Diocesan News
Aughaval Union of Parishes appointment
The Revd Canon Jennifer McWhirter, Priest in Charge of Killala Union of Parishes, has been appointed to the Incumbency of Aughaval Union of Parishes, comprising the parishes of Westport, Castlebar, Turlough and Achill.
Commenting on her appointment, Canon Jen said: “I am looking forward to this new chapter in my ministry and welcome the challenge it brings. I am excited to get to know the parishioners of Aughaval, although I’m sad to be leaving behind my parishioners and friends in the Killala Union.
Canon McWhirter’s Institution will be held on Friday 3rd April in Holy Trinity Church, Westport.
Canon Jennifer McWhirter bio
Following the completion of her ordination training at the Church of Ireland Theological College, Jennifer moved to America where she completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and worked as a hospital chaplain in Hartford Hospital, Connecticut. On her return to Northern Ireland she was ordained in September 2004 in Connor Diocese and worked as an Assistant Chaplain in both the Royal Group of Hospitals and Belfast City Hospital at the same time as serving her curacy in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.
In October 2005 she was appointed as Church of Ireland Chaplain to Belfast City Hospital, and she remained in that role when she moved to St Nicholas’ Parish, Belfast, as Assistant Priest. She was instituted as Vicar of the United Parishes of Templepatrick and Donegore in January 2008 and left the parish in 2013 to take up her new role as Co–ordinator of CME (later also becoming Co–ordinator of the Deacon–Intern programme) at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. During that time she was Chaplain in Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast, and Church of Ireland Chaplain to the deaf community in Northern Ireland. She was Secretary of the Northern Ireland Healthcare Chaplains Association for eight years.
She moved to Ballina, Co. Mayo, in March 2015 when her husband was appointed Rector of the Kilmoremoy Union and she became Priest in Charge of the Killala Union in 2016. She has since been appointed as Diocesan Director of Ordinands for Tuam, Killala and Achonry and was installed as Prebend of Kilmactalway in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, in 2018. Jennifer is married to Stephen and they have two daughters, Harvest, who lives and works in Belfast, and Kizzy.
As a practicing abstract artist Jennifer enjoys encouraging expression of faith through all types of creative media, including painting in prayer workshops involving groups of all ages from toddlers to senior citizens. She has a love of sewing and cross–stitch and also enjoys sailing, walking and country pursuits. She loves to read and listen to music and has a very eclectic taste in both. She likes spending time with family and friends, eating in or out.
Communications Officer, Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe
089 448 9353
Stephen Fletcher
comms@tlk.ie