New Wine Conference returns to Sligo – 12th to 17th July

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Next month, something significant is happening right on our doorstep. New Wine Ireland’s Summer Conference, one of the biggest all-Ireland Christian gatherings of the year, is coming to ATU Sligo & Knocknarea Arena from 12th to 17th July 2026. For those of us in this diocese, it’s a real privilege to have such a major event taking place at home, and it’s well worth considering whether this might be the year you go along.

New Wine Ireland describes its vision simply: it is about an understanding that God is doing a new thing, involving the outpouring of His Holy Spirit. The name itself comes from Scripture:

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.” (Luke 5:37-38, NIV)

It’s a striking image, a reminder that renewal often calls for fresh capacity, fresh openness, and a willingness to be shaped anew. That spirit runs through the whole week.

The conference runs as a full week of worship, teaching, and ministry, with something for every age group. Mornings include Bible study led this year by Tommy and Donna MacNeil from Martin’s Memorial in Stornoway, while evening celebrations will feature speakers including Matthew Rudolph, Alex Rayment, Steve Burston, Timothy Cho, and Donna MacNeil. There’s dedicated programming for children and youth, as well as “Our Place” for adults, so families can attend together with each generation cared for.

You don’t have to commit to the whole week if that’s not possible, day tickets are available too, and these give a taste of what the conference offers without needing to take the full time off.

Whether you’ve been to New Wine in Sligo before or you’ve never experienced anything like it, events like this offer something different from the rhythm of ordinary parish life: a chance to step back, worship alongside thousands of others from across Ireland, hear fresh teaching, and return home renewed. Many who attend speak of it as a real turning point in their faith, a week that reshapes how they see God, themselves, and their community in the months that follow.

Whether attending as an individual, a family, or even as a small group from the parish. It could be a wonderful opportunity for fellowship as well as spiritual refreshment.

For more information, speaker details, accommodation options, and to book your tickets, visit:
Sligo 26 | Summer Conference — New Wine Ireland

Faith Reignited

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Faith Reignited will be a special and exciting time for the Archdeaconry of Elphin. Running from Ascension Day on 14th May through to Pentecost on 24th May, this initiative is an invitation to pause, reflect, and allow the Holy Spirit to renew and deepen our faith.

Each Parish Group will have the opportunity to plan and host their own local events during this period. Guest speakers will help us explore some of the big and important questions of faith in an open and welcoming atmosphere.

We warmly encourage all to come along, bring a friend, and take part in what promises to be an enriching and thought-provoking time together.

Full details of events are available on the posters. Please note that the Sunday evening gathering on 17th May will begin at the earlier time of 7 pm.

Come and let your faith be reignited.

4-Week Lenten Virtual Training Course with Pioneer Ministry

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Join us this Lent for a four-week online Pioneer Training course as we journey through Godsend.intro — a practical resource for anyone who wants to explore Pioneer Ministry and how it can work locally within traditional parish settings.

Designed for individuals and small groups from parishes, Godsend helps connect worship on Sunday with life on Monday. It offers guidance on loving others, making disciples, and nurturing new Christian initiatives that remain rooted in and connected to the life of a traditional parish.

Hosted by the Pioneer Leadership Team, alongside Revd Dr Michael Moynagh, a nationally recognised speaker, pioneer leader, and creator of the Godsend material, this course will share best practice not to be copied mechanically, but to inspire prayerful, creative, and locally grounded outreach in your parish.

Course Details:

 
  •  Thursdays during Lent
  •  Kickstarting March 5
  •  7:30–8:30pm (online via Zoom)
  •  4 weekly sessions (5th, 12th, 19th, 26th of March)
Each one-hour session will include:
  • Teaching from the Godsend.intro material (Rev Michael Moynagh)
  • Guided reflection
  • Breakout rooms for discussion, shared learning, and practical application and questions

To Sign Up Click Here!

For future updates, invitations, and opportunities, sign up for the Pioneer Ministry Newsletter. 

Institution of Ruth West as Dean of Elphin and Ardagh – 24th October

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The institution of Canon Ruth West as Dean of Elphin and Ardagh will take place on Friday, 24th October at 7.30pm in St John’s Cathedral, Sligo. Tea, coffee, and refreshments will be served in the hall following the service, offering an opportunity to the Parishioners of the Sligo Cathedral Group and those from the wider Diocese to celebrate her appointment.

Canon Ruth brings with her a wealth of pastoral experience and dedication to her calling. Her final service in her previous post was a Harvest celebration at Florencecourt last Sunday, where the congregation offered heartfelt tributes to her faithful ministry in Fermanagh. The occasion was a poignant farewell, reflecting the deep connections she has forged with those she has served during her eight years in the Parish.

We all send our warm wishes to Canon Ruth and are looking forward to a lovely evening.

 

Celebrating St. Coman’s Church Roscommon

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St Coman’s Church of Ireland in Roscommon town has announced an exciting programme of events to coincide with National Heritage Week. The theme of these events is ‘Exploring Our foundations’ which will celebrate the church’s place in the community.

This year marks the 250th anniversary since St Coman founded his first monastery on the site of the present church building and is a major historical and religious site in the county, cherished by successive generations of Roscommon people.

A major cultural event will take place on Wednesday August 20th from 7pm to 8:30pm, entitled ‘Aspects of the History of St Coman’s Church’. This eagerly awaited event will incorporate a performance by the Roscommon One Town Voice Community Choir and a fascinating talk by local historian, Albert Siggins.

The illustrated talk will focus on the history of the church its graveyard and its people. Coinciding with the talk will be the launch of a booklet of the same name, written by Albert Siggins to mark this special anniversary year. This event has been made possible with funding from Roscommon County Council. 

Also on Sunday, August 24th from 2pm there will be a talk on the Cross of Cong which holds particular connections to Roscommon town. The Cross enjoys particular connections with Roscommon and these will be explored during this talk.

As part of a series of Open Afternoons, the church building will be open for visitors to learn of the significance of the site itself, the present church building and its graveyard through some visual displays and memorials in the church.

These open afternoons take place from Wednesday August 20th to Saturday August 23rd inclusive from 2pm to 4pm and on Sunday, August 24th from 3pm to 4pm.

All events are free of charge, with an opportunity to make a voluntary donation which will be divided between church funds and Roscommon Tidy Towns Association. Further details are available on www.heritageweek.ie and social media – FB: Roscommon Church of Ireland.

 

 

St Coman’s Church of Ireland on Henry St, Roscommon has been part of the streetscape of the town since the building opened in 1775, though the ground where it is situated has been associated with St Coman for a much longer time.

The present building underwent thorough restoration in the 1880s – with internal galleries removed, windows inserted and a side transept added. A millennium project launched in 1999 saw major restoration work to the clock and the tower, supported enormously by the people of the town and local community.

The current Select Vestry (committee) members planning these 250th anniversary celebrations see themselves merely as custodians of this building, endeavouring to honour its past and safeguard its future in the town which derived its name from the saint who founded his first church on this site.

Select Vestry Committee member Susan Compton said visitors to these events will acquire an increased awareness of the significance of St. Coman’s and his historical legacy: “Our events offer the public a unique opportunity to explore the influence of St. Coman.

 St. Coman’s Day is celebrated on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26th). Like St. Patrick, St. Coman was a visionary figure and his legacy lives on in the wonderful Church we have in the centre of Roscommon town. These events during National Heritage Week, emphasise the importance of St. Coman’s as a unique figure in the story of our county” said Susan.

For more on these and other events during Heritage Week in county Roscommon click here.

Chaplaincy as service of God and neighbour: Wednesday, 14th May 2025

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‘Do good, be generous and ready to share’

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, will host a special one-day symposium on the nature and role of chaplaincy on Wednesday, 14th May 2025.  With the theme of ‘Do good, be generous and ready to share: chaplaincy as service of God and neighbour’, the event is sponsored by the Church of Ireland Centre at Dublin City University and will run from 9.30am to 3.30pm in the Cathedral’s Song School.  The event is aimed at those in chaplaincy roles, those studying chaplaincy or those considering chaplaincy as a future ministry. It has a wide focus on chaplaincy in a range of spaces.

The following guest speakers will take part:

  • The Revd Canon Dr Daniel Nuzum – Pastoral Care: tender generosity
  • Vincent O’Grady – Tending to heart, opening to mystery
  • The Ven Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes – What chaplains think we’re doing, and what institutions think they’re paying for
  • Dr Margaret Naughton – Coming home to self: the importance of selfhood in ministry
  • John Patrick Doherty – Feeling seen, not just heard: relational empathy in deaf pastoral care
  • The Revd Dr Thomas Grenham – Chaplaincy: the professionalism of meaningful presence

The Church of Ireland Centre’s Director, the Revd Canon Professor Anne Lodge, remarks: “Church of Ireland Centre staff contribute to the education of chaplains in DCU.  We see the valuable contribution that chaplaincy makes across a range of institutions.  We wish to provide space for those who are engaged in chaplaincy to share their insights and to encourage those considering a chaplaincy ministry.”

If you are interested in attending, please email [email protected] – a €20 contribution can be paid online once you register.

 

Webinar, 27th March: Anti-Racist Work in Church of Ireland Dioceses and Parishes

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As part of Ireland’s Anti-Racism Month, the Primate’s Reference Group on Ethnic Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Justice invites you to join us for a webinar discussion on using the Irish Council of Churches’ toolkit for anti-racist work in our dioceses and parishes.

All are welcome – clergy, lay leaders, and parishioners alike. 

Discussion panel: The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell, with Rev Eileen Cremin, Rev Maithrie White, Rev Jenu John, Rev Philip McKinley and Dr Lucy Michael and other guests

New Date: Thursday 27 March

Time: 8.00-9.00 pm

Location: Online (link to be provided upon registration)

The ‘From Every Nation’ handbook provides practical guidance for faith communities committed to racial justice, inclusion, and diversity. This session will explore how we can use the toolkit to create welcoming, equitable, and actively anti-racist church spaces.

  • Download the handbook for free here.

Link: https://www.irishchurches.org/cmsfiles/From-Every-Nation-.pdf

  • Register now to secure your place.

Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/webinar-anti-racist-work-in-church-of-ireland-dioceses-and-parishes-tickets-1244905538979

Introduction to Youth Mental Health

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Invitation to Zoom event with CIYD (Monday, 20th January)

 The Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD) is running an online introduction to youth mental health next Monday, 20th January, from 7pm to 9pm, which will be delivered by Action Mental Health.

“Mental health and well-being is one of the biggest challenges facing our young people in the modern world,” says CIYD Youth Ministry Development Officer Luke Hawkins, who is organising the event.  “We are thrilled that so many people have already signed up for this free webinar, and hope to provide more like it in the future.”

The Zoom event, funded by the MindMattersCOI mental health awareness programme, is aimed at the parents of teenagers but any youth volunteer or worker, lay person or clergyperson, will also be welcome to attend.  Please go to the following link sign up and find out more. https://forms.gle/znYEkdTorkj53PXb7

Bookings now open for Vocation Retreat (21st-23rd February 2025)

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The Vocation Retreat 2025, organised by the Commission on Ministry, will take place in Manresa Retreat Centre, Clontarf, Dublin, from 21–23 February 2025.  The Vocation Retreat is open to all who are exploring a sense of calling to ordained ministry in the Church of Ireland and is intended as a period of reflection and discernment. The guest speaker is the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford, who will address four sessions during the weekend.

The retreat takes place in the context of worship and prayer and there is opportunity for further reflection and conversation.  Places are limited, so early booking is recommended with a deadline of Friday, 24th January 2025.

Those interested in attending may also contact their Diocesan Director of Ordinands for additional information. A leaflet about the Vocations Retreat is provided along with a booking form at the following link on the Church of Ireland website: https://www.churchofireland.org/news/12653/commission-on-ministry-vocation-retreat