12.10.2021
Diocesan Ministry of Healing plans to rebuild and renew after pandemic
“If ever there was a time to pray for healing, this has been it,” the Revd Ross Styles (Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy with Calary) told Dublin and Glendalough’s Diocesan Synods meeting online. Proposing the report of the Dublin & Glendalough Ministry of Healing, he noted that we, as individuals and as a community, as a church and as a nation, and as an entire world have experienced an 18 month period like no other.
“Our way of life has been turned upside down, the pandemic has affected us all… No one has been left unaffected. Cruelly, the pandemic robbed us of the opportunity to come together and to pray and support each other,” he stated. “Central to the mission of Dublin and Glendalough Ministry of Healing is to rebuild, to return to our healer prayer services, to grow and renew our prayer presence in Christ Church Cathedral and in St Anne’s, to encourage and resource healing services in parishes across Dublin and Glendalough, but also to build on the experience and knowledge of online resources and outreach gained during the last year or so.”
Mr Styles paid tribute to the outgoing chair of the ministry, the Revd Bruce Hayes who resigned in December 2020 after serving for seven years. He said that Stan Bloomer had taken on the role of coordinator of intercessors following the retirement of Felix Blennerhassett. He thanked Mr Bloomer for maintaining continuous prayer for those who were ill throughout the pandemic. He also thanked Jeanne Salter and all the members of the committee for their dedication to the ministry of healing during a very difficult time. He hoped that the annual quiet day and thanksgiving service could take place soon.
The diocesan committee continued to work closely with the Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland which held regular online services led by Canon Lesley Robinson along with reflections by Dr Iva Beranek. These can be found on the Church’s Ministry for Healing: Ireland YouTube channel and Facebook page.