St Patrick's re-consecrated and gifts dedicated

On Sunday 28th September 2025, St. Patrick’s Church in Donaghcloney was filled to capacity with Parishioners and Friends who came together to celebrate the completion of re-ordering and 45 years of worship in the current building. Bishop David, along with the Rector, Curate and Diocesan Reader led us through the liturgy. The Organist and Praise group led us in the 5 congregational hymns and sang “I just want to speak the name of Jesus’ and “O the deep deep love of Jesus’ during the administration of Holy Communion. Bishop David preached a very challenging sermon based on Radical Generosity for the sake of the Gospel, using Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian Elders as his text.

In the Evening at 6pm, a large number of Parishioners and Friends gathered for a guest service. The preacher was the Rev. Ian Linton, a close friend of the Rector’s. Rev. Ian challenged the congregation to not just see the returning to St. Patrick’s after a number of weeks worshiping in the Churc Hall as an important event, but to encourage others to follow the example of the Prodical Son and ‘Return to the Father’.

Commenting on the Weekend, the Rector said “It was a truly joyous occassion and I am so thankful to God for the time, talents and dedication of those who worked so hard over the past number of weeks refurbishing the Church. I pray that over the many years to come many people will come through the doors and encounter the Risen Lord Jesus in a real and personal way.”