WELCOME
Welcome to the Cashel, Ferns, Ossory Mothers' Union website. The website will carry news, articles and photographs of Mothers' Union events throughout the United Diocese and also All-Ireland news.
The website will be regularly updated and if any Branch wishes to have an event, article or photograph published on the website please forward it to our Diocesan Secretary, Margaret Jacob. Email: cfomothersunion@gmail.com
Please ensure that you have permission from any person who is going to be named in a photograph before sending it in to appear on the website.
All photographs and articles will remain copyright of the website and may not be copied. (See the Data Protection statement at the bottom of the Home Page)
Also please join our facebook page for all the latest news and daily reflections.
CONTACT DETAILS
Cashel, Ferns, Ossory
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Secretary: Margaret Jacob
News Updates
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If you would like to advertise an event on the Spinner please contact The Diocesan Secretary, Margaret Jacob.
(Contact details are available on the home page)
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Latest News
Annual Gathering 2022
The Mothers’ Union Annual Gathering 2022 will take place at the Waterfront Hall, part of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in the city of Belfast on the following dates: 23rd and 24th September 2022.
In 2022, the Mothers' Union annual theme is Transformation – Now! and this will be the focus of our time together.
The programme will be as follows:
Friday 23rd September:
4.30 pm & 7.00 pm: Services of Celebration, St Anne’s Cathedral
Saturday 24th September:
10.15 am – 3.45 pm: Annual Gathering, Waterfront Hall (doors open from 9.30am)
7.30 pm – 8.45 pm: Evening Concert, Waterfront Hall (doors open from 7.00pm)
Click HERE to bring you to the dedicated webpage and to book tickets for the events.
Lesley Bayley
The Diocesan President of
Cashel, Ferns, Ossory Mothers' Union
Theme for 2022 ~ Transformation - Now!
A Letter from the Diocesan President ~ Lesley Bayley
Dear fellow members,
At our recent Spring Council, in Carlow, we re-launched the ‘Thursdays in Black’ campaign, which had fallen somewhat by the wayside during the constant lockdowns of COVID-19.
For those who may not be aware of the campaign Thursdays in Black originally came about through the World Council of Churches’ Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women (1988–1998), in which the stories of rape as a weapon of war, gender injustice, abuse, violence, and many tragedies that grow outward from such violence became all the more visible.
In every country, gender-based violence is a tragic reality. This violence is frequently hidden, and victims are often silent, fearing stigma and further violence. We all have a responsibility to speak out against violence, to ensure that women and men, boys and girls, are safe from rape and violence in homes, schools, work, streets – in all places in our societies.
The campaign is simple but profound. Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence. Show your respect for women who are resilient in the face of injustice and violence, and encourage others to join you.
As part of our on-going advocacy every Thursday we will feature a member of MU on our Facebook page, as they explain why they support the campaign. To start with the Diocesan Trustees are taking turns, but in the coming weeks I will be contacting all branches looking for volunteers to add their support and send me their thoughts and photos too.
Take care and enjoy the summer,
Lesley xxx
P.S. This month we hear from our Diocesan Chaplain, Revd. Canon Ian Cruickshank
I became a member of the Mothers’ Union in 2003 while attending the church of Ireland theological college. I knew of the Mothers’ Union through the various activities they were involved in at parish level in my home church of Magheralin & Dollingstown, but when we the All-Ireland president came to talk to us about the Mothers’ Union I was struck by two things.
Firstly, as well as the activities I was aware of at parish level I had little idea of the number of other actions, programmes they were involved in, both in Ireland and worldwide. Activities that are having a profound effect on individuals and communities.
Secondly that you didn’t have to be a mother to be a member of the Mothers’ Union, in fact you didn’t need to be female, men could also join. I felt that this was something a lot of people didn’t realise which could be a simple misunderstanding preventing some people getting involved. The simplest way I could think of the show you neither need to be a mother or female to join the Mothers’ Union was for me to join, so I did.
For me two aspects of the Mothers’ Union that stand out is prayer and the knack of being there in the time of peoples need, drawing alongside to offer assistance. One occasion that stands out was a trip to a major refugee camp in South Sudan. There were in the region of seventy thousand men women and children living in the camp which had been in existence for five years. Along with the schools, a market area, and churches there was in place a thriving Mothers’ Union. I am thankful and excited to see how the future of the Mothers’ Union will unfold.
Canon Ian
Click on the image above too view the service for
Global Day 2021
Click on the image above to download the
June 2022 Newsletter
The Latest edition of Focus is available to download
on our "Publications Page"
Click on the image above to bring you to the page.
Mothers' Union Video
Click on the Mothers' Union emblem below to see the video highlighting the work of Mothers' Union which was filmed at the Triennial Conference in Termonfeckin in March 2017
The video features members of Mothers' Union from around Ireland telling all about the organisation and the many different projects supported by Mothers' Union both here at home and in Third World Countries.
One of the clips features our very own Joan Blake who can be seen knitting a matinee jacket and talking about the Mothers' Union Knitting Project
Below also is a link to the main Mothers' Union
Facebook Page
The All-Ireland Facebook Pages
Click on the image below to bring you to the
All-Ireland You Tube Channel
Cards & Gifts
Available from
* MU Enterprise *
Phyllis Foot currently has Easter cards available to purchase plus cards to suit many other occasions. Please contact
Click on the image to bring you to a page dedicated to Mums in May on The All-Ireland website
Prayer Diary 2022
Click on the image above to download the
Prayer Diary for 2022
Celebrating 70 years as MU Members
Congratulations to Ruth Hamilton and Nora Hanbidge on the occasion of their 70 years membership of Kiltegan / Hacketstown Mothers' Union.
Both have been very active members over the years and we are very proud they have reached this milestone!
Christ Church Cathedral
Dublin
Mothers’ Union Holy Communion Service
Thursday 7th April 2022
The next Mothers' Union service will take place in Christ Church Cathedral on Thursday 7th April 2022, at 11.15am.
Cashel, Ferns & Ossory / Connor
It is hoped that the service will be available to view on the Live Strea Channel and it will also be uploaded (if possible) on to the Mothers' Union Youtube channel.
June's Walk in Kilkenny
June Butler's first walk in the Diocese took place in Kilkenny on Thursday 8th June. We are very grateful to Florrie Carter and her team in Kilkenny Mothers' Union for all of the time and effort they put in to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Those participating enjoyed a lovely walk over the new bridge, by the river and on to the Castle Grounds before returning to the cathedral. Pat Nolan accompanied us on the walk giving an interesting account of all of the historical areas we passed. Sam Harper met up with us en route and provided same lovely ice-cream for refreshments. Some of the walkers had other commitments and were unable to continue on the walk but eight completed it. We were delighted that Bishop Michael Burrows was able to join us for the walk too.
Our thanks to the ladies from Kilkenny MU for all of the hospitality they provided both before and after the walk.
June thanked everyone for their support and welcome to Kilkenny. Florrie Carter, Branch leader, presented June with a small token to mark her visit to Kilkenny.
June's Second Walk ~ Tintern Abbey
June Butler's second walk in CFO took place on Monday 12th July at Tintern Abbey near Saltmills in Co. Wexford. The weather forecast for the morning was miserable but thankfully it turned out to be fine and a lovely day for walking. It was wonderful to meet up with so many members before eight set off to complete one of the longer walks through the woods.
June was delighted to meet up with Bea Thorpe in the walled gardens and have a chat with her. Three ladies set off with June to complete a further two kilometers so as to achieve her 7km target on each walk. When we arrived back in the car park we met up with Anne Barrett, a former All-Ireland President, and our own Phyllis Grothier, who was the previous All-Ireland President, was also present.
Our thanks to Olive Thorpe for her work in arranging the walk and to everyone who attended Tintern Abbey on the day.
Walk No. 3 in Cashel, Ferns, Ossory
June's third walk in Cashel, Ferns, Ossory, the final walk of her series for Mums in May 2021, took place on Tuesday 26th October. The venue for the walk was the Railway Walk in Tinahely. We were delighted that many from the Diocese were able to attend as well as Sylvia Wheatley (Diocesan President of Meath & Kildare) with some of her family and also the All-Ireland Treasurer, Revd. Ken Rue. June began by thanking everyone for coming to join her on the walk and Revd. Rue led us in prayer. Lesley Bayley, Diocesan President of CFO, also welcomed June to Tinahely for her final walk before a group headed off on the walk led by local MU member, Hazel Stedman.
Four walkers completed just over 7kms with June through a lovely tranquil area of woodland and admiring the lovely autumnal colours of the trees. They met up with those who had completed a shorter walk on their return to the car park. A group then adjourned to the D'Lish Cafe in Tinahely for lunch.
A large number of members from Cashel, Ferns and Ossory and friends enjoyed a lovely afternoon in Rathwood on Friday 3rd June. They enjoyed a delicious "Afternoon Tea" and it was a wonderful occasion for everyone to meet up for a chat too. The afternoon was organised by our Diocesan President, Lesley Bayley, not only to celebrate the Platinum Jublilee of our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2, but also to raise much needed funds for our Diocesan Projects. Thank you Lesley for all of the thought and effort you put in to all of the activities for Mothers' Union in the Diocese.
The Diocese has also been busy providing much needed support to a Ukranian family who are being rehoused in Enniscorthy. Members have also been knitting and sewing fiddle sleeves and blankets at the request of a nursing home in Kilkenny. These are used with patients who are suffering from dementia and a request came to Mothers' Union to see if we could provide a supply for patients in the nursing home.
Competition Time & Mums in May 2021
Throughout the last year All-Ireland Mothers' Union has organised many different competitions to challenge members creativity. The results of all of these competitiones may be found on the "Competition" page of the All-Irealnd website. Click on the link below to bring you to this web page.
We are delighted that two members from Cashel, Ferns & Ossory received Highly Commended for their mascots in the Mascot Competition~ Dorothy Langley from Cashel Mothers' Union and Joan Blake from Ballycanew, Leskinfere & Monamolin Mothers' Union. You can view pictures of their entries below and pictures of all of the entries on the All-Ireland website.
Congratulations to Phyllis Grothier from Tullow Branch who won first prize for the Prayer she composed and to The Very Revd. Tom Gordon who got Highly Commended for his Hymn. All of the prize winning hymns and prayers are on the All-Ireland website
There is a dedicated page for Mums in May 2021 on the All-Ireland website and it will document all of the various fundraising events as well as June's walk ~ "21 in 21" Click on the link below to bring you to the webpage.
Hymn by The Very Revd. Tom Gordon
Leighlin Branch
God who is Father of infinite goodness,
God who is Mother and called us to birth,
God, who in Christ, broke the chains that had bound us,
Freed us for kindness, for joy and for mirth
God of all tenderness. God of all tendernessGrace overflowing which reaches to all.Bread for our hunger, rich wine at your banquet,Each has a place who responds to your call.
God who is Spirit, expectant before you,
Raise from our brokenness beauty and love.
From the dry bones of our sin and divisions,
Mould us in gentleness born from above. Refrain.
Break through the times when we limit your mercies.
Rise like the sun beaming measureless grace.
Help us with joy to proclaim love’s endeavour -
All now are welcome in Jesus’ embrace. Refrain.
Tune: To the Hymn Great is the Faithfulness
Winning Prayer ~ Phyllis Grothier
Tullow Branch
Loving Lord, I bring my prayer to you through faith in your love and mercy.
Father forgive and help me to do better: for the times when I cause hurt either through my words or actions; when I do not recognise you in the face of my neighbour, when I see another human being as different or of less value. Teach me to show love and mercy.
Father forgive and help me to do better: for the times when I see need and do not respond, hear hurtful words and do not call them out, am deaf to the cries of the hungry, hurt and abused. Teach me to show love and mercy.
Father forgive and help me to do better; for the times when I treat your creation as a personal possession rather than a fragile resource to be nurtured and valued . Teach me to show love and mercy.
Teach me to remember always that, while faith, hope and love abide, the greatest of these is love. Inspire me with the confidence to live this truth in my daily life both in word and action, knowing that all I am or can be is based on the strong foundation of God’s saving love. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen
Getting to know our Founder In Ireland
Annabella Hayes
1847 – 1921
Mothers’ Union was founded in Raheny, Dublin in 1887 by Mrs Annabella Hayes. As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of her death, let’s learn a little more about our founder.
Canon and Mrs Hayes liked to travel and visited Norway, Switzerland and Canada. After their daughter Marie's untimely death in Delhi in 1908 aged 33, they travelled to Delhi to visit the hospital where Marie had worked for the previous three years and to meet people she had worked with. Later Annabella edited and published letters which Marie had written to home. Marie's final letter, sadly, arrived some weeks after the fateful telegram giving news of her death had been received in Raheny. The Hayes memorial cross in Raheny village was erected some years later.
Annabella was born in Dublin in 1847, the daughter of Thomas Edkins Willson of Upper Mount Street. In December 1866 she married the Reverend Francis Carlile Hayes who was then curate in Sandford Parish Church. She was nineteen years old and he was twenty-eight.
In 1867 he was appointed curate of St. Andrew's Church, Suffolk Street, and their first child, Ernest William Carlile Hayes, was born in February 1868. In 1873, Sir Arthur Edward Guinness (later Lord Ardilaun) appointed him Rector of Raheny Parish and he and Annabella moved to the Glebe House where they were to remain for the next forty-five years.
Their second child, Marie Elizabeth (always known as May) was born in May1874, and in April 1878 her sister Ethel Clara Ridley was born. A boy, Maurice, was born in 1886 but sadly died in infancy. Ernest went to school at St.Columba's and an English governess, Connie Gibbs of Willesden, was appointed to look after the education of the two girls.
In 1887 Annabella Hayes set up the first branch of the Mothers' Union in Raheny, inspired by what Mary Sumner had done in England eleven years before. Little did either of them know that in the twenty-first century world-wide membership of M.U would have grown to over four million.
Francis and Annabella were still in the Raheny Rectory when they celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1916. Canon Hayes retired in 1918 and he and Annabella moved to 12 Northbrook Road which was apparently owned by Francis since his days at St. Andrew's. Annabella survived a bad bout of 'flu shortly after they moved, but was taken ill again about a year later. She was diagnosed with liver cancer and died at home on the 7th February 1921.
Annabella was buried in St. Fintan's Cemetery in Sutton and her headstone (and that of Francis) stands at the highest point of the Cemetery. It is, however, not made of stone but of wood - teak, and despite its having stood there for 100 years there is absolutely no sign of decay in the timber. Mothers’ Union in Ireland had planned to do some restorative work to her gravesite during 2021 but has been put on hold because of Covid 19 restrictions.
Annabella was 74 when she died on 7th February 1921 and Francis was 94 when he died on 12th December 1931.
Click on the photograph of Annabella to bring you to a dedicated page
on the All-Ireland Website covering the centenery celebrations.
Mother's Union at Synod 2019
Many members from the Diocese attended the General Synod in the Millennium Forum, Derry/Londonderry, 16th – 18th May. Some of our members appear in the picture on the left at the Mothers' Union stand at Synod, along with the All-Ireland President, June Butler. The Mothers' Union stand is always very popular and does a great deal to promote the work of Mothers' Union at home and abroad.
We were delighted that our website was awarded the runners-up prize for websites in "The Affiliated Associations" section. Lesley Bayley, our Diocesan President, was present at a function in The Guild Hall to collect the award.
The winning website in this section was Dublin/Glendalough Mothers' Union.
The judges had the following to say about the website:
‘… a website packed with information about the work of the Mother’s Union. It is kept up to date and gives a good sense of the identity and the work of the organisation.’
PRAYER FOR MULOA
We pray that our God will make us fit for what he’s called us to be,
that he’ll fill our good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy
so that it all amounts to something.
As our lives honour the name of Jesus,
may he honour us, by his grace; our God giving himself freely,
the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely. Amen
Based on 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (The Message)
MULOA is a new initiative from Mothers' Union
which aims to look at Mothers' Union going forward.
You will be hearing a lot about it at Branch Level in the coming months.
Click on the MULOA symbol to see a short video about this initiative.
Mothers' Union Theme 2022
Transformation - Now!
Charity Number:
Republic of Ireland:
Mothers’ Union in Ireland is recognised as a Charity by the Revenue Commissioners, 5161.
Mothers’ Union in Ireland is recognised as a Charity by the Revenue Commissioners, 5161.
Registered Charity Number - 20007331 (Charities Regulatory Authority).
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