Summer 2012 Issue of SEARCH; Books That Changed The World – Exhibition Opens in Marsh’s Library; Down MU Indoor members service; CIMS Annual Outing; St Saviour’s celebrates 40 years; Dalkey win diocesan hockey; Archbishop’s tenure coincided with bitter split; Ageing orders have land and property worth billions of euro; The men and (few) women who shape Irish Catholicism
Summer 2012 Issue of SEARCH
The Summer 2012 issue of ‘SEARCH – A Church of Ireland Journal’ is out now. The latest edition contains an article by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, on common baptism which enables Christians to share together in worship and witness. The publication is timely as the Archbishop is presiding at the Liturgy of Word and Water on the opening day of the International Eucharistic Congress in the RDS in Dublin on Monday next, June 11, and will speak on the subject of baptism.
The summer issue of SEARCH also addresses the issue of human sexuality in the context of Christian faith with three articles deriving from the Bishops’ Conference on Human Sexuality held in Cavan in March. The articles, by Stephen Farrell, Doug Baker and Bishop Gregory Cameron cover legal, discussion process and ecclesiological issues.
The continuing series on Approaches to the Bible features an arresting article by Jerusha McCormack, whose recent work at Beijing’s Foreign Studies University has led her to ponder the difficulties of inter–cultural communication, particularly as related to religion.
There is also an article by the Dean of Lismore on the ministry of a country cathedral to its visitors and an intriguing essay in Irish clerical family history. A full selection of book reviews concludes the issue.
Books That Changed The World – Exhibition Opens in Marsh’s Library
A new exhibition entitled ‘Marvels Of Science – Books That Changed The World’ opened in Marsh’s Library, Dublin, this week. Archbishop Michael Jackson and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD, addressed the gathering at the launch of the exhibition.
The Archbishop said, “As well as Marsh’s philanthropy and scholarship, we recognize the lasting contribution to this Library of Dr Elie Bouhereau, its first Keeper, and a Huguenot. It is a piece of benign irony that it was through a French Protestant, shopping in London while working for someone later to be Earl of Galway, that Galileo’s Dialogue of Two World Systems, barred by the Roman Catholic Church because it sought to demonstrate the superiority of the heliocentric worldview, came to Ireland and to Marsh’s Library.
“Through this Exhibition, we see lots of things at work together. We see church people who are sufficiently confident to experiment radically with the understanding of perceived reality. We see people with the capacity to refute settled ways of understanding and even if, from time to time, they got it ridiculously wrong, they still extended and expanded the boundaries of the known in such a way as to enable us now to know what we do know. The new experimental method of science, introduced and sustained in the seventeenth century mathematicians and natural philosophers, particularly Newton, required sustained courage as it was the overthrowing, in effect, of the Aristotleian system whose description of fire, air, earth and water as continuous and whose rejection of the void, were in their own day a revolution against immaterialist Platonism. To the ancients, and indeed to the overwhelming majority of the works which form this Exhibition, philosophy and theology are of a piece with one another. Their parting company in our era is of course another revolution and, I suggest, a diminishment of both.”
http://dublin.anglican.org/news/2012/06/Marvels-Of-Science-Books-That-Changed-The-World-Exhibition-Opens-in-Marshs-Library.php
Down MU Indoor members service
Down and Dromore MU held their annual service and tea for Indoor Members on 25 May at St Malachy’s, Hillsborough. The service was conducted by Hillsborough’s curate, Revd Mike Dornan, assisted by Canon Robert Howard, MU Diocesan Chaplain. Lady Christine Eames, former MU Worldwide President gave the address. Bishop Harold and Mrs Liz Miller greeted the ladies at a lovely tea laid on in the Parish Centre whilst ‘The Heart of Down Highland Dancers’ provided lively entertainment.
CIMS Annual Outing
The Annual Outing of the Church of Ireland Men’s Society was a visit to the Glens of Antrim on Saturday 26 May. It was a day of glorious sunshine in which to enjoy the beauty of the sea and the glens on the famous Coast Road. Besides the lovely scenery of the area it is also a region steeped in centuries of history.
The day began with a service of Holy Communion in St Nicholas’ Parish Church, Carrickfergus, conducted by the Rector, the Revd George Davison. The church, built 800 years ago by the Norman Knight, John de Courcy, is commemorated by the poet Louis MacNeice, a son of the rectory, in his poem Carrickfergus:
“The Norman walled this town against the country To stop his ears to the yelling of his slave And built a church in the form of a cross but denoting The list of Christ on the Cross in the angle of the Nave”
In the afternoon, members visited the home of the Antrim McDonnells at Glenarm Castle. The McDonnells are one of the great families of Gaelic Ulster, the other two being the O’Neills of Tyrone and the O’Donnells of Donegall.
Asked why the McDonnell family had survived down the centuries while the other two did not, Hector McDonnell replied, “The McDonnells were more canny, they knew how to adapt to the changing fortunes of history”.
The day ended with a meal in the Londonderry Arms, Carnlough, an inn once owned by Winston Churchill. Here members were joined by Revd Helen McArthur, Rector of the Glens of Antrim.
St Saviour’s celebrates 40 years
On Sunday 3 June Bishop Harold Miller of Down & Dromore, joined the parishioners of St Saviour’s, Craigavon for a 40th anniversary service of thanksgiving and rededication, followed by a meal.
In those years the parish has existed on 2 major sites and had 3 major fires. “We were celebrating 40 years of ministry in Craigavon,” said Evangelist in Charge, Sr Myrtle Morrison. “Forty years as a church is very much about the people rather than a building.”
Mrs Olga Moore and Mr Richard Montgomery, who were two of the founding members of the church 40 years ago, cut the anniversary cake. Olga is still a very active member today. Mr Montgomery moved back to London Derry 25 years ago but still takes an active interest in the church and the area.
Earlier in the year the parish had a week of mission entitled, ‘Life begins at 40’, with special guests and events and activities for all ages and tastes.
Dalkey win diocesan hockey
Seven teams turned out for a thrilling evening of intense competition at the Diocesan Inter–Parish Hockey Tournament which took place at St Andrew’s College on Wednesday night. Sun shone where floods had been forecast and there were no ambulances needed. Although some players could be heard muttering about defibrillators, everyone went home largely in one piece bar a few bruises.
Many of the players were clearly in peak physical condition and those who came out of retirement are believed to have undergone an intense training regime prior to the tournament. While the evening is nominally about having fun, teams were keen to defend the honour of their parishes.
The team from Dalkey, debuting at the competition this year, emerged the winners, beating Rathfarnham on goal difference. They took home the Archbishop’s Hockey Cup. At the other end of the table, Bray struggled and went home with the most coveted trophy in Leinster hockey, the Archbishop’s Chamber Pot – an award they have attained for a remarkable eighth time in the competition’s 17 year history.
Following the tournament, in which each team played four matches, co–organiser Revd Gillian Wharton thanked the parishes for getting their teams out. She also thanked those who acted as umpires for the night. She commended Dalkey on their win on the first time of entering and hoped they would return next year to defend their title. She also commented on Bray’s astonishing record in the competition. Teams took part from the parishes of Whitechurch, Dalkey, Bray, Rathfarnham, Stillorgan, Wicklow and Newcastle.
Archbishop’s tenure coincided with bitter split
Belfast Newsletter- Over the last year, as debate over homosexuality raged within the Church of Ireland, both conservative and liberal members of the church have been sharply critical of the leadership.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/tenure-coincided-with-bitter-split-1-3929808
Ageing orders have land and property worth billions of euro
Irish Times – Given the enormous role it played in Irish society until relatively recently, it is no surprise the Irish Catholic Church is the owner of a multibillion euro land and property portfolio. The assets owned by the State’s 26 dioceses and …
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0606/1224317368627.html
The men and (few) women who shape Irish Catholicism
Irish Times – Cardinal Brady chairs meetings of the Irish Episcopal Conference but, as each bishop is answerable only to Rome, his authority is entirely moral. A humble, well-liked man, both by fellow bishops and throughout the Irish church, he is believed wounded …
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0607/1224317443373.html