Art, Faith and Peace - The Bogside Artists: the Story Behind the Murals; When words fail: religious literacy and post-multicultural possibilities - 2015 Catherwood Lecture; Armagh Diocese launches new Web Site for Primary Teachers; PCI works with Access NI to develop new online system; Moneyreagh church plant develops; Cork Diocesan Secretary Retires After 42 Years Service; C of E Pastoral Letter for the General Election: study guide issued; New counselling service for clergy in Wales; Telecasts of the Easter liturgies of Pope Francis; US Southern Baptists confront the past, look to the future; Missouri Presbyterian churches receive threats over acceptance of same sex marriage and ministers; Media digest
An overview of BBC, Radio Ulster and RTE schedules
Braniel church plant’s vital programmes connect with community; Lisburn Cathedral to bring out “God’s colour” in city over Easter; National Faith Development Team convenes its first meeting with leaders in Youth Ministry; Church of Ireland Historical Society - April Meeting; Archbishop of Canterbury visits Mission Aviation Fellowship; Anglican-Catholic Malines Conversations Group meets at Boston College; WCC celebrates the life and witness of Rev. Dr Philip Potter; From 1916 Rising to the savagery of the Western Front - Jesuit priest's new book is a treasure trove of memories
ICON Community Launched in Dublin – Historic Day for New Church Plant; Some families are living a long Good Friday - Archbishop Martin on ‘The Disappeared’; C of E statement on Enoch Powell, MP; Three GOAL aid workers injured in Syria shelling; NI Churches Secure £1.2m Through Roof Repair Fund; US Astronaut visits Donegal church; Connor Young People Gather For The Event In Ballymena; Call For Organisations To Apply For Minority Ethnic Development Fund; Dr Who’s father honoured at a special church service; Pope prays for Germanwings crash victims during Palm Sunday Mass; Anglican bishops commit to new climate justice agenda; Media digest
Archbishops of Dublin to Lead Good Friday Walk of Witness and dedicate new sculpture; Stations of the Cross - Limerick recital; The greening of gay marriage in Ireland - The Boston Globe; Candlelit Vigil In Support Of Fr Dallat; Easter Message from the C of I Archbishop of Dublin; Scenes from the Easter Trail at Finaghy; C of I Lay Training Department Launches Pentecost Theological Lecture Series; Primary school: NI Minister's closure quashed by High Court; A second judicial review finds against Sinn Fein’s NI Minister for Education; President says homelessness is starkest sign of Ireland’s inequality; Scottish Episcopal Lent Appeal 2015 to support training for ministry; Pope approves synod participants from nearly 40 nations; English cardinal urges debate in family synod stay out of the press; Episcopal Presiding Bishop, A Former Oceanographer, Makes Religious Case Against Climate Denial
Churches Urged To Keep Taking Action Against Human Trafficking - ICC; Irish Churches’ Peace Project rebuilding trust and overcoming obstacles - church leaders; Rowan Williams to give Belfast lecture on Fundamentalism, Christian and non Christian; Collegium, Galway’s newest choir, performs concert tomorrow; Connor MU Diocesan Festival Service marks 70th anniversary; Armagh archbishops joint Holy Week message; Radio Ulster School Choir Of The Year Finalists; Holy Week lectures at Canterbury Cathedral; Open Day at The Hub at Queen’s University; Rector of Holywood to return to Cornwall; St Patrick’s, Broughshane, service on BBC Radio Ulster; Important weekend of celebrations by Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigades; Ireland’s Vatican ambassador finds new Roman home
Irish Churches Peace Project has gone beyond nice meetings - Bishop McKeown; Newry - Free event for Holy Week: Joseph Haydn's 'The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross’; Poet and President - Longley and McAleese - to mark Corrymeela 50th ; Belfast Lord Mayor Officially Opens Methodist Mission’s Memory Lane; Pioneer Evangelist takes up role in north Belfast; Cork, Cloyne and Ross Mothers’ Union Diocesan Festival Service; England: first female diocesan bishop announced; Kilkenny marble plinth for English king’s remains reburied after 530 years; US Presiding Bishop to preach, celebrate Holy Week in Salisbury
Retired Derry bishops receive freedom of the city; Waterfront rally in support of Ashers bakery draws thousands; Teachers’ warning on conscience clause bill; Salvation Army hosts 92nd Annual Meeting of Irish Council of Churches today; Belfast parishioners' rally in support of affair claim priest ; Causeway Christians Against Poverty appoints extra staff; Bright start as Limerick anti-suicide initiative brings light to dark places ; Crosses of the world on display in Monkstown; C of I Bishop to visit 15 railway stations on Good Friday; New Rector Appointed To Lisbellaw; Rossorry Parish Institution; St Mary’s Abbey Medieval Manuscript Comes Home to Dublin to Trinity College Library; Church of England appoints second female bishop; Archbishop of Canterbury to visit China; First ecumenical canons for Down Cathedral; New C of I youth facility opened
Unique Easter walk shows Christ’s Passion and Belfast in a new light; Ireland’s faith leaders warned of rising intolerance; Tony Ward speaks at ecumenical sports service day after Six Nations win; Bishop facing backlash over handling of Belfast priest accused of getting parishioner pregnant; Ian Paisley did deal with Sinn Fein 'to see Northern Ireland at peace before he met God’; On the Runs scheme 'damaged integrity of criminal justice’; IRA fugitives granted 'possibly unlawful' amnesty linked to 1980s atrocities; Finaghy churches – Exploring Easter together; UK Churches welcome call for benefit sanctions review; Landmark event to preserve Gaelic within the Church of Scotland; World Council of Churches delegation expresses solidarity with Ukraine; Pope Francis gets a special pizza delivery
Terry Waite to address ‘Faithful Peacebuilding’ conference in Templepatrick; Ex-Provo accuses Sinn Fein of covering up priest's abuse; Irish woman claims priest got her pregnant during affair which began on pilgrimage; ’Opt-out' clause is rejected by same-sex campaign; Amnesty launches Yes campaign for gay marriage vote; Poll shows overwhelming support for ‘gay cake’ row bakery; Cake gate - a view from Australia; Roads to be blessed in west as deaths on the rise; Jesus, Judas and even the donkey are rehearsing for Ballylinan’s passion play
Methodist Modern Art Collection Comes to NI for first time; New App for St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin; Moderator congratulates missionary Maud Kells on Belfast Telegraph ‘Woman of the year’ award; Walled Garden - church to community outreach in Maghera; A busy and frenetic week in Cork; Children and Youth ministry training in Down and Dromore; Intern Programme at Holywood parish; CITC Director installed as Canon of Christ Church; C of I Synod Officer appointed; Bishops join Pope Francis in prayer for global respect of religious faith and conscience; Moderator promotes religious tolerance during Glasgow mosque visit
Presbyterian ‘close to home’ conference explores covenantal theology; Pope accepts O’Brien’s resignation as cardinal; Methodists and Anglicans ‘close enough for unity’ - Church Times report; Methodists and unity - Church Times editorial; Young Northern Irish Christians determined to reconcile; A St Patrick's night to restore fractured Northern Irish identities; Colloquium to Focus on Re–Ordering Liturgical Space; Media digest
‘Saint’ status for Cork woman who was baptised an Anglican; Major Irish/USA news site - Sinn Fein in sex abuse crisis are just like the Catholic Church; Churches voice concerns ahead of public rally about gay cake row; Mansion House hosts inter-faith forum examining religion’s role in global conflict; Appointment of church representatives to the new Northern Ireland Education Authority; Black Santa Appeal donates £5000 for relief in Vanuatu; Pupils from Dublin National School Make their Mark at Croke Park; UN welcomes Pope’s historic visit; Media digest
Largest Presbyterian church in US approves same-sex marriage; Bert and Ernie gay marriage cake row could force Muslims to print Prophet Mohammed cartoons – lawyer; Guardian profile of Michael Wardlow, head of Equality Commission of N Ireland; ‘Real lives’ behind debate on marriage - Bishop Colton; Bishop Michael Smith appeals for information to locate bodies of ‘The Disappeared’; British Ambassador Addresses St Patricks Cathedral Patronal Service; Ennis to host Ireland's biggest gospel music festival; Mother's Union's report highlights commercialisation of children; Anglicans part of initiative to bring Pope Francis to Vancouver; Media digest
Archbishop of Canterbury launches Anglican/Methodist report at Downpatrick pilgrimage; Big debates need to be grounded - Bishop Colton; Church of Ireland Bishop Ferran Glenfield declares for NO; Skainos launch for ground -breaking book on youth ministry; ‘Start of Something Special’ as Discovery Mothers’ Union Inaugurated; Pope Francis should pay a visit to Ireland; World Council of Churches: Visit to churches in Ukraine; Archbishop Welby addresses funeral for Pakistani Christians via mobile phone; Christian Aid supports Vanuatu relief effort; Media digest
Camino style St Patrick’s Way Pilgrim walk to link Downpatrick and Armagh; Ecumenical children’s service marks World Day of Prayer in Crosshaven; Ballymena Library to mark 250 years of Moravians; Belfast volunteering opportunities for over 50s; A new tower for Westminster Abbey; RSCM appointment to develop congregational singing; Media digest
Irish Methodist Dismay at Stormont Impasse; Mary McAleese: ‘Pope Francis carries a residual element of misogyny’; Reconciliation will be St Patrick’s Day theme - Bishop Miller; Good Friday Passion Walk in Belfast; Remembering 1916 – Has Your Parish A Story to Tell?; MCI President visits Ballynahinch; New Dublin and Glendalough Ministry of Healing Newsletter; Communications Officer for Diocese of Derry and Raphoe; General Election - pray and engage - Mothers Union provide resources; Church in Wales job club helps people find work; Pope Francis announces Jubilee Year dedicated to mercy; Media digest - links to 17 top stories
Bishop Alan Wilson “people need have nothing to fear from allowing gay people to marry”; Irish tour by University College Oxford Chapel Choir; Carrickfergus schools feature in the BBC Radio Ulster Choir of the Year competition; Seize the Day! Holy Week panel discussion in Lisburn; Vatican Cardinal praises Church role in NI peace process; Service of institution in Derryvolgie; Sermon preached by Archbishop Justin Welby at a service at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the end of combat operations in Afghanistan; English RC Priests drum up support to resist any change to Church's 'unchanging' teaching at this year’s synod; Media digest
Anglican-Methodist co-operation plan to be launched on St Patrick’s Day; St Patrick’s Day at Downpatrick Cathedral; St Patrick's Day at Downpatrick Methodist; St. Patrick’s Cathedral offers free admission to Patricks and Patricias on March 17; St Patrick’s Day at Christ Church Cathedral; Saint Patrick Breakfast – Lucan; Many Irish Language Services Planned For St. Patrick’s Day In The Church Of Ireland ; St Patrick's Day: where to celebrate in Northern Ireland; Discover the legacy of Saint Patrick on the Saint Patrick's Trail; St Patrick's Day 2015: Best sights to see in Dublin; Londonderry - Apprentice Boys set for St Patrick's Day parade
Stranmillis proposes universities move teacher training to its Belfast site; Hit video of student singing Les Miserables song for brother with locked-in syndrome; Priest won't say sorry for sermon on same-sex marriage vote; Catholic bishops criticise sports omission from alcohol bill; Final statement of Irish Bishops Spring meeting; Pro-Life march: ‘Media bias on abortion has reached a point we cannot ignore’; Brian Mayne Collection Catalogued; Ex-church minister and adviser to DUP MP denies voyeurism; New church guidelines for non-Catholic students; Catholic Primary Schools in a Changing Ireland - Bishops’ statement on policy resource; Young priests represent a quarter of all new C of E clergy; Our tribe is women': Statement from the women of South Sudan - video by MU president, Media digest
Archbishop Martin refuses to back Bishop Doran after interview ; Parish level concern about bishops’ opposition to equality; James Molyneaux: Singing in choir was one of his joys of life; Neighbouring Catholic parish presents Communion Cup to St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast; Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes Templeton award for Jean Vanier; Anglican Communion women advocate at UN for gender equality; Number of female employees at the Vatican is growing; Syria crisis - human cost of four years fighting; Media digest
New Presbyterian church officially opened in Mullingar; Irish Catholic bishops appeal for `No` in gay marriage referendum; Fr Iggy O’Donovan calls for Yes vote in marriage referendum; ”Seismic shift" required to equip all Anglicans as evangelists - Abp Welby; Canon David Porter shares lessons learned about reconciliation; Rowan Williams hails parliamentary approval of UK aid Bill; Media digest
Bishop: You can't destroy life to get back at rapists; St Ann’s Community Café Offers New Ways to Engage With Church; New painting to help St Patrick’s, Cairncastle, celebrate 200 years; Tributes to churchman and former Ulster Unionist Party leader James Molyneaux; St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin to Launch New Digital Facility to Help Tourists; Cork Canons installed; Bishop Wilson marrIage equality book signing in Dublin; Living Well with Faith and Politics - Belfast discussion; Public Seminar on Freedom of Speech and Religious Freedom; Events in Clogher; ‘Crossing Thresholds’ – history of women’s ministry in Wales; Prince Charles gives money to children of 21 Coptic martyrs; Francis marks 50th anniversary of first papal vernacular Mass; Media digest
Belfast hosts 500 Salvation Army members for anniversary; C of I group comments on Christian printer who has refused to print stationery for a civil partnership; McGuinness: Leaders' views must not be skewed by religious fundamentalism; Presbyterian cleric and Catholic priest address Sinn Féin; Stranmillis College has made requests to St Mary’s for students to complete RC RE qualification; World Day of Prayer celebrated; Bishop of London sets out plan for ‘Bishop for church-plants’; Welby: Evangelism a Gospel imperative, not Church survival strategy; #washday15: Anglican global Lenten movement inspired in laundromat; Pope Francis’s Report Card - An extract from a new book - The Francis Miracle; Media digest
Spring Cleaning with Jesus
Cardinal Dolan called “profoundly ignorant” over ISIS and IRA by fellow cleric; CD and bilingual hymnbook launched in Kilkenny; Moderator's Monaghan Presbytery Tour; C of I cleric offered free haircut in Belfast grooming salon at centre of cheeky poster advertising; ‘Drug proofing your kids’ talk at Larne’s Market Yard; Irish mums spend an average of €700 on a child’s First Holy Communion; Lurgan church’s service to mark Glenavon Football Club’s 125th Anniversary; A Taste of Tabernacles; Mothers Union - Women in focus in March; Neglecting your elderly relatives is a mortal sin, says Pope Francis; Media digest
Irish Methodist Haiti Visit a Spiritual and Practical Success; Battle to save Drogheda church intensifies as petition goes to Rome; Derry and Donegal Presbytery review past year of ministry; New Dean Of Kilmore - Revd Nigel Crossey; Belfast recital by Westminster Abbey organist James O’Donnell; Down & Dromore Mothers’ Union Festival Service; Cardiff vicar recognised by Prime Minister for ‘Making Music Changing Lives’ project; ‘Learn’ resource for elders is a game changer for the Kirk; Pope Francis approves legal framework for Vatican financial reform; Media digest
Cardinal Timothy Dolan compares Islamic State to Irish Republican Army; Former St Fin Barre’s Chorister wins Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition; ‘I love telling the stories of Jesus’ - preaching workshop leader; New diocesan secretary for Cork; British Ambassador to Address St Patrick’s Cathedral Patronal Service; Tony Ward, speaker at Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of Sport; Girl Guides to celebrate body confidence on International Women’s Day; Bishop’s Effecting Change seminar series; The calendar that blossomed into a floral tribute to a special father; United Reformed Church launches creative new mission model; Rowan Williams on Christian response to suffering in World War II - Radio 4 this Sunday; Media digest
Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise 100 exhibition at Linen Hall Library, Belfast; ’The Villain's Vicar' to speak in Belfast; Concern about Church of Ireland views on 'conscience clause’; Irish Church should turn attention to austerity policies - TU leader; Volunteer cathedral verger meets Prince Edward; Mícheál Ó’Súilleabháin Concert to raise funds for restoration of Glandore Church; Story of Joymount Church - without the walls of Carrickfergus; We will never know why minister died in diving accident, expert tells inquest; US priest to Irish safeguarding meeting: Church not haven for abusers; Seeds sown for food justice movement in Scotland; Christian Aid calls on governments to keep their promise to women and girls; Media digest
Gift wrapped cathedral promotes blood and organ donation; First Q Commons Dublin Encourages Participants to Examine Faith and Society; Cancer treatment pioneer to address Newtownards Men’s Fellowship; Importance of Friendship Highlighted at Mothers’ Union Breakfast; Lenten Lunches for charity in Whitehead; New canon of Down; Rare stained glass window returned after 40 years; Derry rector instituted; GB Churches call for urgent review of benefit sanctions; Christian politics is not about defending Judeo-Christian values - Rowan Williams; WCC condemns attacks against a mosque and Christian centre; Media digest