01.12.2022
Glendalough clergy meet for annual gathering
Clergy from the Diocese of Glendalough gathered in Laragh today for their annual Glendalough Clergy Day. The morning started with a Service of Holy Communion in the beautiful St John’s Church celebrated by Archbishop Michael Jackson.
During the service, at which the organ was played by the Revd Sean Hanily, the Archbishop welcomed the Revd Conor O’Reilly to Glendalough. He will be instituted Rector of the Athy Union of Parishes next Friday, December 9. He also congratulated the Revd Edwin Aiken, Dean’s Vicar of Christ Church Cathedral, on his recent ordination.
In a short sermon based on the readings [Isaiah 26: 1–6 Psalm 118: 18–27a Matthew 7: 21, 24–27] the Archbishop said Isaiah and the Psalm gave a picture of there being a movement of people rather than a series of disconnected individuals. Nobody would be left behind by the movement and there was a combination of corporate responsibility and care and individual contribution, he said.
He noted that there was also a claim of a visible and public space for religious expression. This, he said, was important in responding to God’s continuing and unending presence throughout the times of Covid. He said that those in ministry had a responsibility to lead God’s people to the horns of the altar once again. He acknowledged the tiring nature of Covid times but said that Advent gave the opportunity to move into the new year spiritually and keep a look out for the insights, pictures, colours and visions of the prophets and take them as energy into life.
After the service clergy repaired to the nearby Wicklow Heather restaurant where they spent the morning discussing issues of interest and concern to the diocese.