Church of Ireland Commissions New Mothers' Union All Ireland President

The Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Rev Dr Michael Jackson, has led a service of commissioning of the new President of Mothers' Union All-Ireland during the weekend.

The commissioning of Margaret Crawford took place at St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen, on Sunday before a packed congregation of family, well-wishers and Mothers' Union members.

Mrs Crawford takes up her new role as the All-Ireland President of Mothers' Union and of Members of the Mothers' Union Central Executive after a number of years as Diocesan President of Mothers' Union in the Clogher Diocese.

Bishop Jackson welcomed her to her new post, describing her as "tireless in her commitment" to the Mothers' Union in Clogher.

"We in Clogher have every confidence that Margaret will contribute in the same effective way to the life of the Mothers' Union across Ireland as she has done in her own diocese," he said.

The Mothers' Union in the UK recently celebrated the success of its ethical giving catalogue in raising £90,000 to go towards the continued support of mothers throughout the developing world.

Gifts in the MU's ethical giving catalogue, Make a Mother's Day, include support for mums in prison, provision of community midwives and training of local trainers to bring literacy and health education to communities.

The proceeds of the catalogue will support and promote family life, as well as disaster relief work and long-term development work carried out by the MU.

"The response to this, our first ethical giving catalogue, has been tremendous," said Reg Bailey, Chief Executive for MU Worldwide. "From young children to octogenarians and from across the UK and Ireland gifts have been arriving by the sack full."