Preaching in different congregations, pastoral calls with ministers, visits to schools, local businesses, a hospital, and an agricultural college, along with one of the region’s newest community infrastructure projects, are all on the agenda for Right Reverend Dr Sam Mawhinney, Moderator Presbyterian Church in Ireland, when he makes a weeklong tour of the Presbytery of Monaghan, which began this morning in Ballybay.

Accompanied by his wife Karen, this is the fourth and final presbytery tour of Dr Mawhinney’s year in office. Having already visited the Presbyteries of East Belfast, Omagh and Templepatrick, his tour of Monaghan Presbytery, with upwards of 20 separate engagements, will make for a busy week.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Dr Mawhinney, who is the minister of Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church in Dublin, said that presbytery tours were a great opportunity to see a cross-section church life, “One of the many blessings of my role, is that you get to see and do things that you wouldn’t normally, and one of those is witnessing Presbyterians living out the gospel on the ground across Ireland.”

Dr Mawhinney continued, “Our congregations and my fellow Presbyterians in the border counties, are perhaps the backbone of our Church in the State, and I am looking forward to preaching and worshipping in a number of churches in the Presbytery.

“Given our history as a people across the Presbytery and border counties, and the history of this part of the island, Presbyterians have played and continue to play their part in the life of the State, from business to local and national political life, and the life of local communities. Meeting people in their places of work, and those serving in the public square, visiting schools and spending time with, and praying with my colleagues in ministry, both ministers and elders, are all part of the tour. It all happens within a period of eight days, so it will be busy, but God willing, it will be very fruitful,” he said.

Dr Mawhinney concluded by saying, “Each of the Presbytery Tours that I have done have afforded me a wonderful welcome and the privilege of seeing the work of the Church, that I would not have otherwise seen. I am very thankful for that and really looking forward to seeing that work across the Presbytery of Monaghan.”

The Presbytery is one of PCI’s 19 regional bodies, but doesn’t just include congregations in County Monaghan. Stretching from coast to coast, it takes in Dundalk in County Louth to Ballina in County Mayo and from Sligo City to Kells in County Meath. Made up of approximately 1000 families within its 33 congregations, the vast majority of the congregations are found in counties Monaghan and Cavan.

First Ballybay Presbyterian Church was his first port of call, when the Moderator preached in the morning, followed by a service in Corlea Meeting House in the afternoon. Later on this evening, Dr Mawhinney will take part in a Presbytery Youth Service in Ballyalbany. The Tour will conclude this Sunday, 11 March when he preaches at Cavan Presbyterian Church in the morning and Clontibret Presbyterian in the evening, which will be a service for the whole Presbytery.

Alongside a number of church-based activities, during the week the Moderator will have a wide range of other engagements. These include visits to the new Monaghan Peace Campus, meetings with the Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council and Cavan County Council, and with local employers, Combilift in Monaghan, Carleton Cakes in Cootehill, County Cavan. On a visit to Ballyhaise Agricultural College he will meet representatives of the agricultural industry and those in healthcare, when the former trainee GP goes to Cavan General Hospital. He will also visit Teach Na Ndaoine Food Bank along with Monaghan Collegiate and four National Schools under the patronage of the Presbytery, three in County Monaghan and one in County Louth.

Talking about the visit, Rev Daryl Edwards, Clerk of Presbytery and minister of Cootehill, Drum and Kilmount Presbyterian Churches, said, “The Moderator’s visit reminds us of our links with the wider church family. As we are often working in small congregational groupings covering a wide area, the visit gives us a great opportunity to come together and encourage one another for the year ahead.

“While they don’t happen very often, the last one took place in 2019, we are looking forward to Dr Mawhinney leading us in worship in different congregations, as he explores his theme for the year, ‘Confident in Christ’. This will serve as a stimulus and challenge for our ongoing mission and witness in our local communities.”

Mr Edwards continued, “The primarily focus will be on encouraging members and ministers across the Presbytery and seeing first-hand the mission and ministry of the Church in this part of the country. The variety of events that have been organised also encompasses time with people of all ages. A Presbytery Youth Night for young people of secondary school age is planned for tomorrow evening in Ballyalbany, when the Moderator will speak about his faith journey and his time as Moderator.”

Images: (1) the sign outside Ballybay Presbyterian Church in County Monaghan (credit Alex Watson Photograph) (2) Dr and Mrs Mawhinney outside Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church in Dublin.