Reports from Dublin, Galway and Belfast
Dean Appeals for Relic’s Return
The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, has appealed for the return of the preserved heart of St Laurence O’Toole, the patron saint of Dublin. The relic was stolen from the cathedral on Saturday morning.
The Very Reverend Dermot Dunne, said he was “devastated” by the theft. “It has no economic value but it is a priceless treasure that links our present foundation with its founding father, St Laurence O’Toole,” he stated.
The relic was kept in a wooden heart–shaped container sealed within a small iron–barred cage in St Laud’s chapel in the cathedral. The bars of the cage had been cut. The heart was last seen on Friday night and is believed to have been stolen sometime between Friday evening and 12.30 pm on Saturday.
The cathedral opened as usual at 9.30 am on Saturday. No alarm had sounded and there was no sign of a break–in.
Gardaí have been reviewing CCTV footage of people entering the cathedral. There were only about 40 visitors on Saturday morning but it is possible that the thieves had hidden themselves in the cathedral overnight.
Born Lorcán Ua Tuathail in Castledermot, Co Kildare in 1128 and known as Laurence O’Toole, he died November 1180 in Normandy, France. He was elected archbishop of Dublin following the death of Archbishop Gregory in 1162.
He was an ascetic who wore a hairshirt, never ate meat and fasted every Friday, Each Lent he returned to Glendalough, where he had previously been abbot. While there, he lived in St Kevin’s Cell, a cave over the Upper Lake, for 40 days.
He was canonised in 1225 by Pope Honorius III and his heart was preserved in Christ Church Cathedral since the 13th century.
His skull was brought back to Britain in 1442. His bones were interred at the parish church of Chorley, now called the Church of St Laurence. They disappeared in the Reformation under the rule of Henry VIII.
C of I seeks to play role in local communities – Archbishop of Dublin
The Archbishop of Dublin said on Saturday, “We are not so self–indulgent as to feel any automatic entitlement to privilege in today’s radically altered landscape of society. As members of the Church of Ireland, for whom alone I can really speak in this context, we have long sought to take our place and to play our part in the life of communities local to where we live and more widely in the life of the nation. This is not sectarianism. Nor again is it superiority complex.”
Dr Michael Jackson was addressing the CIPSMA Conference on March 3rd which was held in The King’s Hospital School, Dublin.
The Archbishop stated, “We meet today at a time of tremendous strain and anxiety in Irish education generally. Many have described the current state of Ireland, as a nation, as a place and a people effectively devoid of solvency or sovereignty. It is a chilling sound bite but it does, nonetheless, push us all relentlessly to the recognition that things have changed; things have got worse; things will continue to get worse. And I mean not different but worse. The luscious economic backdrop which in the past has enabled us to turn ideals into practicalities no longer exists. Its return, furthermore, seems very far distant and, for our generation, may well prove to be a pipedream.
“It is in this context that we approach the perennial questions. What in educational terms is in the best interests of the child? How do we secure the needs of a minority in contemporary Ireland? How do we give back something in an Ireland which is economically broke? The enforced cloud of gloom relating to future Governmental policy under which we seek to do any of this, with regard to the future provision for National Schools under Church of Ireland management and other Protestant management, has moved rapidly from one of concern to one of alarm. On one level, it is simply the implementation of austerity measures. On another level, it is the first phase of erosion which will be cumulative and progressive, leading from the fog of confusion to the depths of demoralization. Without a doubt, it is in significant part driven by the fall–out from economic activity which has seriously altered the shape of public service and has eaten at the heart of the public good in a way which nobody could have predicted. And it has invaded the Irish soul.”
http://dublin.anglican.org/news/2012/03/Address-of-Archbishop-Michael-Jackson-to-CIPSMA-Conference.php?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
Theological Lectures inspire
At this year’s theological lectures sponsored by the C of I Chaplaincy at Queen’s University, Belfast, saw Rev Dr. Graham Tomlin, Principal of St Mellitus Theological College, challenge and inspire listeners to consider how a Christian life shaped by character and virtue might impact upon who we are and the world in which we live.
The lectures, supported annually by the Church of Ireland Board of Education, are very much a part of the Queen’s University calendar, with the Monday evening hosted by the Vice–Chancellor, Sir Peter Gregson, and the Bishop of Connor, Rt Rev. Alan Abernethy.
The Bishop of Down and Dromore, Rt Rev Harold Miller, Prof Alan Hibbert and sstudents from the Church of Ireland and Methodist chaplaincies hosted Tuesday evening.
New C of I Sunday school planned
galwaynews.ie – The Church of Ireland in Ardrahan is hoping to build a Sunday school. The Reverend George Flynn and the parishioners of the Church of Ireland in the area have applied for planning permission for a small building and toilet. The group says the new building at the back of the graveyard, is badly needed because of the growing congregation.
See also:
GB News summary – here
USA News summary – Worldwide section on this site, and
Media summary on sexuality and Christian belief – Blog on this site.