Archbishop Clarke speaks on Religion and Society; History of the church on Derry’s walls; Recitals and Summer school; Love for Life: Dinner with Benefits; Cashel appointment
Archbishop Clarke speaks on Religion and Society
The Archbishop of Armagh, The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, participated in the Merriman Summer School in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare on Thursday 15 August.
He gave a paper at a panel discussion entitled ‘An Anglican and Catholic view of religion and society in the two Irelands’ alongside Dr Geraldine Smith, Head of the Irish School of Ecumenics, TCD. The overall theme of the Summer School this year is ‘Ireland North and South: two societies growing apart?’
In his paper, Archbishop Clarke said, ‘If the different Christian traditions in Ireland wish to be of help rather than hindrance to a future common good throughout the island, we must openly recognise the cultural differences that have grown up not only between our different traditions but within our own traditions.’
With reference to Northern Ireland, Archbishop Clarke said, the Church ‘…must be ready always – even at a cost and with the possibility (even the likelihood) of being open to manipulation and misrepresentation – to make itself available as peace–makers or peace–brokers, and these are not the same thing.’
In conclusion, the Archbishop said: ‘A formula that has proved to have particular value in examining the life of local parishes and dioceses might be of value in finding some consensus about the present. This process is to seek honest and sometimes painful answers to three searching questions: “What were we once that we are no longer?”, “What truly are we now?”, and “What might and should we become, that we are not yet?” If we could ever answer those three questions, as different Christian traditions, as local communities, and as political leaders, in a way that met genuine agreement across the board in Northern Ireland, there would be the possibilities of hope and a constructive future.’
History of the church on Derry’s walls
Joe Mahon, well–known presenter of Lesser Spotted Culture / Ulster will launch a new book by Hazel Philson on St Augustine’s Church this Tuesday, 20 August.
It tells the story of one of Londonderry’s most historic and popular tourist attractions to a new generation. The launch will take place in St Augustine’s Church Hall (Palace Street) at 6.30pm and is open to the public. There will be a photo opportunity at the book launch in St Augustine’s Church Hall, Palace Street – 6.30pm on Tuesday 20 August 2013.
Recitals and Summer school
The weekly round of summer recitals continues.
On Monday and Friday the Rector of Portlaoise, the Revd Stanley Monkhouse, will give lunchtime organ recitals for Heritage Week in St Peter’s church while David O’Shea, Organist of Sandford, Milltown in Dublin will play on Wednesday. In the Summer Music at Sandford recital on Friday at lunchtime David O’Shea will play organ works by Bach, Parry and Vierne.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the annual Charles Wood Summer School begins in Armagh. Among the events in St Patrick’s cathedral will be the opening recital by Mattias Wager tomorrow (Sunday) evening and a Gala Concert on Friday led by the Charles Wood Singers, which will be recorded for BBC Radio 3.
Love for Life: Dinner with Benefits
Love for Life are hosting a free training event for those working with young people in a paid or voluntary capacity.
The night will focus primarily on engaging with young people in the area of relationships and sex. The format will be very relaxed with dinner provided and lots of time for discussion, resource sharing and equipping in this potentially difficult issue.
The event will be repeated in 3 areas, the idea being that you attend the one which is most convenient for you. We have chosen these geographical areas to highlight the funded programmes that are available in that region, but if you are not based in that specific trust area you are not excluded from that evening.
The details of the three nights are as follows:
• Monday 9 September – Love for Life HQ (Southern Trust)Monday
• 7 October – Ballynahinch Baptist Church (South Eastern Trust)Monday
• 4 November – The Hub Café, Elmwood Avenue (Belfast Trust)
If you would like to book your place on any of the nights, please complete the form online here. For catering purposes, please complete the registration at least one week before each event.
Download a flyer here.
http://www.downanddromore.org/cmsfiles/moved/files/f/Dinner-with-Benefits-Promo.pdf
Cashel appointment
The Revd Victor Fitzpatrick has been appointed to the incumbency of the Kilcooley Group of Parishes. The date of his institution is yet to be announced.
Currently he has been Curate in St Ann’s and St Stephen’s, Dublin and more recently Curate of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla.
The Revd Victor Fitzpatrick was ordained to the Diaconate in 2003 and served for several years as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. Following study in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute he was licensed as a Priest in the Church of Ireland in 2009 and appointed Curate in St Ann’s and St Stephen’s.
Victor Fitzpatrick is 38 years old. He grew up in Bayside, a small suburb of Dublin city on the Howth peninsula. He has two brothers: Jason and David. David is married with three children and lives in Virginia, USA, and his eldest brother Jason lives in Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford. His mother still lives in Bayside and as the name suggests it is right beside the sea and, in fact, there is plenty of salt in his blood.
His father who died in 2007 grew up in Skerries, a lovely seaside village in north county Dublin. He learned to sail along with his brothers in their boat the ’Idunno’, so named because they could not think of a name for her!
His mother’s family hails from Clonegal and Victor has holidayed in Wexford since he was a child so will be no stranger to the South East. Today his uncle still lives in Blackwater where he moved with his wife in the late 1970s.
Among his interests Victor enjoys astronomy, photography, hill walking, tennis and walking his little dog Zoe.
He says he is really looking forward to commencing this new stage of my life’s journey as he joins the people of Kilcooley as their Rector, and he has no doubt that it will be the beginning of a very long and happy ministry with them.