Diocese of Down & Dromore

The Diocese of Down and Dromore continues to cement its links with the Episcopal Diocese of Albany as a group leaves this week for New York State.

The twelve strong party, led by Diocesan Youth Officer, Andrew Brannigan, will attend the Albany Convention at which several of the group will take seminars. The Convention, which is the main business meeting, is residential, with worship, seminars, youth programme and leisure activities all part of the event.  The group will also visit Christ the King Spiritual Life Centre, a healing and retreat centre owned by the diocese.

The annual trip to Albany is open to clergy and laity in Down and Dromore. Retired CMS missionary, Roy Taylor, is travelling, having visited the Spiritual Life centre a few years ago "We heard about the convention and thought it would be a good thing to attend it together," he said.  "Sadly, Eileen got cancer and died last year.  I am making the trip now on behalf of both of us."

Other group members:

• Bishop Harold's wife Liz , well known and loved in Albany.

• Clergy wives, Rosemary Rudd and Jane Corbet. Rosemary and Liz were originally to attend the Clergy Wives Conference in Albany at the end of April but the ash cloud made that impossible. Rosemary is, however, delighted to be able to attend the Convention and is looking forward to the spiritual experience. Jane is an enthusiastic supporter of our links with other dioceses and will share about the three way relationship between Maridi, Down & Dromore and Albany.

• Representing the Mother’s Union are, Diocesan President, Roberta Rogers and Hilda Arnold. Hilda is a parishioner of St Finnian's and is responsible for the indoor membership in the diocese. She is looking forward to sharing about that ministry and to being a positive face of MU in Albany.

• Bishop’s Curate in Primacy, Rev Francis Rutledge; retired rector, Rev Gordon Whitehead; youth worker Katy Purvis and layperson Gail Redmond. Gail is a member of Dromore Cathedral and has been responsible for the ’Via Wings’ community project in Dromore. Via Wings (Working in the Name of God to Serve the Community) is a place for people who simply need a hand and she will be talking about the project in Albany.

The two dioceses have very different churchmanship but a shared spirituality and have profited from trips in both directions.

To get a flavour of the experience and of the Diocese of Albany, view the video of last year’s trip below.