Figures from the National Assembly’s Office of Public Information reveal that in the last quarter Northern Ireland gained more media coverage for the Faith than any other part of the UK. Much of this was down to the publicity sought for the recent developments in Iran and communities’ contacts with their MPs, as guided by the NSA. One community was truly outstanding in this, and not just because it has several MPs to deal with—a special word of appreciation to Newtownabbey. Of course other communities have been active too and other events such as Summer School and holy days also gained coverage. In Derry Colin Palin had a half-page individual interview in one local paper in which he spoke about his faith. Iain Palin, the Bahá'í Council’s Press and Public Information Officer was interviewed by David Dunseith on BBC Radio Ulster’s “Talkback” on 27 July about the Iran situation.
Nearly a year ago the Bahá'í community of Castlereagh experienced a life changing event. For the past decade or more feasts, holy days and social events proceeded on a predictable path. With the advent in September 2005 of the members of Lights of Unity, housed in Hackney House within our jurisdiction, such mundane patterns of community life went by the wall. You entered Beman and Marion’s house to find a pile of sneakers socks and odd pieced of apparel piled on the entrance hall, members of the community were mysteriously unavailable (providing chauffer duty to some obscure part of Northern Ireland) or you were hustled out of the house for some party or impromptu barbeque with barely time to ensure you were decent and clutching the obligatory plate of scones, cakes, sandwiches or other essential victuals to keep the wolf from the Hackney door.
These young people gave of their time with great generosity and in their spirit of Service elicited such love and a desire to serve them from our community that we find ourselves rattling around like a lone pea in an empty shell now they are gone. We experienced what ‘Abdul’Bahá talked about when He said:
“Were one to observe with an eye that discovereth the realities of all things, it would become clear that the greatest relationship that bindeth the world of being together lieth in the range of created things themselves, and that co-operation, mutual aid and reciprocity are essential characteristics in the unified body of the world of being, inasmuch as all created things are closely related together and each is influenced by the other or deriveth benefit therefrom either directly or indirectly.” Huqúqu’lláh A Compilation page 17
This was all made possible through the inspiration and dedicated and committed service of one family, the Grahams. As a community we would like to thank each member of this family for giving us a truly unique year filled with opportunities to teach the Faith and to offer hospitality love and friendship to a great bunch of youth. It has consolidated in our minds the wisdom of a year of service both for the host community and for the young participants. There is no doubt in our minds that the benefits of this project are incalculable and that in whatever form, it needs to continue and through evaluation evolve into an even more potent tool for the teaching work in Northern Ireland.
Patricia D Jamshidi For Castlereagh community
Yvonne and Charles Macdonald are part of the Bahá'í history of NI. Even though it is many years since Charles was called away to serve the Faith, first in London as the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, then in India, then back for a second time as NSA Secretary, they are fondly remembered. When Charles passed away he was buried in Norwich, where Yvonne still lives. Yvonne recently celebrated her 90th birthday, an occasion attended by Friends from England, the Channel Islands and, yes, NI. Even the weather was in keeping with the atmosphere of happiness and love.
Our picture shows Hazel Holmlund with Yvonne, enjoying the sun and fellowship.
BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE