Bishop Michael Burrows plans to visit every church in his diocese

THE Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, the Rt Rev’d Michael Burrows, plans to visit every church in this vast new merged diocese, which stretches from Co. Mayo in the north to Co. Kerry in the south and Co Limerick and parts of Offaly and Tipperary in the east.

Bishop Michael is an organist, and this project will involve him joining with congregations to play the organ, harmonium, or piano in every one of the churches in the diocese, and for churches where there is no available instrument, he will bring a keyboard.

He will be visiting all the churches in this area on November 15th and 16th and more again on November 30th (see full details for timings below).

This project is entitled ‘New Lamps Being Lit’ and intends to raise funds for two charities in Madagascar and Burundi both of which aim to 'Empower Women through Literacy'. The project in Madagascar is partnered with the charity ‘Feed the Minds’, and focuses on educating women on the running of small, sustainable silk businesses so that they can combat extreme poverty by boosting family income, and can do so in a way that protects the surrounding mangrove forests.

The project in Burundi is in partnership with ‘Mother’s Union’. The aim of the project is to develop literacy circles where women, who are often the sole providers for their family, can learn basic literacy and mathematical skills, and how to apply these skills to the development of agricultural initiatives.

Bishop Michael has appealed for donations to these charities, and has encouraged the organisation of fundraising events throughout each community. The Bishop will also accept cheques, which should be in an envelope containing the donor’s details, and cash, which will be counted each evening with a third party present.

Individuals can also donate through the diocesan website at www.tlk.ie/donate/. They are asked to reference ‘Bishop’s Appeal’ on the donation.

These visits, known as Peregrinations, will be taking place over just three weeks between November 12th-December 1st.

The Peregrinations involve visits to many churches around the Midlands. The dates, times, and locations are as follows:

Wednesday November 15th

Lockeen - 9:30am

Lorrha - 10:30am

Dorrha - 11:30 am

Birr (School Representation if possible) - 12:30pm

Kyle - 2pm

Roscrea (School Representation if possible) - 2:45pm

Corbally - 4pm

Bourney - 5pm

Thursday November 16th

Borrisokane - 10am

Balingarry - 11am

Cloughjordan (School Representation if possible) - 12pm

Templeharry - 1:15pm

Borrisnafarney - 2:15pm

Dunkerrin - 3:15pm

Shinrone - 4:30pm

Aghancon - 5:45pm

Kinnitty - 6:45pm

Thursday November 30th

Clonfert Cathedral - 3:45pm

Banagher - 4:45pm

Eyrecourt – 5:45pm.