MU Diocesan Festival Service marks 70th anniversary

Friday March 27th 2015

Diocesan President Valerie Ash, third from left, with former Presidents, from left: Moira Thom, Sheila Hughes, Roberta McKelvey, Norma Bell, and Paddy Wallace.

Connor Mothers’ Union’s Diocesan Festival Service in St Anne’s Cathedral on Sunday March 22 marked the 70^th anniversary of MU in the diocese.

The Dioceses of Connor and of Down and Dromore separated in 1945, and Connor MU became a separate organisation in its own right.

Maintaining the link between past and present, the current Diocesan President, Valerie Ash, read the Old Testament lesson and Sheila Hughes, who was President from 1978-1983, read the New Testament lesson.

The intercessions were led by Rae Scott, North Connor Area Chair, and Roslyn Graham, Connor Young Members’ Representative.

Dean John Mann, Diocesan President Valerie Ash, Dean Raymond Ferguson, MU All Ireland Chaplain, and Archdeacon Stephen McBride, Connor Diocesan Chaplain.

The preacher at the Festival Service was the Very Rev Raymond Ferguson, MU All-Ireland Chaplain, who emphasised the importance of such a service in any diocese. It was, he said, ‘an important rallying occasion … important for diocesan structures and also for the branches which undergird those structures … important for MU members who can be relied upon to rally to the banner and answer the call.’

Referring to the 70^th anniversary, Dean Ferguson gave thanks for ‘those who guided and shaped the changes 70 years ago … the faithful, unsung members who have carried on the work in parishes right down to the present day [and] all who have handed the baton on to us.’