Two new Readers for Midi-Pyrénées and Aude

Canon Hawkin presents Clive and Janet to be admitted to the office of Reader
Some of our French "parishes" cover a geographic area that larger than Wales. One of those is the Chaplaincy of Midi-Pyrénées and Aude which serves Anglicans and English-speaking Christians in a vast area in the South West of France, from just below Limoges to the border with Spain and Andorra. The English-speaking population is well over 100,000. Regular services are held in 7 locations across the pastoral area.

The pastoral area of Midi-Pyrénées and Aude
The Chaplain is the Revd Canon Andrew Hawken and the Assistant Chaplain is the Revd June Hutchinson. They are assisted by a larger team of about 6 priests with Permission to Officiate. Essential to the ministry team, as in so many other places in the Diocese, are Licensed Lay Ministers commonly known as Readers.


Two new Readers were admitted to this office and licensed to serve in the parish during my recent pastoral visit on 28 February, Mrs Janet Varty and Mr Clive Billenness, This brings the number of Readers to 5 in  Midi-Pyrénées and Aude. Janet and Clive recently completed the thorough programme of theological, pastoral, liturgical and homiletic study which takes on average 3 years from the time of their selection for this ministry. It was a joy to admit them to this office and commission them to work with the parish team. This solemn moment of commitment was witnessed by over 130 members of the parish present for the celebration.

New Readers on admission receive a copy of the New Testament, a sign of their authorisation as preachers and teachers of the Faith
Readers are the "lay theologians" in the diocese, equipped and authorised to preach and teach the faith, to lead liturgies of the word, and to share in pastoral duties with the clergy. These Lay Ministers are an integral part of our diocesan life; we now have about 120 with about another 40 in training. Their ministry is often the envy of our ecumenical partners, who, by and large, do not have such an office of authorised lay ministry.

Janet and Clive with their blue "preaching scarves" a further a sign of their office

Comments

  1. Madge6 March 2016 at 11:24

    Delighted to read this and to celebrate the growth of lay leadership in DiE in the next door parish!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Farewell to the Diocese in Europe

Image
Deacon Frances and I packed up our office yesterday and turned over our official files, emails and equipment. Thus a close working together for 22 years comes to an end. So it is hard to believe that today, St David's day, a new chapter begins, after 44 years of stipendiary ministry, 22 years as deacon then priest and 22 as a bishop.  Here are just a few memories from the last couple of months...   But now it is time to begin a new chapter.  O God, by whose command the order of time runs its course: forgive our impatience, perfect our faith and, while we await the fulfilment of your promise, grant us to have a good hope because of your Word,  even Jesus Christ our Lord. (St Gregory Nazianzus, 330 - 390)
Read more

Archbishop of Canterbury's Pentecost Letter: A European Consequence

Image
In his Pentecost letter, the Archbishop of Canterbury warned of certain consequences for provinces of the Anglican Communion which have failed to stand by the three moratoria . (No authorisation of blessings services for same-sex unions; no consecrations of bishops living in same-sex relationships; and no bishop authorising any ministry within the diocese of another bishop without explicit permission). One consequence would be that representatives from such provinces w ould not be able to participate in the formal international interchurch dialogues of the Communion. One of those dialogues is the Anglican-Old Catholic International Co-ordinating Council ( AOCICC ), the official instrument set up to deepen the relationship of communion established in 1931 between the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht . As the member Churches of the Union of Utrecht are all European, the AOCICC is effectively a European body. (I am one of the members, appointe
Read more

Advent in Helsinki: Mary, the Church's calling, and the One who brings us out of darkness to light

Image
Outside the Cathedral in Helsinki Yesterday, 8 December, was a very full Advent day, with activities redolent of the themes of the season. It was, of course, the Feast of the [Immaculate] Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary when we contemplate the mystery of the one who was prepared, through grace, to become the Mother of the Redeemer.  At the Vallila Help Centre (above, with Coordinator Eeva and Fr Tuomas) St Ambrose of Milan (whose feast we also celebrated this past week) was the first to refer to the Blessed Virgin as the Mother of the Church,  Mater Ecclesiae,  a title which helps us consider not only her role in giving birth to the Redeemer from whom the Church itself was born, but also how in her own life she responded to God's call in faith and love, as the Church today is also called to respond to the needs of the world.  It was with this in mind that I was so moved by a visit to the Ukraine Vallila Help Centre, a project supported by USPG and this diocese, which provides
Read more