Diocesan News
Three OLMs made deacon for Tuam, Killala and Achonry
On Vocation Sunday, 15th September 2019, three Ordained Local Ministers were admitted to the office of Deacon by the Rt Revd Patrick Rooke, Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, in St Mary’s Cathedral, Tuam.
The Revd Carole Reynolds was ordained to serve in the parish of Roundstone, the Revd Maebh O’Herlihy for the parish of Achill, and the Revd Karen Duignan for the parish of Easky.
The service of Ordination with Holy Communion was presided over by the Bishop assisted by the Dean and Chapter of TKA. The three deacon candidates (as they were at that point of the service) each read from the scriptures. The preacher was the Revd Canon Dr Maurice Elliott, Principal of CITI. The choir of St. Nicholas’, Galway, led the music with Mark Duley acting as choirmaster and playing the organ.
Carole Reynolds
Carole was born in Dublin, the youngest of three children. On leaving school she trained as a dental nurse. She married Michael in 1981 and they have three children, Sam, 36, Emma, 33, and Phillip, 31. At present Sam and Emma are living in New Zealand and Phillip lives in Kent, England.
At present, Carole is employed by National Parks and Wildlife Service in Connemara National Park, Letterfrack, as Education Officer. Her job involves travelling to primary schools in Galway and Mayo informing them about all aspects of our natural biodiversity (Irish mammals, birds, butterflies etc.)
During the summer months when the schools are closed, she runs children’s activities in the park and also takes guided bogland walks. In 2014, Carole became a member of the Select Vestry in St Mary’s, Roundstone, and she was commissioned as a Diocesan Reader in May 2017.
Karen Duignan
I’m married to Liam for 23 years and have two daughters – one just finished in college and the other just starting. I farm a small herd of Angus cattle and am also a part–time secretary.
I accidentally became a Parish Reader about 10 years ago when one Sunday morning nobody turned up to take the service and it seemed like a good idea at the time. But once I came under the eye of the then Bishop, Richard Henderson, there was no escape for me! I trained as a Diocesan Reader, being one of the first under the new training course run by the Church of Ireland Theological College and an English university.
I’ve enjoyed travelling for the past number of years, meeting people in all the different parishes and helping wherever I’ve been needed. It has been ‘fun’ and I sincerely hope it will continue to be. I’ve reached ordination in a very roundabout way but I believe God has a sense of humour and my ordination is the culmination of a lot of pushing and prodding by Him. I’ve listened and am happy to put the rest of my life doing what He has asked me to do.
Maebh O’Herlihy
I was born and educated in Dublin, moved to Brussels, Belgium, in 1973 and lived there for twenty–one years. My daughter, son and grandson still live in Brussels. I studied Theology and Catechetics in Louvain University and was RE teacher in the European Schools. I was also one of the early parishioners in a newly planted English–speaking community which, in turn, was part of a group of nine ecumenical Christian Churches working together.
I then completed further studies in Psychology and Counselling in Belgium and the UK and was a counsellor in the European Schools. While in Brussels, I was involved in the direction of retreats, training of Sunday School teachers, and the healing ministry of the Church, and also as President of the English–speaking World Day of Prayer Committee, and European President of a world–wide alumnae association working in the area of human rights in many countries.
I returned to Ireland and have lived on Achill Island for the past nineteen years. Since moving here, I have joined the TKA Diocese of the Church of Ireland, and have completed further studies in Theology, in Galway, St John’s College, Nottingham, the Church of Ireland Theological Institute and Edgehill College/Queen’s University. Licensed as Diocesan Reader and now ordained deacon, I am also co–ordinator of the Sacred Path Centre of Spirituality.