Liturgical Welcome for the Revd Robert Jones in St Patrick’s Church, Clonevan
On Friday 12th September at an evening service of Holy Communion in St Patrick’s Church, Clovevan, the Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, the Rt Revd Adrian Wilkinson welcomed the Revd Robert Jones to his role as an assistant priest to serve in the Ardamine Group of Parishes. Though retired from stipendiary ministry in 2022, until recently Revd Jones was the chaplain to St John the Evangelist Church in Sandymount in the Diocese of Dublin.
Robert will travel to Ardamine at weekends to lead worship on Sundays as well as do some pastoral work while there. Ardamine Group of Parishes consists of six attractive rural churches all situated close to or at the coast in Co. Wexford. In the summer months, the regular congregations are joined by holiday makers and regular visitors who have holiday homes and mobile homes in the parish.
Reflecting on the appointed epistle reading for the day from 1 Timothy, and Paul’s attitude at being called to ministry by Jesus Christ, in his sermon Bishop Adrian highlighted the importance of gratitude in the Christian Faith.The bishop concluded by expressing his gratitude to the Revd Robert Jones and to the parishioners of Ardamine Union for their openness to ministry in this form for the short to medium term.
It was encouraging to see diocesan readers and local clergy at the service. Though the service was not an institution, symbols of the ministry of a priest were brought forward during the service and presented to Robert. After a speech of welcome in the church at the end of the service, the large congregation moved to the old schoolhouse nearby for generous hospitality.