Revd Sabrina Cooke is ordained presbyter
Congratulations to Revd Sabrina Cooke who has been ordained presbyter/priest for the curacy of Lecale Area Mission Partnership (LAMP). Sabrina has come from the diocese of Cork and we’re delighted to welcome her to Down and Dromore.
Bishop David ordained Sabrina along with Elaine Pentland at a service in Down Cathedral on Sunday 28 August. The preacher was the Dean of Down and Rector of LAMP, the Very Revd Henry Hull.
Sabrina reflects on her deacon year
I served my deacon–internship in the parish of Cloyne, Cloyne Cathedral, St. John the Baptist Church, Corkbeg and East Ferry, under the Very Reverend Susan Green in the diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. I was delighted to serve in this parish and to learn from Susan as Rector and Dean. The parishioners are very welcoming and supportive and I was very much at home in their presence.
Sadly, due to Covid – I didn’t get the pastoral opportunities I had hoped for, nevertheless it was a special time for me to serve in this parish. The times in which in–person worship was not possible, we did online services which was a new and worthwhile experience in reaching out to people with the love of God. Furthermore, the Newsletter kept the parish updated on all that was happening. I really enjoyed observing the engagement of parishioners when we met for vestry meetings, it was their enthusiasm and passion for the parish that struck me. We did online engagement with the Gospels which was a wonderful way to get to know parishioners and to interact and interpret his word together. Furthermore, I did a discussion group with parishioners online about John Cassian and his writings.
My dissertation was an examination of John Cassian’s teaching on prayer. Prayer and Spirituality have always been an important part of my journey and I enjoyed sharing his teachings with the parishioners of Cloyne.
I am grateful to minister in the Lecale Area Mission Partnership (LAMP) which is a super group of parishes consisting of fourteen churches under the Very Reverend Henry Hull. I will be based in Downpatrick, County Down, which is a place steeped in history, since early Christianity with the coming of St. Patrick to serve the people of Ireland.