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Front Page
Trinity College Dublin plans new Institute of Catholic Theology
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| Trinity College Dublin |
Trinity College Dublin, with its historic links to the Church of Ireland, is set to have a new institute dedicated to Roman Catholic theological studies. The College has confirmed to the Gazette that plans for a new Institute of Catholic Theology within TCD are at "an advanced stage". It is expected that the discussions will be brought to a conclusion soon, with an anticipated first intake of students at the beginning of the 2011/2012 academic year.
Porvoo Anglicans not due at Swedish consecrations
The Gazette understands that none of the Anglican Porvoo Communion Churches (the Church of Ireland, the Church of England, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church in Wales) will be represented at the 8th November consecrations of two new Swedish bishops - Dean of Uppsala, the Very Revd Tuulikki Koivunen Bylund for the Diocese of Härnösand, and the Revd Eva Brunne for the Diocese of Stockholm.
Editorial
St George’s, Baghdad
A bomb in Baghdad that killed at least 150 people and left more than 600 injured on Sunday 25th October also caused an estimated $200,000 worth of damage to St George’s Anglican church in the city. The vicar of St George’s, Canon Andrew White, said that if the bomb had exploded just a few hours later than it did, glass from the windows would have ripped through the congregation. Full Text
Home News
From the House of Lords to lead valleys in Clones church
Friday 2nd October is a day that will long be remembered in the history of Clones parish, Co. Monaghan, Diocese of Clogher. On that evening, 120 guests came together in the Peers’ Dining Room in the House of Lords in London for a fundraising dinner in aid of St Tighernach’s church, Clones. The dinner was hosted by Lord and Lady Laird of Artigarvan.
Institution
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The Revd Kevin Graham (2nd right) is seen following his institution as rector of Movilla, Newtownards, Co. Down, Diocese of Down, with (from left) Bishop Harold Miller, the Revd Paul Gallucci (Methodist minister of Movilla) and the Revd Roy Cooper (Methodist District Superintendent).
Award
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Margaret Crawford, All Ireland Mothers’ Union (MU) President (left), is pictured with Thelma Mehaffey, a former All Ireland President, after Mrs Mehaffey was presented with a Long Service Certificate in recognition of her 50 years’ membership of the MU.
Refurbished memorial hall a place where ‘faith can be lived out’
By Garrett Casey
A former curate-assistant of Rathfarnham, Diocese of Dublin, the Rt Revd Roy Warke, who is also former Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, recently rededicated the parish’s newly- refurbished War Memorial Hall. The rededication was preceded by a Eucharist in the nearby Rathfarnham church.
Bishop of Connor attends Roman Catholic social teaching conference in Poland
By Karen Bushby
The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy, was part of a delegation from Ireland which recently attended a European conference on Catholic social teaching. ‘Catholic Social Days for Europe’ - an international conference organised by the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) - took place in Gdansk, Poland.
CMSI Kenya emergency appeal
East Africa is once again on the verge of a major humanitarian disaster, with severe drought giving rise to famine. Livestock are already dying and over 28 million lives are at risk in the coming months. The Diocese of Kajiado in Kenya, with which CMS Ireland (CMSI) has been in partnership for 30 years, is to help in the most vulnerable areas, via a food distribution programme. The Diocese has asked the Church of Ireland to support an appeal, through prayer and finance.
New facilities opened in Diocese of Clogher parish
The Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Revd Michael Jackson, recently officially opened new parish offices in Rossorry parish, Diocese of Clogher, with a short service of blessing and dedication. The bishop spoke of the importance of good and effective administration in such a large parish, as well as the need for a place of welcome, openness and informality. He commended the select vestry and all involved on their vision and willingness to move swiftly and decisively to secure such an excellent facility.
Retirement of long-serving Ardfert rector
The rector of the Kilcolman group of parishes, Diocese of Ardfert, and Archdeacon of Ardfert and Aghadoe and Limerick, the Ven. Malcolm Shannon, has announced his retirement after 34 years of ministry. After a curacy in Clooney, Diocese of Derry, Archdeacon Shannon was instituted to the Kilcolman grouping in 1978 by Bishop Edwin Owen. This was to prove to be Archdeacon Shannon’s sole incumbency, during which he pioneered a new church, St Michael’s, Killorglin, the first in the joint Diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe since Disestablishment.
Ordination
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Pictured shortly before her ordination to the priesthood in St James’ church, Castledermot, Diocese of Glendalough, is the Revd Terry Alcock (2nd right) with (left to right) the rector of Narraghmore and Timolin with Castledermot and Kinneagh, the Revd Isaac Delamere; Archdeacon Ricky Rountree and Archbishop John Neill.
New publication for Cork, Cloyne and Ross lay readers
A new newsletter - Readers’ Digest - for readers in the Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross has recently been launched. It contains details of forthcoming national and diocesan events, books of interest and various photographs.
World News
Lift North Korea’s sanctions, say ecumenical leaders
The leaders of the World Council of Churches and the Christian Conference of Asia are urging the international community to lift economic sanctions against North Korea following a visit to the communistruled country. The WCC General Secretary, the Revd Samuel Kobia, led a delegation to North Korea from 17th to 20th October and was accompanied by the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, Dr Prawate Khid-arn. It was the first time Dr Kobia and Dr Prawate Khid-arn had visited North Korea.
Bishop of Hanover to lead EKD
Bishop Margot Kässmann of Hanover, 51, has been elected to succeed Bishop Wolfgang Huber, who is retiring, as leader of the Evangelische Kirche in Germany (EKD). She is the first woman to lead the EKD and has pledged to work to promote relations with other Christian denominations. Bishop Kässmann praised Bishop Huber, saying he, "like no chairperson before him, became the face of Protestant Germany".
Province of Sudan elects seven new bishops
The Episcopal Church of the Sudan elected seven new bishops in All Saints’ Cathedral, Juba, on Saturday 24th October. Five of the seven are to be the first bishops of newly-created dioceses, whilst two are replacing bishops who retired this year from existing dioceses.
Soap
Down at St. David’s
By Ted Woods
"Wriggle your bum", whispered Jeremiah Brown, Dean of St Aidan’s, into the ear of his recentlyappointed vicar, Shaun Barrett. "Pretend you’re in a night club!" It was Shaun’s first ‘big event’, as he sought to fulfil part of his job description - the development of contemporary work in the Cathedral. He had put a lot of time and effort into researching social outreach - the other part of his brief - and it had been an eye-opener. He hadn’t realised just how much poverty and hopelessness there was, particularly in this time of recession; he marvelled at, and was humbled by, the dedicated work of those who provided day and night shelters, often without government funding.
Diocesan Synods
Derry and Raphoe - Anticipating the future with hope
By Earl Storey
Jacksons’ Hotel in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal, was the venue for the 2009 Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Synod, on Wednesday 21st October. The Synod occurred in a very significant year for the diocese. Less than three weeks previously, Jackson’s Hotel was also the venue for the launch of ‘Transforming Community - Radiating Christ’, the new three-year strategy for the diocese. This event, attended by over 1,000 members of the diocese, was the back-drop for Synod deliberations.
Cashel and Ossory
Synod urged to ‘open eyes to change’
By Herbie Sharman
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| The Environmental Award for a Capital project is presented to St Lachtan’s church, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny. Pictured are (left to right) the Revd Elaine Murray, vicar of Kilkenny; Bishop Michael Burrows; and Dean Norman Lynas. |
The Conjoint Synod of the United Diocese of Cashel and Ossory, Waterford, Lismore, Leighlin and Ferns took place on Wednesday 21st October in the Woodlands Hotel in Waterford. In keeping with the theme of integrating service and business, Bishop Michael Burrows gave his presidential address as the sermon. He took as his theme the story of blind Bartemaeus and the various difficulties that blindness - both physical and psychological - can bring, and encouraged members of Synod to have their eyes open to change, to be receptive to move from their "comfort zone", not to be afraid to journey and to be ready to go to other destinations, accepting change.
Letters to the Editor
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Protestant schools in the Republic Full Text
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Progressive Unionist reader Full Text
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Does heresy matter? Full Text
Book Review
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD: GROUP BIBLE STUDIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
Author: Gerald West
Publisher: SPCK; pp.128
Price: £9.99
Popular Culture
Healthy boundaries and psychological apartheid
Gareth Higgins
My friend Kester Brewin writes a thoughtful daily column at his blog: (www. kesterbrewin.com); it’s well worth regular reading. He recently named one of the ironies at the heart of US American life: for a nation whose leaders have often liked to call it ‘Christian’, it is obsessed with laws and packaging at the cost of grace and connection. To get into the country, you have to sign a statement testifying that you did not participate in Nazi war crimes (this does not, I presume, imply that other war crimes are OK, although none are mentioned on the form); then you arrive in a room filled with signs informing you that the ‘authorities’ can take away your mobile phone if you try to use it.
Life Lines
Bring back the Bible!
Ron Elsdon
A recent letter to the Gazette, recounting a mixed experience of a ‘modern’ act of worship, brought back to mind my eight years with Crosslinks, when I was preaching at different churches every Sunday and experiencing worship from the thoroughly traditional to the equally thoroughly ‘modern‘. The letter referred to printed notices (which we have in our church) containing the texts of the Bible readings for the day (which we don’t). I recall how the 1984 Alternative Prayer Book contained the texts of the readings for each Sunday, while this practice has been dropped in our ‘new’ Book of Common Prayer, presumably on the grounds that the lectionary contains so many possible sets of readings for each Sunday.
News Extra
Education Department responds to criticisms over Protestant schools cuts
Following recent trenchant criticisms of the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe, and his Department by the Archbishop of Dublin and the Bishop of Cork in particular, the Gazette asked the Department to respond to comments they had made. Archbishop John Neill had suggested at his Diocesan Synod that there had been "a very determined and doctrinaire" move against Protestant schools. Bishop Paul Colton had suggested that Protestant schools were being targeted, partly out of "revenge" over legal action taken last year concerning the redeployment of teachers
Submission withheld
A Church of Ireland submission has been made to the Northern Ireland Secretary of State’s consultation on the recommendations of the Consultative Group on the Past. Last week, in response to a Gazette enquiry, the Northern Ireland Office informed us that the Church of Ireland was free to release the text of its submission.
Ordination
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The Revd Vicki Lynch is seen following her ordination to the diaconate in her home parish church of St Columba, Drumcliffe, Ennis. Mrs Lynch is the Youth and Diocesan Resources Development Officer for Limerick and Killaloe Diocese. She and her husband, Steve, and family of four live near Miltown Malbay.
Appointments