Diocesan News
‘Life–changing’ Confirmation Services held in Derry and Donegal
You don’t often hear the Kingdom of God and Disneyworld featuring in the same Service, but it happened yesterday in Letterkenny in County Donegal.
Conwal Parish Church in Letterkenny, and Glendermott Parish Church in Londonderry, each hosted Services of Confirmation and both churches were doubly blessed with twice the normal quota of bishops.
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Ken Good, was joined at both Services by a guest preacher from the United States of America, the Bishop of Central Florida, the Rt Rev Greg Brewer, who is in Ireland on sabbatical with his wife, Laura Lee. The couple are spending part of their time in Europe with Bishop Ken and his wife, Mary, and Bishop Good had invited his counterpart to address Sunday’s Confirmation Services.
Bishop Brewer helped confirm 11 boys and girls in Sunday morning’s Service in Letterkenny and another 21 at the afternoon Service in Londonderry.
In Letterkenny, Bishop Good introduced his distinguished visitor as “the Bishop of Disneyworld” – which is in the latter’s diocese – but Bishop Brewer told the confirmands that he was not the focus of the attention. “The focus of the attention is Jesus, first of all,” he said, “[and] what it is that Jesus is doing.
“We believe deeply, with all our hearts, when we do these very simple things like pouring water on the head of a child or laying hands on these people that God is doing something bigger – far better – than anything you could ever conceive or imagine. And it is what He is doing that is meant to be the focus of our attention.”
The second Confirmation Service, in Londonderry, was a shared service between members of the Glendermott and Newbuildings Parishes in the city and the Moville and Donagh Group of Parishes in Inishowen.
Once again, Bishop Brewer spoke about the transformational power of God in Confirmation, and repeated the assurance he had given in Letterkenny earlier that the young confirmands would be transformed by their experience. “One thing I do know: you’ll never be the same, but – given the possibilities – why would you even want to be, when what is in front of you is freedom, joy and a new life in God?”
Sunday’s were the last Confirmation Services that Bishop Good will preside at in Conwal or Glendermott Parish Churches. He is due to retire as Bishop of Derry and Raphoe at the end of May. Bishop and Mrs Brewer will spend the next week or so with the Goods before continuing their sabbatical in England.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
press@derryandraphoe.org