Dear Friends,
With all the rushing around ‘doing Ruhi courses,’ going to Feasts, and trying to cope with the stresses and strains of daily life, it is easy to forget our vision of the future of the Faith in Ireland. Part of that vision, which the Council had for Ridvan 2006, at the end of the Five-year Plan said:
The Bahá'í community in Northern Ireland will have strong links with the community in the Republic of Ireland.
These links were started by our beloved Hand of the Cause George Townshend when he came North to informal meetings in Belfast many decades ago. In a spirit of reciprocity, Jane Villiers-Stuart used to take a van load of the friends South from time to time. Since those days several stalwart and loving friends from the South come to see us at various times and for various events. Some in the North have gone South to attend similar meetings or to travel teach.
Friends, we have a loving commitment to develop our relations with the friends in the South. By this constant movement and sharing of love we will “reverse the trend of history.” While our own Residential Schools Committee will be co-operating on the programme for this coming winter school, we encourage the friends in Northern Ireland to attend from 24 to 28 December in Glendalough, which is a most beautiful venue. Remember Waterford Summer School comes up in August and it is still not too late to book. Costs are 40% lower in the South because of the Euro.
With warmest Bahá'í greetings, Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland.
There are now three registered Bahá'í Marriage Officers legally empowered to solemnize Bahá'í marriages in Northern Ireland, namely Mrs Hazel Holmlund, Dr Beman Khosravi and Ms Patricia Irvine. People intending to marry can choose any one of the three to officiate at their wedding.
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