08.09.2025
‘Join us, Join in’ – Mothers’ Union Reaching Out to a Fragmented Society
The Church of St John the Baptist in Drumcondra was filled with joyful singing yesterday (Sunday September 7) for Diocesan Festival Service of Dublin and Glendalough Mothers’ Union.
The theme of the service, and for Mothers’ Union worldwide this year, was ‘Join us, Join in!’ This theme, the preacher Dean Dermot Dunne said, embodies the mission of Mothers’ Union as they reach out into a fragmented society.
The service was led by the Diocesan Mothers’ Union Chaplain, the Revd Colin McConaghie in the presence of the Rector of Drumcondra and North Strand, Canon Garth Bunting. Joining representatives of MU branches from around the United Dioceses, was June Butler, Zonal Trustee for Ireland in MU worldwide.
The service was interwoven with prayers and connected hymns and Betty, the parish organist, accompanied the singing.
In his sermon, Dean Dunne said the theme of ‘Join us, Join in’ is rooted in the spirit of our time and in Scripture, especially in St Paul’s letter to the Philippians [2: 1–14] where Paul speaks about community. He reminds the Philippians that the true sign of life in Christ is mutual encouragement, shared compassion and unity of purpose. They are urged to put aside selfish ambition and look to the interest of others. The Dean said these verses were a pattern for Christian living and service.
“In many ways [these words] are the exact description of the mission of the Mothers’ Union. For over a century the Mothers’ Union has embodied these words in action, creating fellowship, encouraging one another, serving families and offering compassion where it is most needed. Whether it is through supporting parents in the challenges of raising children, reaching out to those in poverty or standing alongside those who feel isolated, Mothers’ Union has shown that faith in action changes lives,” he stated.
He said the theme was both a challenge and an invitation. He said the invitation reminded people that the work of the Mothers’ Union is never complete and always welcomes new people to be part of its mission and part of a global movement that is bigger than themselves. The challenge is that joining in means action – it is not enough simply to belong, he suggested.
He said that traditionally the invitation to join in was centred on our own church communities and family units within parishes. But this challenge to join in has developed into a whole new concept in today’s society, he commented. “We live in a fragmented world where individualism prevails over community, where selfish interest has led to the isolation of individuals and the growth of loneliness in society. Never before has Mothers’ Union been as relevant and needed as now. To be effective in its ministry, Mothers’ Union must reach out beyond the boundaries of church and into the fragmented society that we experience, to seek out those who are lost, to welcome the stranger and refugee and to be a voice to the voiceless,” Dean Dunne said.
After the service, Diocesan MU President Ada Lawson brought greetings from the All Ireland President Kay Clarke. She thanked the Rector and the parish, as well as the local branch for hosting the service and for their hospitality afterwards and the Dean for his words of encouragement and wisdom. She encouraged members to come to the monthly Mothers’ Union service in the Lady Chapel of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, which take place on the first Thursday of each month.
