Anniversaries and Birthdays

I recently had a week of annual leave and, while I didn’t travel very far, it gave me the opportunity to mark a few special anniversaries and birthdays.

On 9th June 1996, I was ordained deacon in Dromore Cathedral. My year had hoped to mark our 25th anniversary of ordination by getting together but, due to Covid 19, we were unable to do so. Quite a number of us managed to get together in Armagh on 10th June. We had a lovely service of Holy Communion at which the Bishop of Cork, Right Reverend Paul Colton, presided and preached.

In his thoughtful sermon, he reflected on many of the societal changes over the 28 years we have been in Holy Orders. Everything, from the advent of the mobile phone, to the rise of social media. He spoke of tumultuous world events like 9/11, Brexit, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and in many other places around the globe. He spoke of the pandemic and how, throughout those times, the Church, though diminishing in influence in society in the Western World, has been a constant presence in people’s lives and continues to be there, even when people are often turning their attention elsewhere.

He spoke about the richness of the pastoral ministry, walking alongside people in the best of times and the worst of times, and the ordinariness of so much of what we do. Visiting in people’s homes, in hospitals and schools. Yet, in those ordinary places and people, there is so much to be learned of God and His presence, despite at times feeling his absence in the places of pain and suffering . The Dean of Armagh, who put together the order of service, had found some old photos of our year group, including one in this blog from 1996, the year we were all ordained. Some of our number are now retired, or have left the ministry for other spheres of service. Some have lived through serious health challenges and experienced ministry in a whole variety of settings, north and south of the border, through serving as chaplains to the armed forces, in the Church of England and the Church of Wales.

The great sense, as we got together for a few hours and reminisced about our time together in formation and training, was one of thanksgiving. We were grateful to God for the chance to serve in his church and for each other in all of our diversity and all the people and experiences we had shared over the years. There was an appreciation for the capacity to keep going, even in the difficult times, and find reserves from God, from family and friends to meet the joys and sorrows of each day.

I also had the opportunity in this week to travel to my Mum’s home in Co. Laois and celebrate her birthday with my brother, who was over from England. It’s not that often we all manage to be in the same room at the same time these days and it was special to mark this special day. My brother and I are always made to feel like rock stars when we go to her neighbourhood restaurant, where she is well known and treated with great kindness and love. As we both live quite far away, we are constantly moved by the kindness and support of her neighbours and friends who call regularly and ensure that she has anything she needs in terms of shopping or prescriptions, and it felt very special to be there to celebrate and be together.

I received a lovely email also this week telling me that one of my great mentors, the Reverend Stephen Brook, was celebrating his 80th birthday. Stephen was my rector when I lived in Portugal for a couple of years in my early 20’s. Besides my own parents, I don’t think anyone has had such a significant influence on my life as Stephen and his wife, Stella, and their family. They provided a home away from home whenever I needed it and, watching the way they ministered in a very challenging and discouraging church situation so faithfully, was an enormous lesson to me about perseverance and humble service.

They are having an open house today in their home in England to invite people who have known them over the years to spend some time to celebrate the memories. While I can’t go in person, I hope to speak on the phone with him and, in this week’s podcast, I share a little bit about how this remarkable, yet unassuming man, touched my life so profoundly.

When I think about anniversaries and birthdays, I feel very thankful for the ones I got to observe in this past while. Anniversaries and birthdays can also be very painful times, especially when those people are no longer with us. In the next few weeks I will be marking one of those and, while I feel that loss deeply, there is a sense of gratitude for all that was shared and the hope that we will meet again on another shore.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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