We have a new Albany Link Coordinator!
We’re delighted that Revd Gerald Macartney, rector of Drumgath and Drumgooland, will be coordinating the link between the Diocese of Down and Dromore and the Diocese of Albany in New York State. He takes over from Archdeacon Roderic West.
The role chiefly involves facilitating visits between the two dioceses and looking after the practicalities such as booking flights and finding hosts. Each year, a group from Down and Dromore attend the Albany Convention in June and there’s a reciprocal visit for our St Patrick’s Day celebrations in March. Folk from Albany often come along to our Clergy Conference which takes place on alternate years in October.
“I am looking forward to forging links with the church in Albany,” says Gerald. “Since coming to Down and Dromore, Roberta and I have hosted two couples from the States and have been enriched with new friendships. I would recommend the experience to others in the diocese and very much hope that even more people, lay and ordained, will offer hospitality to our guests.”
Through DDYC, the exchange visits also involve young people travelling from Albany to Summer Madness in Glenarm and, on occasion, youth from Down and Dromore participating in the Beaver Cross youth camps in Albany.
The two dioceses have very different churchmanship but a shared spirituality. We are also engaged with joint mission action in southern Sudan and northern Argentina.
Later in the year, Gerald, will contact clergy with information about the forthcoming visits in both directions. Please give prayerful consideration to attending the Convention and offering hospitality to our visitors – you won’t regret it!
You can email Gerald at: albanylink@dromore.anglican.org
Read Mark Wells’ account of his first visit to Albany in June of this year.