Dear Friends
As I come almost to the first anniversary of my arrival in the diocese I have been thinking about the inevitably vast carbon footprint left by my efforts to get to know this vast territory – and this despite my public promotion of hybrid vehicles!
As an endeavour, therefore, to promote the virtues of public transport and also (I confess) to indulge my tastes as a railway enthusiast, I am proposing as a kind of ‘last rose of summer’ activity to visit by train every functioning station in these dioceses. I will be doing this on 29th and 30th August and I will be accompanied by our Editor and Diocesan Communications Officer, Herbie Sharman, whose weakness for trains is also well known. This is a chance to be visible around the bishopric in a rather different way, to talk to those I meet on my travels in a way that is not possible in the car and perhaps in a modest way to benefit a good cause. Below I provide details of the full programme – it would be lovely if local parishioners said hello as I passed through their station, although I know in some cases there will be no chance for a proper stop. I am grateful to Irish Rail who very kindly are sponsoring our pilgrimage.
Wednesday 29th August
Carlow depart 12.38hrs., passing Bagenalstown at 12.52hrs. and arriving in Kilkenny at 13.11hrs. We leave Kilkenny again at 13.20hrs., stop in Thomastown at 13.32hrs. and arrive in Waterford at 13.59hrs.
The Wednesday afternoon we will spend on a visit to the Suir Valley Railway at Kilmeaden.
We will then leave Waterford at 17.25hrs. stopping in Campile at 17.48hrs., Ballycullane at 17.56hrs, Wellingtonbridge at 18.03hrs., Bridgetown at 18.20hrs., Rosslare Strand at 18.34hrs. and we will arrive in Rosslare Harbour for an overnight at 18.41hrs.
Thursday 30 thAugust.
Departure from Rosslare Harbour will be at 07.40hrs., with stops at Rosslare Strand (07.45hrs.), Wexford (08.04hrs.), Enniscorthy (08.27hrs.), Gorey (08.50hrs.).
We will then stray into the territory of the archbishop of Dublin and of the Bishop of Meath before arriving at Portlaoise at 12.24hrs.
After lunch we move on from Portlaoise at 14.25hrs., stopping in Ballybrophy at 14.41hrs. and arriving in Templemore at 14.51hrs. There we will pause until 16.51hrs., when we proceed to Thurles, arriving at 17.00hrs. There will be a brief stop to change trains there; we move on at 17.19hrs. and reach Limerick Junction at 17.41hrs.
Again we change and set off once more at 18.45hrs., passing Tipperary at 18.56hrs, Cahir at 19.20hrs, Clonmel at 19.38hrs. and Carrick on Suir at 20.02hrs. We arrive in Waterford at 20.26hrs and there the expedition finishes.
The journey will therefore involve visiting 23 stations in I think 16 of our parochial units. We will also pass through a number of parishes – including, sadly, the city of Ferns – in which the stations no longer function. That’s quite a bit of diocesan coverage and shows what actually can be done by public transport. And, as it’s always good to raise a little money for a good cause while one is enjoying oneself, I have decided after some thought to seek sponsorship from generous minded people for a charity known as THE RAILWAY CHILDREN, which is also supported by Irish Rail itself. This is an international charity which seeks to assist – not least in the poorer countries of the developing world – children who sleep rough in stations, providing them with shelter and education and removing them from the power and threat of predatory individuals. Given the nature of this cause, I will be channelling anything I collect for it through the Bishops’ Appeal. Indeed it is also a cause which may generate interest in some of our schools.
Individuals may wish to contribute or parishes – especially those through whose territory I am passing – may be kind enough to have perhaps a small retiring collection on the Sunday before my visit and hand over their contribution as I pass through. You will have other ideas and if you cannot actually meet me on my journey you can send on contributions to me afterwards… every contribution will be gratefully acknowledged. But this is a cause which moves and inspires me… not least as this year in this part of the world we mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade and reflect how child slavery and exploitation, not least in the area of the horrific so – called sex industry, have far from disappeared as far as poor and vulnerable minors in many countries are concerned.
To other matters briefly. We learn with real sadness of the departure of the archdeacon of Ferns from New Ross and from the wider diocese at the end of May. Although there is, given his talents and interests, a real rightness about his new work in Seoul, he will be so much missed not least in South Wexford where he has displayed exemplary pastoral diligence and wisdom. I shall miss an archdeacon who has helped me greatly to feel at home in the diocese and whose shrewd judgement, understated scholarship and vast commonsense have made a huge difference to people and situations. We wish the Mooney family every blessing as they travel forward.
It is excellent that Dermot Dunne has agreed to be the new archdeacon of Ferns and he will bring to the role – as he has already done to the Wardenship of Readers – great gifts of intelligence, clarity of thought and sound pastoral instinct. I much look forward to working alongside him in the years ahead.
As you know, Ian Cruickshank will arrive in Kilcooley on 21st June and Richard Greene, Robert Stotesbury and Margaret Sykes will be ordained to the priesthood in Ferns Cathedral on Sunday 10th June.
Finally, and with much gratitude for his lengthy and faithful ministry in Kells/Inistioge, we wish Denis Sandes – and of course Lesley too – well as they move to Co Galway in July. Denis has tended a geographically vast parish with loving care, he has served the diocese particularly on the chapter and as a Bishops’ Appeal Representative and we shall miss his distinctive contribution more than we can easily say.
Enjoy the long days, whether you associate them with holidays, silage, children’s summer clubs or whatever. And don’t forget to worship wherever you are, and to welcome graciously those who may be visitors amongst us
Michael Cashel + Ossory
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