01.05.2024
Special Synod Elects New Hon Secretary for Glendalough
The Revd Suzanne Harris, Rector of Castlemacadam with Ballinaclash, has been elected as Clerical Honorary Secretary for the Diocese of Glendalough. The election took place at a special Glendalough Synod which was held in St Patrick’s, Greystones, yesterday evening (April 30).
Suzanne was elected to fill the vacancy which arose as a result of the appointment of the Revd Brian O’Reilly as Rector of the Drogheda, Ardee and Kilsaran Unions.
Synod began with a service of Holy Communion celebrated by Archbishop Michael Jackson, Bishop of Glendalough. In his address, he pointed out that while there was minimal business to take care of (the election of the Honorary Secretary was the only item on the agenda), the work of God was something on which members engaged and embarked on in a much broader way.
“This evening we bring before God as our offering the whole of the Diocese of Glendalough: its people whether they, or we, go to church or not; its communities, whether we now know how to engage with them or not; its civic institutions, whether we find them accessible or impenetrable; its schools, their staff and pupils and management bodies, and the safety of all of their activities and interactions in and out of the classroom; and this is but the start of an ever lengthening list of people, places and activities who are our gift and our responsibility as children of God eagerly expecting the Coming of The Holy Spirit into the lives of all with grace and truth and with fire and water,” the Archbishop stated.
Referencing the Collect for Holy Communion for a Synod – … Bless with the Spirit’s grace and presence the members of this synod; keep us steadfast in faith and united in love, that we may manifest your glory and prepare the way of your kingdom …, Archbishop Jackson said that this was the lasting work of a Synod “long after Agenda papers and additional papers have been shredded in order to comply with GDPR. This is the lasting work of Members of a Synod, as we are empowered and inspired to do the work of God in our time and in our place and among our people and to show them that we, like Mary Magdalene, have seen the Lord.”
Opening Synod, the Rector of Greystones Canon David Mungavin welcomed members to the parish as well as those who joined the meeting online.
Archbishop Michael Jackson thanked St Patrick’s for facilitating the special Synod and for the hospitality that was to follow. He paid tribute to the recently retired Archdeacon of Glendalough, the Ven Neal O’Raw, Rector of Donoughmore and Donard with Dunlavin and thanked Archdeacon Ross Styles, Rector of Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy with Calary, for accepting the position.
He thanked the lay members of Glendalough Synod for their attendance as, while voting was by orders so they could not vote, their presence was vital for the proper running of Synod.
After the appointment of Ciaran Toland SC as Assessor, the meeting began with prayer and a reading from Scripture by Lay Glendalough Honorary Secretary Derek Neilson.
Following the vote the meeting concluded in prayer led by the Revd Suzanne Harris.
