Living Faith Series; Stradbally Celebrates 1600 years; Rector of Clones completes her first Marathon; Book of Condolence for Archdeacon Patterson; Tribute by Bishop of Down & Dromore; Good Bookshop Anniversary; Celebration of Grange Sylvae church, Goresbridge; National Famine Commemoration Ceremony
Living Faith Series
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, is holding a series of talks in May. The Living Faith Series, entitled The Resurrection: what on earth does it mean? is being hosted by one of the Cathedrals Ecumenical Canons, Fr Kieran O’Mahony.
On May 15 at 6.30 pm the question will be: Why does the resurrection matter?
Kieran J. O’Mahony OSA is one of two Ecumenical Canons at St Patrick’s Cathedral. An Augustinian and biblical scholar, he is the author of Do We Still Need St Paul? (2nd ed., 2012). His work in the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin is focused on providing biblical resources for parishes and for people in ministry. He also teaches on the Archbishop’s Course in Christ Church Cathedral. See: www.tarsus.ie
For more information contact: Telephone 353 1 453 9472,E–Mail education@stpatrickscathedral.ie
Stradbally Celebrates 1600 years
On Sunday 5th May an Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving was held in All Saints, Stradbally (Castleconnell) to mark the 1600 years of Christian witness on the site. Tradition claims St Patrick established Christianity in Stradbally during his missionary travels in County Limerick – Stan Evans writes.
An ecumenical committee had planned the service and this beautiful church was packed with members of the whole community who came to celebrate this unique occasion. The preacher was Bishop Trevor and the service, which was recorded by RTE for broadcast at a later date, was led by Revd Stan Evans, acting priest in charge. You can download a copy of Bishop Trevor’s sermon here. Mary Maloney and Edward Richardson, both members of the organizing committee, read two readings, and the Gospel – The Great Commission – (Matthew 28 : 16-20) was read by the Abbot of Glenstal, Patrick Mark Hedderman. Intercessions were led by the Dean of Limerick, The Very Revd Sandra Parnell, and Fr Brendan Kyne, Parish Priest of Castleconnell delivered a thanksgiving prayer before Janet Harbison of the Irish Harp School brought our prayers together with her own composition ‘Kyrie’ – a beautiful meditation to conclude.
Special thanks was expressed to the choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick under their Director of Music, Mr. Peter Barley, and also to the parish organist Mr. Trevor Selby. The choir sang Jubilate by Stanford in B Flat and also a most appropriate rendition of Friedell’s – Draw us in the Spirit’s tether. We were also delighted that Fr Ger Fitzgerald, born in Castleconnell, and now serving in Ennis, and Canon O’Malley of St Mary’s Catholic Church in Limerick were able to join us.
All Saints is well known for its Sunday School activities under the guidance of local artist Barbara Hartigan. The children of the ‘Young Church’ had engaged in and produced a beautiful mural, depicting the 1600 history, and this is available for all to see as it takes its place alongside the many other colourful images which adorn this little church.
Children were at the forefront of the worship, with pupils of 5th Class of Castleconnell Primary School singing verses from St Patrick’s Breastplate – Christ beside me.
Rector of Clones completes her first Marathon
On Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May 2013, the Rector of Clones, Canon Helene T. Steed ran the Belfast Marathon in aid of the Grouped Parishes of Clones, Killeevan, Newbliss and Currin.
After 4 hours and 44 minutes she crossed the finishing line and said afterwards she was ‘delighted with the time and that the atmosphere in Belfast was wonderful and most encouraging’.
She has thanked those who have sponsored her and supported the four parishes in the group. The members of the Rusk family, parishioners of Clones Church of Ireland, also entered the Marathon with a relay team. Their first runner, Mr Adam Rusk, also completed the full Marathon, again a great personal achievement.
Book of Condolence for Archdeacon Patterson
There is a book of condolences at the reception desk in Church of Ireland House, Belfast, It will remain there for the next three weeks from May 8 if you wish to write a message in it.
If you are unable to call in, you may take the opportunity to email a message of condolence via:mwilson@diocoff-belfast.org
Your message will be collected, printed and included with the others in the book which we will give to Eleanor and the family.
Tribute by Bishop of Down & Dromore –
Rt Rev H. Miller preached at the funeral service of Archdeacon Patterson on Ascension day. The bishop’s address is available here:
http://www.downanddromore.org/cmsfiles/moved/files/Philip-Patterson-Funeral-Sermon-by-Bishop-Harold-Miller.pdf
Good Bookshop Anniversary
Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon at 3.30pm there will be a special service in St Anne’s cathedral, Belfast, to celebrate ten years of the Good Book Shop. The preacher will be the Bishop of Tuam, Killala & Achonry, the Rt Revd Patrick Rooke.
The Good Bookshop is in Donegall Street, Belfast, part of the city’s Cathedral Quarter, and is an important part of the Church of Ireland presence in this developing area of the city which includes St Anne’s cathedral and Church of Ireland House, the administrative centre for the diocese of Down & Dromore and Connor. The development of the University of Ulster campus in nearby York Street promises to add even greater vibrancy to the area.
When the APCK bookshops in Dublin and Belfast were closed the Belfast bookshop was taken over by the dioceses of Down & Dromore and Connor and rebranded as the Good Book Shop. Managed by Richard Ryan, it has proved to be valuable, not only as a local bookshop but as a vital part of the distribution network for Church of Ireland publications. Following the recent closure of the Sunday School Society bookshop in Dublin, the Good Book Shop is the only dedicated Church of Ireland book shop left. Its importance is thereby enhanced and its potential as a national centre for the supply and distribution of Church of Ireland publications is considerable.
Celebration of Grange Sylvae church, Goresbridge
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning there will be a celebration of Grange Sylvae church, Goresbridge, which is part of the Old Leighlin union of parishes where the incumbent is the Dean of Leighlin, the Very Revd Tom Gordan. At 11am there will be a Service of the Word with historian, Canon Adrian Empey, and conservation architect, Margaret Quinlan, when the history of this building , designed by Francis Johnston of GPO fame, will be revealed. In the afternoon, at 3.30pm the Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Revd John McDowell, will preside and Lord Eames will preach at a special Friends’ Service to mark the 250th anniversary of St Ronan’s church, Coolebrooke.
National Famine Commemoration Ceremony
In Kilrush, Co. Clare, tomorrow (Sunday) the Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe, the Rt Revd Trevor Williams, will attend the National Famine Commemoration Ceremony led by President Michael D. Higgins. Next weekend he will attend the St Brendan International Conference which begins on Friday in Tralee where an international panel of speakers will discuss the life and legacy of St Brendan.