Preparations are well underway for the annual Big Breakfast & Fun Day, which takes place this Saturday at St Lurach’s Hall, Maghera.
The famous Breakfast will be available from 8am, with fun and games for young and old outside starting at 10am. With face painting, races and big games, fun events like the lucky dip, and of course the giant bouncy slide the whole family are guaranteed a great morning’s fun.
If you would like to find out more, contact us at the office (where we’ll all be concentrating hard on counting the number of sweets in a jar…)
The decision to close the services of the accident and emergency department of the Mid Ulster Hospital so suddenly is something which has shocked and disgusted the local communities of South Derry and East Tyrone.
The Mid Ulster Hospital has served the needs of this community well for generations and should be classed as an asset and be developed rather than down-graded. It is heart breaking to see what once was active medical wards now being used as office and storage space. With the increasing numbers of people having to wait ludicrously long hours in Antrim Area Hospital Accident and Emergency, and in some cases critically ill people having to wait on trolleys for up to and over 24 hours for admission to a ward. Surely it would make more sense for the Minister of Health and Social Services, Michael McGimpsey MLA, to invest in hospitals such as the Mid Ulster Hospital instead of moving to remove services from these assets.
We at St. Lurach’s (Maghera) and Killelagh (Swatragh) Parish Churches wish to add our voice to the vast number of people who have already spoken out and signed petitions in protest against the closure of our local hospital.
The select vestries of Maghera and Killelagh have both recently elected their officers and Select Vestries for the incoming term.
The Select Vestry for each Parish in the Church of Ireland is elected at the annual Easter Vestry meeting, which the whole church community is invited to attend and hear reports on the churches finances and affairs. When elected, the Select Vestry is responsible for management of the 3 ‘F’s - Finance, Fabric and Furnishings within the Parish.
A full and updated list for each vestry, along with all other Parish officers, can be found on our “Who’s Who” page of the main website.
Maghera Parish Caring Association, linked to the Parishes of Maghera and Killelagh in the diocese of Derry and Raphoe have been awarded substantial funding by the International Fund for Ireland. The grant will enable the employment of three full time staff, delivery of community programmes, and a substantial refurbishment of the parish centre. The development of new initiatives will benefit everything from peacebuilding, youth work, and senior citizens work, to the provision of shared public spaces in Maghera.
The Strategic Plan and funding application were prepared during the time of Rev Robert Miller as Rector. Robert left Maghera to take up a new post as Rector in Londonderry in January 2010. He attributed the success in achieving funding to a team effort in the parish. He also added, “We are grateful to cross-community political support given to the work of Maghera Caring Association”.
Rev Mark Lennox is currently Community Outreach Officer for the Maghera Parish Caring Association. He commented, “The initiatives enabled by this grant funding come in line with the diocesan commitment to Transforming Community Radiating Christ. We feel a sense of excitement at what God is going to do through these new initiatives”.
Commenting on the award to Maghera Bishop Good said, “The parish of Maghera has a proven track record of engagement with the wider community. I warmly welcome the decision of the International Fund for Ireland and am confident that the community will be enriched by the work that will flow from this project”.
Adapted from the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Website.
Saturday 6th March saw the MPCA cross-community intergenerational outing to the Somme Heritage Centre, Newtownards.
Following on the previous success of our World War II night last year (run in conjunction with Mullagh Court) our group had an enjoyable afternoon travelling back in time to wartime 1916. Starting in Moneymore at the outbreak of war, the group were led through recruitment, training, and finally shipped off to the recreated trenches of the Somme.
If you would like to find out more about future MPCA events and outings, you can e-mail info@magheraparish.co.uk or contact the MPCA office - contact details here. You can also read more about the work of Maghera Parish Caring Association in the MPCA section of our website.
