A new Diocesan President for Down and Dromore Mothers’ Union
Down and Dromore Mothers’ Union’s new Diocesan President is Joy Silcock, a parishioner of Magherahamlet in the Diocese of Dromore. Joy will be commissioned at a service in her own parish on Sunday 6 January 2013 at 4.00pm. She introduces herself below:
I am married to Billy and we have 2 sons Alan and David aged 28 and 26. Alan is getting married next year in our parish Church in Magherahamlet (just outside Ballynahinch). We are looking forward to that very much! I work part–time in a day nursery, I am a volunteer for Downpatrick RDA (Riding for the Disabled) and also for Ballynahinch Child Contact Centre which opened 18 months ago. Billy and I both enjoy watching rugby and are members of Ballynahinch RFC and try to support them as often as we can. We enjoy going to Ulster Orchestra concerts.
My Mum had been a member of Ballywalter Branch and I now have been a member of MU for 20 years. I have had the pleasure to serve as my branch secretary. I also was the Young Families Representative on Down and Dromore Executive (as the Trustee Body was known then) which led to me becoming Young Families Representative for the Northern Dioceses on the All– Ireland Executive. I look back on those days very fondly!
In 2002 I agreed to be Editor of the All–Ireland Focus magazine. The next three years were extremely busy but very satisfying as I had direct contact with branches and members from all over Ireland. My computer and I became best friends and I learned so much about type setting and editing – although the high quality of the editing was due in no small part to Sally Cotter who proof read each copy so thoroughly. I have huge respect for all involved in our MU magazines!
I have not been involved with MU at a Diocesan level for a few years as my attention has been focussed on acting as secretary to the building committee in Magherahamlet. We have just completed the challenging undertaking of providing a new Church Hall for our Parish. The new building has just been dedicated and opened and I look forward to welcoming as many of you there as possible to my commissioning and coincidently to our spring council in 2013!
Joy Silcock