Communication of Churches in response to world development; Churches should not rush to abandon their schools; Arklow Presbyterian Church celebrates centenary; Belfast book launch of 18th century sermons; Time capsule placed in new roof at Ahoghill church; Anglicans have reconciliation “in our DNA” says Archbishop Welby; Media digest
As someone from a Northern Protestant background happily resident in Dublin, I know there is little or no point in trying to persuade my co-religionists that they should agree to do away with the border and become part of my society - writes Andy Pollack.
Northern Controlled Schools' Support Council still months away; 200 schools 'would be enough' to satisfy non-religious parents; Local bishops should not set policy on Communion for divorced/remarried Catholics - Archbishop of Armagh; Africa in Focus - theme of PCI missionary event in Belfast; Dublin and Glendalough schools service fills Christ Church Cathedral; Choral Evensong to celebrate Macosquin Parish church roof replacement; Music, story and mission at St Jude’s, Belfast; Media digest
New prayer labyrinth at Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork; Archbishop Eamon Martin’s message to family of murdered police officer; Funderland NI tracksuit snub ‘shows need to tackle sectarianism’ - PCI minister; Moneyreagh’s Big Birthday Weekend; Catholic divide deepens as traditionalists call for Synod walkout; Abortion law devolved to Scotland despite warnings; C of E warns against Sunday trading extension; Media digest - Ireland and GB
St Columb’s Londonderry twinned with London’s historic Guildhall Church; Charities respond to Irish budget - disappointment on homelessness; Duke sees cross-community work in Clogher churches; Church of Ireland minister offered to fight parishioner in dispute over rectory; Irish services continue at St George’s, Belfast; Dublin diocese must plan for changing situations; Openly gay clergy celebrate election victories to CofE General Synod; Media digest
Church leaders welcomes Loyalist initiative; Ireland is still marked by a very strong family culture - Archbishop Martin of Dublin to Rome synod; Concentrate on communication, community and communion, Archbishop Michael Jackson tells diocesan synod; Conference of European Churches appoint new General Secretary; Scrutinise Protestant mother and baby homes - C of I bishop; British church leaders give support to dairy farmers
Archbishops offer prayers for the victims of the Co Louth shootings; ’Same-sex marriage coming to Northern Ireland' says US lawmaker; Celebrity couple to be special guests of St Jude’s Ballynafeigh; Capella Caecilliana in concert in Downpatrick; Chaplaincy outreach team at Catholic chaplaincy at Queen’s commissioned; Practical proposals in Methodist President’s harvest sermon; Rector of Dundela’s appointment to Lecale Area Mission Partnership; Crisis for Pope Francis as top-level cardinals tell him: your synod could lead to the collapse of the church; Christian Aid joins calls for investigation into US airstrike on Afghan hospital; Media digest
PCI conference presents biblical roadmap for economic hope; Removal of Legion standards from Newry church was against ruling of Bishop; Archbishop responds to tragic South Dublin fire; Varied programme to open new organ recital series at Armagh; Belfast cathedral’s choristers take to the stage in ‘Turnadot’; C of I college members meet the Pope in Rome; Derry parish goes to sea for week of prayer; New prayer book app for Irish defence forces; Cardinal who supports LGBT radicals is moderator of English-speaking Synod group; Media digest
Death of World War 1 parishioner-soldier commemorated by Cork Parish; Parishioners’ hurt after the removal of a Royal British Legion flag by rector; 1872 Testimonial for C of I cleric from Kerry found in New Zealand; Magna Carta lunchtime lectures at Christ Church Cathedral; 95 year old Canon ready for the Euro 2016 finals in France; Documentary on Irish missionary’s work up for film award; Sligo Grammar School choir to lead RTE Sunday service; Media digest
By getting on that train a group of brave women made the Catholic Church and the Irish state look ridiculous - Arthur Riordan writes
Relationships, economics and creating a just society - PCI conference today; Leading discussion on Northern Ireland at the University of Wyoming; Youth Plucked Orchestra on Irish tour; HEA to investigate college chaplain appointments; Former terrorist, father of DUP’s newest MLA, serves as a steward at St Anne’s Cathedral; Church Scout hall where leader abused boys is demolished; Clergy hospital visits hampered by ‘red tape’; Café style church at Church on the Hill; Dublin Protestants: The Easter Rising and After; Media digest
New Scottish Episcopal Institute dedicated for ministry formation; Shrine to St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Crossgar Parish; Connor Kids Big Adventure days return; Book launch - Preaching in Belfast, 1747–54; Revd Adrienne Galligan Appointed Canon of Christ Church Cathedral; Catholic churches facing mass exodus as lack of priests and falling attendances threaten closures; Autumn Edition of Search: a Church of Ireland Journal; C of E statement on the sentencing of Peter Ball; Media digest
‘The Pale’ describes an area that is enclosed and safe. To go be 'beyond the pale' is to be outside the area accepted as 'home', a place of uncertainty and potential danger - Earl Storey writes
Equality in Northern Ireland education has not improved since 2007, report claims; Moderator starts his first Presbytery Tour; Climate Justice Lecture in Zion Parish Dublin; Engage Connor Youth launches new social media; Korean Anglicans celebrate 125 years of mission ministry; Synod will not result in ‘spectacular change’ in doctrine, says cardinal; Media digest
The hoped-for visit of Pope Francis to Ireland in 2018 is exactly that - hoped for, but by no means certain. What is certain is that Dublin will host the important World Meeting of Families in three years time. This event is usually attended by the Pontiff, which has given rise to the hope that Francis will come to Ireland - writes Alf McCreary
Annual New Law Term Service; Irish Church reformers call for re-think on contraception, gay marriage; Bishop to address NI National Prayer Breakfast; Cardinal Murphy O’Connor to speak at Kilkenny faith event; Birr Methodists share church with C of I neighbours; Installations at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin; Architect of both Waterford cathedrals recalled as bust of first World War field marshal unveiled; Vatican Cricket Club to face Muslim XI, Anglican Church XI in series of matches; Persecuted church charity honours Sudanese archbishop; Media digest
So what do actively interested Irish Catholics expect from the three-week Synod of Bishops in Rome which opened with a Mass on Sunday? Patsy McGarry writes…
Archbishop’s tribute to playwright Brian Friel, former seminarian; McAleese: Church stance on homosexuality simply wrong; Ukip fury after last-minute snub from Belfast Methodist centre; Muslim generosity as Anglican Primates meet in Wales; Lectures mark restoration of St Bartholomew’s, Dublin; 50th anniversary of Ad Gentes and Mission Sunday; Irish bishops delegation to visit to the institutions of the European Union in Brussels; European churches call for unified political response to current migrant crisis; Media digest - links to 13 more current church news reports
Last week a sumptuous house located in one of the most scenic parts of the Dingle Peninsula was up for sale - writes Gerard O’Reagan.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on the challenge of new book by C of I archdeacon, Gordon Linney; Panellists announced for Presbyterian Church’s Economic Conference; Annual Diocesan Service for Primary Schools in Cork, Cloyne and Ross; Wales rugby coach amazed as priest ‘punches the air’ at victory over England; Archbishop Justin addresses Muslim Council of Wales; Belfast’s St Peter’s and Clonard in the frame if Pope comes to Ireland; Diocese asks lapsed Catholics why they left; Media digest
Irish Presbyterian input to major Bible publishing event; C of I Rector’s son awarded USA meritorious service medal; NI Secretary of State meets with faith leaders; Sligo to Kilmore walk for brick-making projects in India; Connor young people all set for Reveal 2015; Launch of the Scottish Episcopal Institute; Wolf Hall background to Belfast lecture; Bellringers Honoured at St Fin Barres’ Cathedral, Cork; Media digest
What – if any - will be the lasting legacy of the personal triumph of Pope Francis in Cuba and America last week? - Martin O’Brien writes
Taoiseach launches Kylemore Abbey education centre linked with Notre Dame university; Learning to disagree agreeably - C of I lessons from previous controversies; Christ Church Dublin vigil for peace and refugee crisis; Methodist Hosford Team returns from Homeless World Cup; Presbyterian Mutual Society makes £14m profit; New head chaplain to the Irish Defence Forces; Freed slave was baptised in Bandon - C of I records show; RSCM Meet and Sing in Kilbride; Prayers for Refugees at Donegal Schools' Service; New youth worker for Mount Merrion Church; ‘Humble’ pope is arrogant, says Evangelical Protestant Society; Media digest
Parents to get involved in Catholic religious education; Dublin discussion on future of denominational education; Bishop’s Council to be formed for Meath and Kildare; Preaching in Belfast - Sermons from St Anne’s in 1747 published; Healing Ministry’s service to support persecuted church; Belfast’s annual Legion of Mary Rosary procession; BBC and Methodist support for diocesan Kerygma choir concert; Media digest
In January 1980 Pope Francis came to live in Dublin…
Pope may visit Ireland for 2018 World Meeting of Families; Armagh Eamon Martin - challenge is to be faithful to the Church's teaching on marriage and the family; PCI Global Mission’s Secretary in Lebanon for Syria update; Launch of new religious education programme for Catholic primary schools: Grow in Love; Carnalea Methodist church takes part in National Prayer Weekend; Ulster Day commemoration and Orange bannerette dedication service in Belfast Cathedral; East Belfast focus on Dublin Protestants, The Easter Rising and After; Appreciation of St Fin Barre's Director of Music; Belfast Cathedral Chapter appoints new canon; Recitals in Limerick and Derry
My critics - and I have a few - often suggest that I am obsessed with Sinn Fein in general and Gerry Adams in particular and should get a life - writes Ruth Dudley Edwards
Pope Francis sends blessing to Irish National Eucharist Congress; ‘Handing on the faith in the Home’ thirty-five years on – Archbishop Eamon Martin at Knock; Barnardo’s stresses social media safety at St Patrick’s Cathedral Schools’ service; PCI’s Newcastle respite care home celebrates first anniversary; Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes UN 'Global Goals' for sustainable development; Gay clergy who defied bishops by marrying their male partners run for Synod; Pope shares Philly stage with Queen of Soul and Bocelli; Media digest
A fundamental problem is the use of language within our Society and how a word or phrase can have a multitude of meanings for different people, writes Kenny Donaldson, Spokesman for Innocent Victims United
Archbishop Clarke for historic event in Wales at invitation of Muslim leaders; Archbishop of Canterbury to visit Belfast; Irish Churches unite for climate change plea; Paisley son to speak out about father’s rejection by church; Scary books for children exhibition; Volunteers still needed for MAD Crew 2015; HUB Youth Event in Belfast; Foundations - Titanic Quarter gathering for young adults; Green concerns at Connor Synod; Over one million invited ‘back to church’; Protestant Pastors have positive view of Pope Francis and the Catholic Church; Media digest