FERNS ECUMENICAL DAY - THURSDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2025

Rev. Trevor Sargent

BALLYVALOO RETREAT CENTRE, BLACKWATER, CO WEXFORD

Promoters of ecumenical co-operation between church traditions sometimes say,  "let us not do apart what we can do together.” The origin of this expression goes back to the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 1952 when it drafted the Lund Principle at the WCC Third Faith and Order Conference, to reflect a collective will to promote cooperation among all faith traditions.

One important point of common agreement, across many traditions, is that all Christians have a responsibility to ‘let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream’, (Amos 5: 24).

One element of this quest for justice in 2025, in the light of the growing extremes of climate chaos, causing the most vulnerable of God’s children to suffer disproportionately, is climate-justice. This is a crisis in our time, and it WILL  get much worse in future, unless we all act together, and unless we all act ecumenically. All Christians, especially Roman Catholics, have been blessed with the eloquent and encouraging encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ – on Care of our Common Home’ by the late Pope Francis, and Anglicans are charged in the Fifth Mark of Mission, ‘To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth’.

FERNS ECUMENICAL SOCIETY

A promoter of ecumenical relations, in this United Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, is the Ferns Ecumenical Society. Its committee is representative of four Christian traditions at present, Fr James Murphy (Rosslare) of the Roman Catholic Church, Revd Fadzi Jongoro (Gorey) of the Methodist Church, Revd David Curran (Wexford) of the Presbyterian Church, and Revd Trevor Sargent (Bunclody) of the Church of Ireland (Anglican).

INVITATION TO A DAY OF REFLECTION BY THE SEA

The Ferns Ecumenical Society is organising a Quiet Day on Thursday, 16^th October in Ballyvaloo Retreat and Conference Centre (Y21 X392), situated above the picturesque coastline at Blackwater, just north of Curracloe and Ballinesker. Registration is at 11am and €30 covers refreshments, two workshops, lunch, and free time for reflection and walks in this beautiful place. The day finishes at 4pm after a short ecumenical act of worship. Although payment can be made at Ballyvaloo on October 16^th, please book your place by Monday, 13^th October by texting Fr James Murphy, 087 815 2637, or Revd Trevor Sargent, 087 2547836, or email info@bunclodyunionofparishes.ie.

PROGRAMME OF BALLYVALOO ECUMENICAL QUIET DAY, THURS, 16^TH OCT

11.00 am – Arrival & Registration followed by refreshments

11.30 am – Workshop 1 – Ecumenically Responding to Today’s Challenges – led by Revd Trevor Sargent

12.30 pm – Free time

1.00 pm – Lunch in Ballyvaloo Restaurant, followed by free time to walk, reflect and explore the grounds of Ballyvaloo and the beach nearby.

2.30 pm – Workshop 2 – Prayer as a Response to Today’s Challenges – led by Fr James Murphy

3.30 pm – Free time, followed by a concluding Time of Worship.

4.00 pm – Departure – Slán abhaile.

THE ECUMENICAL WORK OF ECO-CONGREGATION IRELAND

After this ecumenical quiet day, one may wonder, what else can our parish do to become a part of the solution to the challenge of eco-justice today? There is an organization which is willing to help you, called Eco-Congregation Ireland.

Eco-Congregation Ireland (ECI) encourages churches of all denominations to take an eco approach to worship, lifestyle, property and finance management, community outreach and contact with the developing world.

The vision of Eco-Congregation Ireland is to see churches of all denominations throughout Ireland celebrate the gift of God’s creation, recognise the inter-dependence of all creation and care for it in their life and mission and through parishioners’ personal lifestyles.

We ask Christians everywhere to reflect on the beauty of God’s world and to consider what practical steps can be taken to restore biodiversity etc. Also, to pray for our wounded planet, for people in the developing world already affected by climate change and for future generations.

ECI is a project initiated by the Church in Society Forum – a standing committee of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting. The Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist churches are involved as well as the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

We offer resources and support to help churches take practical eco action in the context of their Christian faith. A simple ECI church check-list helps churches assess what they are already doing and determine future priorities. Once you have completed this check-list, your parish is on your way to becoming an eco-congregation!

Eco-Congregation Ireland also provides resources on Worship and Teaching, Children’s and Youth Work, Property and Grounds Management, Finance and Waste, Personal Lifestyles, Working with the Local Community and Thinking Globally. These are all free to download from the website: www.ecocongregationireland.com, or write to Karen by email to info@ecocongregationireland.com.