24.10.2024
‘United in our common faith’ – Athy Union Celebrates Twinning with Kondoa in Tanzania
Last weekend saw the beginning of a new partnership between the Athy Union of Parishes in the Diocese of Glendalough and the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania. Bishop Given Gaula and the Revd Conor O’Reilly formally inaugurated their new twinning relationship on Sunday (October 20) following an African Gospel Evening in St Michael’s Church, Athy, on Saturday.
The Gospel Evening brought participants on a cultural journey of discovery of some aspects of African Christian spirituality through songs and short stories. The evening was a wonderful spirit–filled occasion, the Rector said, adding that it was greatly enhanced by the Bishop of Kondoa who addressed the audience at the end.
The following morning Bishop Gaula preached a thought provoking sermon in which he spoke about his experience of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to those in his diocese who had not heard it before. The Church in his dioceses is experiencing rapid growth. The Revd Conor O’Reilly stated that “this was greatly encouraging to hear, and is a reminder to us here in an Irish context not to be overly–myopic in assuming that the Christian faith is in overall decline.”
After the formal inauguration of their twinned relationship, Revd Conor stated “I greatly look forward to developing this relationship and to making a pastoral visit to Tanzania in the near future as part of this new relationship. I was grateful to be formally invited to visit by Bishop Gaula today. May God bless this new venture and may the Holy Spirit guide us as we forge a mutually beneficial relationship between us”.
Archbishop Michael Jackson sent greetings to the parish and welcomed Bishop Gaula to Dublin and Glendalough. “Bishop Gaula is in Athy to mark and to celebrate a parish partnership with three parishes in his own diocese. I am very proud of Athy, Kilberry, Kilkea and Fontstown for enabling this link. It has all the potential to develop understanding within the Anglican Communion and to bring closer together children of God who will meet in circumstances never before possible,” he said. “My prayers and my good wishes are with you all on this day when you inaugurate this partnership. May you be blessed in it and in the fruitful friendships that it will bring about in safety and in peace.”
Revd Conor thanked all who helped organise the weekend including Serge Adido who organised the Gospel Evening, the gospel choir and Oli who looked after the audio–visual presentation. He thanked all who attended and gave so generously to the parish fundraiser.
“It is wonderful that we have such a diverse congregation in Athy, and this is something we should celebrate and be thankful for. While culturally different, we are united in our common faith in Jesus Christ who is the Way, Truth and the Life,” he said.
