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Bishop Anthony Farquhar welcomes the new Parish
Priest of Blaris, the Very Rev Dermot McCaughan. The
picture was taken at a Service of Installation in St
Patrick�s Church last Friday night (3rd November)
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Pictured at a Service of Installation in St Patrick�s
Church last Friday night (3rd November) are L to R:
(front row) Bishop Anthony Farquhar, Mayor - Councillor
Trevor Lunn, Mayoress - Mrs Laureen Lunn and the new
Parish Priest of Blaris - Very Rev Dermot McCaughan.
(back row) Rev Edward McGee - Assistant Priest,
Councillor - Peter O�Hagan and the Rev Eamon Magorrian -
Curate.
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At a Service of Installation in St Patrick�s Church, Lisburn
last Friday night (3rd November), the Most Rev Bishop Anthony
Farquhar, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor, installed the
Very Rev Dermot McCaughan as the new Parish Priest of Blaris.
Bishop Farquhar led the service assisted by the Rev Edward McGee
- Assistant Priest and the Rev Eamon Magorrian - Curate. The
Bishop welcomed the large congregation, parishioners from his
former parish, visiting clergy, and guests and in particular the
Mayor - Councillor Trevor Lunn and the Mayoress - Mrs Laureen
Lunn.
Louis McVeigh on organ and the choir sang anthems including
�Sanctus� and �Agnus Dei�, �Great amen� and �Mozart�s Ave Verum�.
The congregational hymns were �Be thou my vision� and �Holy God
we praise thy name�. The St Patrick�s Folk Group also sang and
played several items of worship and also joined in the
congregational praise. Bible readings were by Nan Neill and
Maria McDonald. Lily McCoy, Marie Fay and Councillor � Peter
O�Hagan led the prayers of intercession.
In his address the Bishop spoke about transition and the changes
of moving on from age to age. Speaking about the expectation
that parishioners have of a new parish priest, he explained that
their new priest was not really someone unknown to them and
pointed out the qualities that he knew Fr Dermot would bring to
his new parish. The Bishop wished Fr Dermot every pastoral award
and emphasising the need for loyalty to prayer and faith, he
assured him that he would receive much support in his new parish
of Blaris.
Some members of St Patrick�s Folk Group who sang and
played at a Service of Installation in St Patrick�s
Church last Friday night (3rd November).
In his response, Fr Dermot said that he felt
humbled at the large crown present saying that he was extremely
grateful to everyone for sharing the evening with him. He spoke
of how his life had been changed as the result of an invitation
to visit the Bishop on 25th July and the suspense of knowing
that his 12 years at Hannahstown and Stoneyford would be over.
He thanked the members of Hannahstown parish for the great times
he had there since his installation in 1994. Explaining that,
�change is never easy� Fr Dermot spoke of his move to Blaris
Parish (which includes the churches at Lisburn, Magheramesk,
Magheragall and Hillsborough) and recalled how he was made to
feel �genuinely very welcome� and how he had been heartened by
the �encouragement, goodwill and generosity� of everyone. He
also spoke of the welcome he received at the Island Civic Centre
as the guest of the Mayor and Mayoress. Fr Dermot concluded by
thanking everyone who took part in his Installation Service
including the organist, choir, folk group, readers, flower
arranger and in particular the Bishop who conducted the service.
Refreshments were served in the Parochial Hall after the
service.
06/11/2006
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