and making tickets for the whole diocese. new ones.

With Love and Blessings This is a UK , Ireland and Worldwide Event. A time perhaps to meet your linked members Joy again Pa ge 2 Around the Diocese

Groomsport Mothers’ Union The Branch were delighted to welcome eight new members who were enrolled at their opening service on 15th September. At the first meeting, three new people turned up so hopefully we will get another enrolment in sometime this year. Praise the Lord!

St John’s Visitors Night last April at St John’s Dromara when Naomi Long was guest speaker. L to R Jean Ervin (Treasurer), Naomi Long & Jacqueline Gee (Leader) Margaret Best (Secretary)

Gilnahirk Area Service with Holy Communion was held on 11th September 2013 in St Dorothea’s Parish Church. Members from St Elizabeth’s, St Columba’s, St Donards’s, and St John’s attended. Irene Gray Area Secretary, Joy Silcock and Doreen Montgomery St Dorothea’s are pictured below

St Mark’s 'Chat & Chew' 21 September MU at St Marks had a pamper coffee morning for young mums to encourage some new members. The morning was successful and some of the young mums who attended stated that getting out during the week was nearly impossible. This has given the branch some food for thought and they hope to build on this event in the future. Pa ge 3 From Diocesan to All Ireland Events

Roberta Rogers at her last Diocesan Council Joy Silcock at her first All Ireland council meeting as President pictured with Margaret Gallagher as Down & Dromore Diocesan President pictured and Maureen Hunter in October 2012 with L to R Down & Dromore Indoor Members Enjoyed Holy Communion Lynn Tenby MU Worldwide President followed by a wonderful afternoon tea in Ballyholme in May 2013 Lady Christine Eames former Worldwide President organised by Hilda Arnold (left) pictured with Iris Suitor Armagh’s new Diocesan President her sister Eithne who provided the music to accompany the choir

Evelyn Briggs on right enjoying the sing along after tea

All Ireland Mothers’ Union ‘Young Members’ Getaway One Friday in the middle of October, five busy Mothers’ Union young mem- bers raced home from work, packed their bags and headed to north Dublin to spend 24 hrs with other younger members from all over Ireland. The weekend began with an interesting welcome talk from Phyllis Grothier, All Ireland President, followed by a great dinner. On Saturday after a filling breakfast, we listened to Patsy Devoy, a lady steeped in Mothers’ Union and currently Diocesan President of Cork, Cloyne & Ross. Patsy spoke about the theme for this year of “Sow and Grow”. She drew from experience in her own life, which struck a chord with all of us. Next was Jane Grindle who works at head office in Dublin and it was most Interesting to hear of all the projects locally and nationally that Mothers’ Union are involved with. As a fairly new member of MU myself, It certainly opened my eyes to all the good works going on all over the Ireland and further afield. Then as a treat (or punishment) we did an hour of Zumba followed by yoga! Most importantly, this weekend was such a lovely opportunity for us all to spend some time together away from the distractions of family life and also meet other folk from all over Ireland. Back L to R We returned home refreshed and all five of us really appreciated this opportunity and Rosemary Armstrong, Dawn Gordon & look forward to doing it again next year (if we still qualify as being ‘young’!). Kate Beattie Rosemary Armstrong Front L to R Alison Johnston & Wenda Polllock MU Contacts Diary Dates In Loving Memory 2013 During 2013 Down & Dromore Mothers’ Union Down & Dromore were sad to record the deaths of a former www.downanddromore.org/action/mothers- November 4th union Diocesan President and a serving member of Mothers’ Union Ireland Diocesan Council Belvoir 7.30pm the Trustee Body. We give thanks for their www.mothersunion.ie faithful service. The Mothers’ Union (Mary Sumner House, th London) November 16 www.mothersunion.org All Ireland Council

Diocesan Press Officer—Marion Edwards Leixlip 10.00am for 10.30am All items for website or magazine please send by email and mark Mothers’ Union or MU . November 18th For next edition send by end of February 2014 Area Service St. Galls PLEASE SEND ONLY HIGH RESOLUTION 7.30pm PHOTOS AND SEND BY EMAIL

Otherwise the reproduced quality will not be November 29th-Dec 1st good. Mrs Maisie McKelvie Christmas Tree Festival Hillsborough Mrs McKelvie was a former Diocesan President Marion Edwards 1971-1974 and was one of the last Life December 2nd 61 Ballynahinch Road Diocesan Presidents for Down & Dromore MU. Saintfield Young Members Advent Carol She lived a long life starting off her Mothers’ Service Union connection at St Donard’s. One Sunday BT24 7LZ Seapatrick , Banbridge 8pm in 1965 she enrolled 90 new MU Members! Tel 028 97 510806 The name “Maisie McKelvie” evokes a vision of all that Mothers’ Union membership means. 2014 Maisie with her great smile and gentle Scottish [email protected] accent was warm, welcoming, hospitable, and encouraging and a facilitator (long before the February 3rd word was popular!). Many of the women she Willowfield Parish Church 7.30pm “put through her hands” became diocesan and Diocesan Projects Speaker Deputy Chief Constable, national leaders in later years. Her interest and Need all your Support Judith Gillespie support of MU lasted her lifetime.

 AFIA (Away from it All) February 6th Bangor Area Meeting Bangor Abbey

 Prison Visits February 14th

60s Party in  Knitting for Neonatal Units March 7th 8th 9th

 Toilet Bags for Accident & All Ireland Training Termonfeckin An Grianan Emergency Units

Mrs Pam Groves March 25th We were all very saddened to learn of the  Items for Women's Aid, Festival Service sudden death, earlier this year, of the Area Bangor & St John’s Orangefield 8pm Representative for Ballymacarrett, Pam For more information please speak Groves. Pam was a member of St Brendan’s Mothers’ Union for 19 years and served as th st to either Marion Edwards or June 20 /21 branch secretary. She was on the MU diocesan Mothers’ Union Annual Meeting in prayer chain and was an enthusiastic member Roberta Rogers Belfast of Mothers’ Union and is greatly missed by the branch members and the Trustee Body