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Dublin’s Black Santa celebrates 20th anniversary

The Black Santa Sit Out celebrates its 20th anniversary in Dublin this year. The appeal, which has raised well over €700,000 for local good causes so far, takes place outside St Ann’s Church on Dawson Street, every December.

In normal times, the Vicar, Canon David Gillespie, and caretaker, Fred Deane, are a familiar sight outside the city centre church joined by a host of volunteers bearing buckets and accompanied by numerous choirs who bring festive cheer.

This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the sit out will look very different. However, the charities which the appeal supports – The Salvation Army, The Simon Community and the Peter McVerry Trust, all of which work with the homeless and also Protestant Aid, Barnardos, St Vincent De Paul, the Laura Lynn Foundation and the Solas Project – are still in desperate need of public support at this very difficult time. Donations can be made on–line.

“This is the 20th year of the Black Santa Appeal in Dublin and it will be a year quite like no other,” Canon Gillespie comments. “We do hope to be able to collect on the street as usual, and the permit has been submitted, but we will have to wait and see what the restrictions are at the time.

“Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the many choirs, who join us and bring so much festive cheer to Dawson Street, will be able to be with us this year. We may be able to have small groups of socially distanced singers but again we will have to wait and see.”

Every year many people make a special visit to Black Santa to make their annual donation but, for some, this will not be possible this Christmas. For those who can’t make it to the city centre, donations can be made by cheque payable to St Ann’s Church Black Santa Appeal c/o St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 or using a new online donate button facility in the outreach section of the church website [ www.stann.dublin.anglican.org ]

“Like all of us, the charities which we support, have had to adapt to new ways of doing things but their fundraising and donation income has taken a massive hit. There are more in need of funds this year than perhaps ever before so please do what you can to help,” Canon Gillespie comments.

Black Santa in Dublin is modelled on a similar appeal, which has been run by successive Deans of St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for many years. It has become known as the Black Santa appeal because of the long heavy black cloaks worn by the clergy to keep out the cold. All the charities supported by Black Santa do invaluable work and every cent donated to the appeal is divided among them.

Bishop–Elect of Clogher on Radio Broadcast Service

A Radio Broadcast on Northern Sound at 9.00pm, on Sunday, 29th November, will feature Morning Prayer for Advent Sunday from Rossorry Parish Church, Enniskillen, conducted by the Bishop–Elect for Clogher Diocese, the Revd Canon Dr Ian Ellis. This will also feature Parish Readers Sarah Maguire and Nick Hambly with hymns led by Andrew Irwin (tenor) and organ and harp music by Catherine Irwin. Northern Sound Radio is broadcast between 94 FM and 98 FM in Counties Monaghan and Cavan.

Tributes to Canon John Mayes

The Reverend Canon John Mayes (76), who passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, served at All Saints Church in the Waterside area of Derry from 1992.

He was also the Bishop’s Secretary of Inter Church Affairs and Rural Dean of Derry.

He has been described as a warm, compassionate man who always put other people first.

The Rev Paul Whittaker, his friend of more than 25 years, said: “When I was ordained in 1995 in Killowen Parish Church, Johnny was actually one of the clergy (at the ceremony) and we have been friends since.

“Over that time I got to know him pretty well. He was a fantastic guy. He was so laid-back and was a real people person.

“He always put people first but, as well as that, he was very, very highly regarded amongst the clergy, not just in Derry and Raphoe, but right across Ireland.”

Albert Smallwoods worked alongside Canon Mayes on the Bishop’s Appeal Services, raising funds for the developing world.

“He was calm and organised and I loved his method of chairing meetings because he was so relaxed,” he said.

“I remember him in his role as rural dean. He had a great way with him and people were very drawn to him.”

The Door of Reconciliation

In 1492, two Irish families, the Butlers of Ormonde and the Fitzgeralds of Kildare, were involved in a bitter feud. This disagreement centred around the position of Lord Deputy. Both families wanted one of their own to hold the position. This tension broke into outright warfare and a small skirmish occurred between the two families just outside the city walls.

The Butlers, realising that the fighting was getting out of control, took refuge in the Chapter House of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. However, the Fitzgeralds followed them into the Cathedral and asked them to come out and make peace. The Butlers were afraid that if they did, they would be slaughtered, and so refused.

As a gesture of good faith the head of the Kildare family, Gerald Fitzgerald, ordered that a hole be cut in the door. He then thrust his arm through the door and offered his hand in peace to those on the other side. Upon seeing Fitzgerald was willing to risk his arm by putting it through the door, the Butlers reasoned that he was serious in his intention. They shook hands through the door, the Butlers emerged from the Chapter House and the two families made peace.

Today this door is known as the “Door of Reconciliation” and is on display in the Cathedral’s north transept. This story also lives on in a famous expression in Ireland “to chance your arm”.

Well said

Pointers to Prayer

Compassionate God, may those experiencing all forms of violence be given courage, hope and practical help to break free from their abuse.
Today we pray for the UN’s Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, amid a spike in domestic violence during worldwide lockdowns.

Uganda: Madi West Nile Diocese – Following the lockdown of worship places, the diocese has been facing the challenge of how to cover the clergy welfare, which is usually financed by weekly offerings. Please pray for sustainable ways of providing for clergy and their families.

Today we pray for people relying on food banks. The Trussell Trust have recently vowed to reverse a trend where reliance on food banks is increasingly normalised as poverty becomes more widespread.

Today we give thanks for scientists working on vaccines around the world. A preliminary analysis shows the first effective coronavirus vaccine can prevent more than 90% of people from getting Covid-19.

Pray for the Church Army’s centres of mission which provide practical support to people in need of food or assistance.

God in creation