Christmas message from the Bishops of Limerick 2016

'Think of the many around us who feel marginalised'

Limerick Bishops unite for a powerful message of love and peace to all this Christmas

(Limerick Leader - 24th December 2016)

MOST of the news we hear every day revolves around politics and economics. We hear repeatedly of the big names, the important world powers, the billionaires. We listen to so much analysis and commentary. It’s easy to feel that history is determined by forces outside our control.

Christmas reminds us, however, of something we can easily forget. God too sees history. God has his take on history. After all, he entered right into our world in the form of an innocent child who came with a message of light, peace and truth that has gradually worked like a silent heart beat throughout the centuries.

As we listen to the Christmas carols or contemplate the nativity scene, sentiments of peace, joy and self-sacrificing love surface within us. The simple “Away in a Manger” carol, often the first we learn as children, gets us in touch with a nostalgia we all have – for a world where love will reign, children cared for, tenderness abound and a wonderful harmony with creation achieved.

At Christmas, we are invited to see history with God’s eyes. And there’s such a need to do so. Just think of the desperate situation in places like Syria, especially Aleppo, but also the plight of Christians throughout the Middle East. Think of the interminable wars in places like South Sudan. But then, nearer to home, think of the many around us who feel marginalised for one reason or another.

In our analysis and in the reports we read, we can feel helpless. But let’s remember the God of Christmas is the God who ‘shuffles the cards’ as Pope Francis put it last year. God likes doing that! As Mary sings in her Magnificat, the Lord puts down the powerful from their thrones and raises up the humble, fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty.

Let’s pray this Christmas that more and more people will begin to realise that politics and economics aren’t the only driving forces in our world. Love, in its many nuances that we contemplate at Christmas, is the great source of change because it unleashes a revolution of tenderness around us. If we live that revolution, our world changes because we let God do his reconciling work.

We both feel particularly impelled this year to communicate this message together because just a few weeks ago at a moving ceremony in Rome we were “sent out” together for mission by Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby. We had spent a wonderful week together, some of it in Canterbury and some in Rome, with 18 other pairs of Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops from across the world focussing on how we can be more united in our mission.

In sending us out in mission, Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby reminded us of Jesus’ message of peace: “Our Saviour commissioned his disciples saying, ‘Peace be with you’. We too, send you out with his peace, a peace only he can give. May his peace bring freedom to those who are captive and oppressed, and may his peace bind into greater unity the people he has chosen as his own.”

As Christmas approaches, we wish you the Season’s greetings, praying that the peace the Child Jesus wants to give our world will be received.

Christmas Message from the Bishops of Limerick

We're both quite new to Limerick and its surrounds, and it's a real delight to see the way Limerick celebrates Christmas. The city looks great with street lights, shop windows and Christmas tunes everywhere, but so too does every town and villages, each celebrating Christmas in their own way.

 

There is plenty to celebrate – time with family, homecomings, young children, presents – and at the heart of it all the central Christian message that God came among us as a baby and remains with us today. Amidst all the tinsel and glitter, there is this simple true story of a young mother and her baby, a baby who would grow up to change the world and open up the possibility of new life and a new relationship with God.
 
That young baby and his parents were homeless at the time; that's why they found themselves in a stable. Very soon they were refugees in Egypt, escaping a tyrant who sought to kill all young children. That's why refugees and those who are homeless are often at the centre of our concerns around Christmas.
 
Homelessness is a terrible scourge in any society. Not to have a place to call home robs individuals of their dignity and of their self-worth. If you don't have a home it's hard to get a job. If a family is homeless their children find it hard to go to school and to settle down. The instability of homelessness brings suffering which continues right throughout life. And yet we hear more people are homeless in Ireland than ever before, and despite all our concerns and efforts the situation is getting worse, not better.
 
We sit in stunned silence every night in front of our televisions watching images of another refugee crisis in the middle-east and in Europe. We are silent at the unspeakable violence which drives people from their homes, and pushes them to undertake the dangerous journey by boat in an effort to find safety, security and a new life free of fear.
 
When news broke that some of those refugees would be coming to Ireland the immediate response was one of sympathy and welcome. That welcome will, we are sure continue into 2016 when the first refugees arrive.
 
Homelessness, refugees, part of that first Christmas in Palestine 2000 years ago, and still with us. How we as a society respond to this during 2016 will be the test as to whether we take the Christmas message, seriously, whether our celebrations are sincere.
 
So may we wish you all a happy and meaning-filled Christmas, and a peaceful New Year.
Brendan Leahy. Kenneth Kearon.

Enthronement of Bishop Kenneth Kearon in St Mary's Cathedral on 7th February 2015



Bishop Kearon blessing the city and county from the Great West Door
of St Mary's Cathedral after his enthronement

On 7th February Bishop Kenneth Kearon was enthroned in St Mary's Cathedral in Limerick in a ceremony full of symbolism and which finished with the new bishop blessing the city and county from the Great West Door of the cathedral which is only opened on the most solemn of occasions.

Bishop Brendan Leahy and Bishop Donal Murray were in attendance at the enthronement representing the Roman Catholic community at this most important occasion for our neighbours and brothers & sisters in the faith.

Full report and photos from the ceremony available from the Church of Ireland website HERE.

Consecration of new bishop of Limerick at Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin - 24th January 2014

From Anglican Communion News Service:

Bishop Kenneth Kearon, his wife Jennifer and two of his three daughters Alison and Rachel by Paul Harron Church of Ireland Press Office

The Service of Consecration and Ordination of Kenneth Kearon as the new Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe took place at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, this afternoon (Saturday 24th January) – the Eve of the Conversion of St Paul.

The preacher at the service, The Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales, said: ‘Life as a bishop is like a ride on a zip wire … Just as zip wire riders need someone to launch them at the start and haul them in at the end, so too a bishop sets people off on their sometimes daunting journeys of faith and holds them safe as they travel.’ More than that, though, he added, ‘a bishop is someone who climbs onboard the ride first – to lead by example’. 

As well as Archbishop Morgan and a number of serving and retired bishops of the Church of Ireland – including The Rt Revd Sam Poyntz, the new bishop’s father–in–law – Bishop Kearon’s consecration brought together a large number of attendees from across the Church of Ireland, the wider Anglican Communion and, notably, the Methodist Church in Ireland also. The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Revd Peter Murray, along with the Revd Donald Ker, former President and General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Ireland, and former President and Co–Chair of the Covenant Council, the Revd Winston Graham, joined with other bishops in the laying on of hands on the new bishop – the first time that participation by Methodist leaders has taken place. Since the decision of both the General Synod and the Methodist Conference allowing for the inter–changeability of ministry, Methodist Presidents are now regarded as Episcopal Ministers and as such can participate in a consecration service.

The service was led by the Archbishop of Dublin, The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, and the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, The Most Revd Pat Storey, and the Bishop of Tuam & Killala, The Rt Revd Patrick Rooke, were co–consecrators.

The first reading from Numbers 27: 15–20, 22–23 was read by one of the new bishop’s three daughters, Rachel Kearon; the second reading from 2 Corinhtians 4: 1–10 was read by the Revd Gillian Wharton and the Gospel, John 21: 1–17, was read by The Rt Revd Dr James Tengatenga, Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council. The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral sang Mozart’s Coronation Mass during the Eucharist.

Bishop Kearon was also surrounded by many family and friends at the service, including his wife, Jennifer, and two of his three daughters – Alison and Rachel (pictured right); his daughter Gillian is living in New Zealand and was unable to attend. Bishop Kearon’s mother, Mrs Ethel Kearon, was joined by his sister, Mrs Lynda Goldsmith.

Born in Dublin in 1953, Bishop Kearon attended Mountjoy School and Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied Philosophy. Following further study at Cambridge and in Dublin, he was ordained a priest in 1982 and served as curate in All Saints Raheny and St John’s Coolock before his appointment as Dean of Residence at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1991 he became Rector of Tullow before becoming Director of the Irish School of Ecumenics in 1999 and Secretary General of the Anglican Communion in 2005, the role which he performed until late last year.

Canon Kearon is no stranger to Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, having been a member of the Chapter since 1995 and served as its Chancellor from 2002. In September 2014, he was elected Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe following a meeting of the Episcopal Electoral College which took place at Christ Church Cathedral, and he succeeds The Rt Revd Trevor Williams who retired as Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe in July last year.

Enthronement services in the cathedrals in his new dioceses will take place at later dates.

You can read more including the text of the sermon HERE.
 
 Other coverage of his election and consecration here, here, here, here and here.

Habemus Episcopum Anglicanam II - We have a new bishop!

Back in September SS102fm extended our congratulations to the Church of Ireland United diocese of Limerick & Kilaloe on the election of their new bishop.

The Service of Ordination and Consecration of the Revd Canon Kenneth Kearon as the new Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe will take place in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on Saturday 24 January 2015 at 2.30 p.m. – the Eve of the Conversion of St Paul.

The service will be led by the Archbishop of Dublin, The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, and the preacher will be The Most Revd Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales.

For those unable to attend, the service will be streamed by the cathedral; visit: http://christchurchcathedral.ie/worship/live-webcast/

The date of his installation/enthronement in St Mary's Cathedral in Limerick is still to be announced and confirmed is 7th February 2015.

In this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, lets pray for the new bishop and his family and welcome them to Shannonside!

Habemus Episcopum Anglicanam - We have a new bishop!

SS102fm extends cordial congratulations to the Church of Ireland United diocese of Limerick & Killaloe on the election of their new bishop is succession to Dr Trevor Williams (who was interviewed on SS102fm here).

From the diocesan website:

Canon Kearon is Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, a position he has held since 2005. Born in 1953, he is a native of Dublin. Educated at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), he served his curacy in All Saints Raheny and St John's Coolock, before becoming Dean of Residence at TCD in 1984, a position he held until 1990. He was Rector of the Parish of Tullow (Dublin) from 1991 to 1999 after which he became Director of the Irish School of Ecumenics (1999-2005). Dr Kearon is a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral Dublin and an Honorary Provincial Canon of Canterbury Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral London and St George's Cathedral Jerusalem. He also has an extenisive list of publications to his name, including "Medical Ethics: An Introduction" published in 1995 by Columba press.

Our new Bishop elect is married to Jennifer and they have three adult daughters: Gillian who lives and works in New Zealand, Rachel and Alison, both of whom live and work in Ireland.  

The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin, said, 'Canon Kearon has expressed his delight at returning to work in Ireland and his intention to serve the people of Limerick and Killaloe and the communities of which they are a part. I have known Canon Kearon for many years and have always appreciated his personal friendship. I wish Kenneth and Jennifer all that is best within the love of God in their time in Limerick and Killaloe.'

The bishop-elect said: 'I am honoured and delighted to have been elected to the Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe, and I look forward to getting to know the diocese, its people and its clergy well in the near future. Ireland has been through a very difficult period in its history, and I look forward to helping the diocese play its part and making its contribution to shaping the future. This diocese has made a distinctive contribution to the Church of Ireland in the past, in part through the work of its bishops and most recently through Bishop Trevor Williams, and I hope to be able to continue in their footsteps.

There are still some procedures to be completed, including the formal approval of the House of Bishops, so there is, as yet, no date set for the consecration. Nevertheless we look forward to welcoming our Dr. & Mrs Kearnon as Bishop Kenneth and Jennifer to their new home amongst us here in the Mid-West of Ireland and offer our prayerfull support as they prepare for the upheaval of moving."

We welcome the new bishop-elect and his family to Shannon side and perhaps look forward to inviting him on the programme at some future date.

Update:

Comments from Bishop Brendan Leahy on the election news.