Bishop's visit to Mayo parishes will support literacy projects

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 Mayo to Kerry and includes parts of Offaly and Tipperary.

It covers over a third of the area of the island of Ireland and has nearly 100 churches.

Bishop Michael is an organist, and his 'tour' will involve him joining with congregations to play the organ, harmonium or piano in each of the churches in the diocese. For churches where there is no available instrument, he will bring along a keyboard.

Bishop Michael's 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. This focus is to combat the poverty cycle through education.

As he points out: “Investing in education of women has a consequence in terms of benefits for the whole family. In many countries women still have to struggle for the sort of transformative educational opportunities that are simply taken for granted here.”

The peregrinations will be taking place over two weeks between November 12 and December 1, with a tight programme involving many different churches each day. The bishop is looking forward to meeting as many people as he can and to raising funds for these worthwhile projects.

The bishop will be visiting churches in Mayo on November 27 and 28.

The November 27 itinerary is: Easkey 10 a.m., Kilglass 11 a.m., Killanley 12 noon, Ballina 1 p.m., Killala Cathedral 3.15 p.m., Ballycastle 4.15 p.m. and Crossmolina 5.30 p.m.

November 28: Turlough 10 a.m., Castlebar 11 a.m., Westport 12.15 p.m., Knappagh 2 p.m., Aasleagh 3.15 p.m., before moving on to Moyard, Clifden, Errislannan and Roundstone.

Bishop Michael talks about his planned peregrination here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrPXLCfx6sk.