Carrigrohane Church Hall renovated and reopened as Parish Centre

The parishioners of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes in Cork joined with many friends on Tuesday 20th May to celebrate the completion of work on the Parish Centre.  The old church Hall has been renovated and extended over the last year and this was an opportunity to celebrate, and particularly to publically thank the engineer, builder and all the craftsmen who have worked on the project, as well as all the parish volunteers who have given so much in the planning and practical work. 

Bishop Paul Colton officially opened the Centre, prayed for the Parish and all the activities that would happen in the Centre.  He also took the opportunity to thank the Rector, William, for all he’d given to the parish and the diocese over the last four years – and to wish him well for his new ministry in England.  It was a great family occasion, with everyone enjoying hot-dogs and ice-creams and a tour of the new facilities.  The children particularly enjoyed the new playground which is already giving great pleasure.  We look forward to welcoming the Parent & Toddler group back in September – and hope they’ll enjoy it too.

As well as the addition of the playground in the front, the old ‘Hall’ area has been decorated and re-floored; the toilets and kitchen have been renovated and upgraded.  This part of the Centre is available at certain times for other groups from the wider community to rent.  The new build section houses the parish office, a large parish meeting room, new toilets, an office for the Youth Workers, a small meeting/prayer room and a youth lounge.  It was great that the teenagers (‘Sunday PM’) had completed the mural on their lounge wall – and the ‘Adventurers’ (Sunday School) had completed a banner that they’d been working on since September, ‘The King, the snake & the promise’,  in time for the grand opening.  (See www.carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ie to enjoy the artwork!)

_________________________________________________________________________________