From Bishop Burrows – December 2006
Dear Friends
We may claim that December is all about the keeping of Advent - in truth it seems to be more about an exhausting continuum of spending. In the midst of all our outlay some of us of course will think of agencies like Bishops’ Appeal and Christian Aid, conscious that the most Christ-like giving involves costly generosity to those from whom we can expect nothing tangible in return. There is much to be said too for the kind of Christmas gifts some agencies allow us to purchase so that the real beneficiary lives far away in the Developing World but a friend or relative here is sent evidence of what we have decided to do. Organisations like Bóthar allow us to tell our relatives that their Christmas gift from us is actually, for example, a goat for a village community in Africa.
I have been much involved in Bishops’ Appeal and its central committee since 1991 and I believe the work it does goes to the very heart of the Gospel. Yet hitherto I have never actually visited a country where the fruits of the work of Bishops‚ Appeal are clearly to be seen. However I have recently accepted an invitation to travel to India in January with Mr Albert Smallwoods of Derry diocese to see at first hand the work of Bishops‚ Appeal in Andhra Padesh and in Orissa. Indeed at the time of writing I am just back from a briefing in Belfast concerning our journey and am getting ready for all my necessary jabs and tablets! We will be away from 22nd January until 3rd February and while in some ways I do not “look forward” to the visit it will be remarkable to see - for example - the cyclone shelters which Bishops’ Appeal funded in Orissa, a province which has suffered so much from cyclone and tsunami. We also will see projects funded by a generous legacy from a distinguished past member of the Bishops‚ Appeal committee - Miss Elizabeth Ferrar who for many years worked in Chota Nagpur with the late Dean Peter Harvey.
The name of the “Bishops’ Appeal”, is sometimes regarded as problematical, but it does challenge the bishops to carry the Appeal with them wherever they go and to make it an absolute priority in their ministry. After my January travels I should be equipped to do this in a more informed and indeed passionate way. Here in the diocese we are grateful to Mr. Bill Kingston and Ms. Valerie Power who do so much as Diocesan Representatives to keep Bishops‚ Appeal high on our common agenda. Bill has recently very graciously agreed to cover the whole Cashel/Ossory area and his informed advocacy particularly of the FairTrade issue is well known.
While talking of diocesan responsibilities, Canon Dermot Dunne has kindly agreed to became Warden of Readers. Our good wishes go to Canon Nancy Gillespie on her appointment to the chapter of St Canice’s and of course in a particular way we congratulate Canon Barbara Fryday who in January will become incumbent of Clonmel.
Keep a good Advent!
Michael Cashel + Ossory
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