Ten years to the day after his service of institution in St Paul’s on June 28th, 2005, the Rev Gary Dowd was surprised at the end of yesterday’s 10.30am service with a presentation by the Select Vestry, on behalf of the parish, to mark his first decade among us.
Rector’s churchwarden Geoff Barry made the presentation, thanking him for his first 10 years of ministry in St Paul’s. He also presented the Rector’s wife, Pamela,with a bouquet of flowers in acknowledgement of her supportive role in the parish.
In thanking the congregation, the Rev Dowd recalled how leaving Carlow after 15 years was a big wrench but the first time he stepped into St Paul’s church, he felt it was the right move. Their two children, Suzanne and Andrew, had grown up here very happily, he added