Service with a smile as faithful pray for Big Phil

WE HAVE come across a copy of last weekend’s bulletin from the Wexford and Kilscoran union of parishes, an excellent source of information for members of the local Anglican community.

It was a busy week – what with all the services and a couple of fundraisers too.

There is the usual section headed “Anglican Cycle of Prayer” where parishioners are asked “to please pray for” the church worldwide and those who labour and minister within it.

There is a list of people in need of divine guidance and support – the Archbishop of Burma and the Bishop of Rangoon. There is the Church of Ireland itself and a bishop or two. Prayer is asked for students doing examinations and for the Confirmation candidates. And there, at the bottom, among the reverends and the ministry teams and the parishes, is an unexpected entry.

“Government and State: Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Minister Phil Hogan.” Yes, they are praying hard for Big Phil in Wexford and Kilscoran. And it’s already working. He was on the missing persons list during the referendum campaign. His recent reappearance has been hailed as “miraculous”.

Joy is unconfined in the septic tank community.