MU Diocesan President commissioned
Family, friends and Mother’s Union members packed into Magherahamlet Parish Church on Sunday 6 January for the commissioning of the new MU Diocesan President, Joy Silcock.
Outgoing President, Roberta Rogers, was present to ‘hand over the baton’ as part of the act of commissioning which was conducted by the Bishop of Down and Dromore, The Rt Revd Harold Miller. MU Chaplain and rector of Annahilt and Magherahamlet, Revd Canon Robert Howard, led and gave the address. Joy’s husband Billy, is part of a vocal quartet called ‘Harmony’ and they sang several pieces during the service.
Joy is a parishioner of Magherahamlet and has been an MU member for 20 years. She has served MU at branch, diocesan and all–Ireland level and was the Young Families Representative on Down and Dromore Executive (as the Trustee Body was known). This led to her becoming Young Families Representative for the Northern Dioceses on the All– Ireland Executive and she also served for 3 years from 2002 as the editor of the Mothers’ Union All–Ireland Focus magazine.
Joy works part–time in a day nursery, is a volunteer for Downpatrick RDA (Riding for the Disabled) and also for Ballynahinch Child Contact Centre which opened 18 months ago. She and Billy have two adult sons, Alan and David, who may well see a bit less of her as she takes up the responsibilities of her diocesan role!
Diocesan Secretary and personal friend, June Butler and former Diocesan President, Mrs Norma Bell, both welcomed and commended Joy at the reception following the service. Joy, in her maiden speech, paid tribute to her predecessors in the post and urged MU members to make think about what their ‘Ideal’ membership would be like, whether it incorporates the vision and objectives of the Mother’s Union and what they would like to achieve at branch, and diocesan level. ‘How then, she asked, can we turn our ideal membership into the real thing?’ She suggested that a place to start was for members to reacquaint themselves with all the MU is doing in the diocese, Ireland and around the world.
See some photos in the gallery here.