17.01.2022
Zion parishioners bid fond farewell to departing Rector
The Revd Stephen Farrell will be installed as Dean of Ossory on February 1
Parishioners of Zion bade a “glorious” farewell to their Rector on Sunday January 16. The Revd Stephen Farrell has been appointed Dean of Ossory and Rector of Kilkenny Union and he and his wife Laura and their daughters are embarking on a new adventure after almost 11 years in the south Dublin parish.
In his final sermon, Stephen said it had been a privilege to be part of the Zion parish family. He said they had welcomed he and Laura with open hearts, rejoiced with them over the arrival of their daughters and supported them in times of need.
He thanked all the people of the parish for the roles they play and the select vestry for the way in which they labour together. “Parish life here is taken seriously,” he commented. “But you have not forgotten that joy is part of Christian life.” He had also loved being involved in the life of the parish national school and said he would miss the pupils of Zion and looked forward to seeing all the glorious things they do in the future. Similarly he had appreciated the links nurtured between the parish and the High School.
“As a family our sadness at leaving is exacerbated by having to move house but tempered with a growing sense of excitement for the future. For our future and for Zion’s,” he said. “The parish will boldly continue to live out the plans God has for it. Please know to take to heart how special this place is and continue to grow. Go out and tell others the good news we have to share and that this is a community to which everyone can belong.”
He added: “Please pray for us as we step out into the unknown. Laura and I feel like we have grown up here. We are leaving home. We are leaving home with a huge sense of gratitude.”
Speaking on behalf of the parishioners of Zion, Brian Hunt said Stephen had brought many ‘firsts’ to Zion. He said that the biggest change was the arrival of their beautiful children and he added that Laura had been a huge part of the parish. He praised Stephen’s willingness to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in. In recent times, Brian said he had excelled in lockdown with online services, virtual wine tastings and ‘walk and talk’ time for parishioners.
“You have influenced the parish in so many ways. You have modernised worship with the message of God still coming through,” he said.
Diocesan reader and former parish administrator Margaret Healion said Stephen had brought spiritual movement and growth the many people and working with him had been incredible fun. “You have shown that faith isn’t remote from the condition of human life. There have been profoundly moving times. We value tradition and you have kept and encouraged that,” she said.
Laura Farrell thanked the parishioners for their kindness and agreed that they had grown up in Zion. “I am so grateful to everyone for the sense of community, of family, of love and belonging. And I thank Stephen for bringing me on this first adventure and the next one,” she said.
