01.03.2016
Canon Roy Byrne ‘Accepts Leap Year Proposal’ from Monkstown Parish as New Chapter Begins for Both
Leap Year Day 2016 saw the start of a new relationship between the people of the Parish of Monkstown and their new Rector. Canon Roy Byrne was instituted as Incumbent by Archbishop Michael Jackson in Monkstown Parish Church last night (Monday February 29).
Canon Byrne came to Monkstown on an ‘internal transfer’, as the Archbishop put it, having been Rector of Drumcondra and North Strand. He is a native of Clondalkin and a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral and the large congregation that gathered to wish him well reflected these different facets of his ministry. Large numbers of his clerical colleagues joined parishioners as did pupils of St Columba’s National School in North Strand to mark his move to the Southside.
Heralding the start of a new chapter for Canon Byrne and the Parish of Monkstown, Canon Aisling Shine said she believed the Holy Spirit had led the people of Monkstown and Roy to a good decision. In her sermon, Canon Shine, who is attached to the Parish of Drumcondra and North Strand, described her former parish colleague as a good pastor at many different levels. But she said the people of Monkstown were not getting a saint (which she suggested would be very hard to live with) as their new Rector had a great sense of humour and fun.
The preacher wondered what it was about the Parish of Monkstown that had attracted not one but two Rectors from Drumcondra and North Strand, so she Googled the parish. She noted that at the top of the parish’s homepage was their mission statement: ‘May the Holy Spirit inspire us to reach out, encourage, share the Good News of God’s Love and focus on the example of Jesus’.
Suggesting that this raised fresh questions for the people of Monkstown, Canon Shine asked what they would make of their new ministry and what new direction would they take. She said change was exciting and the parishioners had a duty to use their new Rector’s gifts to fulfil their mission.
To the new Rector she said that as he got to know his parishioners over the coming months he would know that he had been called by God to carry them in his heart. Traditionally February 29 is when men can be proposed to and Canon Shine concluded: “Roy, Monkstown has proposed to you and you have accepted. This new relationship begins tonight”.
A reception followed the service in the Knox Hall. There Rural Dean, the Revd Ian Gallagher, thanked all who had helped out in the parish during the vacancy which arose following the retirement of Canon Patrick Lawrence. He thanked former Archdeacon of Dublin, Gordon Linney, for taking the majority of the services and paid tribute to the parish administrator, Liz Neill–Watson.
Secretary of the select vestry, Roger Kirker, welcomed Canon Byrne to the parish. He said that over the years Rectors had served for periods ranging from six to 35 years and hoped he would be there for sometime in between.
Archbishop Jackson said Canon Byrne was well known in the dioceses and had obtained significant experience in both parish ministry and in the diocesan cathedral. He said he had vitality and compassion and said the parishioners of Monkstown would enjoy his company as much as he would theirs. He recalled the previous Rector and thanked Canon Lawrence for his faithfulness and integrity and his meticulous way of doing things.
Roy thanked his friend and colleague, Canon Shine, for her sermon. He said he was delighted to see people from all over Ireland and thanked them for their friendship over the years. He praised the parishioners of Monkstown for the hard work they had put in behind the scenes in preparation for the evening.
Photo captions:
Top – Archdeacon David Pierpoint, Canon Aisling Shine, Canon Roy Byrne, Archbishop Michael Jackson and the Revd Stephen Farrell.
Middle – Canon Roy Byrne and his mother Heather.
Bottom – The Service of Institution in Monkstown Parish Church.