On Sunday 4th February, in the context of a special evening service for Candlemas in St Laserian’s Cathedral in Old Leighlin, four new diocesan readers were commissioned by Bishop Adrian Wilkinson to serve in the diocese. They are Rosemary Brown, Stephen Doak, Claire Forde and Paul Hanson. They were presented by the Warden of Readers, the Very Revd Tom Gordon. This was the last occasion Dean Gordon acted in this capacity, having recently announced his retirement. The new readers were supported by their families, sponsoring clergy and many parishioners from their home parishes of Lismore, Waterford and Dunleckney.
It was particularly appropriate that the preacher on this occasion was Mrs Phyllis Grothier, one of the most experienced readers in the Diocese. In her sermon, she said that Diocesan readers have an opportunity to meet parishioners in their home parish and to share in praise, prayer, reflection and thanksgiving with them.
When commissioning the new readers, Bishop Wilkinson highlighted both the importance and privilege of this distinctive ministry within the church and thanked Dean Gordon for all his work as Adult Education Officer in the Diocese and more recently as Warden of Readers. He wished the new readers every blessing in their new role within the Diocese and thanked all those who serve faithfully Sunday by Sunday in this way across.
A collection of pictures from the Service can be found on our Diocesan Facebook page Click here
Pictures taken by the DCO: Mr Shane Reynolds © CFO