‘Majestic’ Jubilee celebration at Down Cathedral; Flower Festival, Kilmood; Clergy obituaries; Parishioner is first Olympic torch bearer in Ireland; New teachers fill dole offices as supply vastly outstrips demand; ‘People’s experience of church and the method of belonging’ is set to change; Married Catholic deacons ordained in Dublin; Just a third of Catholics attending weekly Mass
‘Majestic’ Jubilee celebration at Down Cathedral
Down Cathedral resounded with brass, organ and choir in a majestic celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on Saturday 2 June.
The service, in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of County Down, was attended by people from all over the diocese of Down and Dromore at the invitation of Dean Henry Hull. They joined Bishop Harold Miller, local politicians and clergy to honour 60 years of a reign marked by service and constancy.
Lady Christine Eames addressed a full cathedral, and spoke with warmth of a Queen who has reigned sustained by a sincere Christian faith, “that is at the centre of her living.”
Speaking about the personal qualities that have become the qualities of her monarchy, Lady Eames highlighted the Queen’s, “service, the dignity she has brought to the role, her acute sense of duty, her sincerity and her constancy.”
“She has a deep knowledge of her role as monarch, she continued, “a deep knowledge – not just of the affairs of state of this country – but throughout the world.”
Dean Hull led the service and organist Michael McCracken conducted a specially assembled group of singers and musicians. They sang two anthems – Parry’s, “I was glad when they said unto me”, and the coronation anthem, “Zadok the Priest”. Congregational hymns reflected the four parts of the United Kingdom with tunes including “Jerusalem” and “Cwm Rhondda”.
http://ireland.anglican.org/news/4110
Sandford Hymnathon
Raise your Voice to Raise the Roof!
Sandford Parish Church, Saturday 9th June, 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Sing a wide variety of hymns, accompanied by David O’Shea and Barbara Dagg, assisted by local organists and choirs, incl. members of the Alexandra Association Parents Choir and the Beechwood Schola Cantorum
Performances by:
St Ann’s Choir, Dawson Street (10.30 a.m.)
and the Ranelagh Singers (2.30 p.m.)
Come along, to sing or to listen, for as long or as short as you like!
Admission free – donations sought in aid of essential works to be carried out on The Rectory, Sandford Close
www.sandford.dublin.anglican.org
www.therectorysandfordclose.com
Flower Festival, Kilmood
St Mary’s, Kilmood, will hold a Flower Festival, ‘Praise My Soul the King of Heaven’, from 8–10 June in memory of former rector, Revd Allen Delamere. Flowers, music, coffee shop, plants, gifts A warm welcome awaits you at the parish, which is situated between Ballygowan and Killinchy.
For more information please visit www.kilmoodflowerfestival.blogspot.com
or contact Alison Nelson 07875 444 846
Clergy obituaries
The death has taken place of the Reverend William Quigley, formerly Rector of Eglish (Armagh) who retired in 2011. The funeral takes place today from St Colman’s Parish Church, Carrickfergus.
This week’s Church Times records the recent death of Canon Dr Peter Hiscock former Assistant Dean of residences at TCD (1966-68) and Dean 1968 − 73). He later served in India, was chaplain to University College, Durham, and retired from Newcastle in 1994. He was aged 80.
Parishioner is first Olympic torch bearer in Ireland
IrishCentral – Police in Northern Ireland warned of extra security to deter any disruptions of the event from dissident republicans. A volunteer with St Vindic’s C of I Parish Church, Tynan (Armagh), Karen Marshall (31) was the first torchbearer when the tour began at Belfast Titanic
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Thousands-turn-out-as-Olympic-torch-starts-five-day-tour-of-Ireland-156960465.html
New teachers fill dole offices as supply vastly outstrips demand
Belfast Telegraph – Less than one in 10 newly-qualified teachers secured a job in Northern Ireland as employment rates plummeted to a record low. Fears have been growing that too many teachers are being trained despite falling pupil numbers, 85,000 empty desks in schools, education budgets having been slashed and hundreds of redundancies. Latest figures show 1,163 Northern Ireland teachers graduated from training institutions across the UK, but just 94, or 8%, found a permanent teaching job here.
‘People’s experience of church and the method of belonging’ is set to change
Irish Times – This disparity between church figures and those found in polls or censuses is not new. A certain bewilderment was expressed by the Protestant churches, particularly the Church of Ireland and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, after the 2006 census …
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0605/1224317296134.html
Married Catholic deacons ordained in Dublin
Belfast Telegraph – Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral was the setting for the ordinations of eight permanent deacons, seven of whom are married. Although permanent deacons minister in other European countries, this was the first ordination of permanent deacons in Ireland.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/married-catholic-deacons-ordained-in-dublin-16168143.html
Just a third of Catholics attending weekly Mass
Irish Times – A recent survey reveals some startling facts about the faithful in modern Ireland
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0605/1224317295576.html