Methodist President and C of I Bishop on peace pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine; Alpha Ireland has its gaze fixed on the youth; New C of I secondary school building in Greystones; Two traditional pipe organs wanted; Climate Change and Kenya: A resource for GCSE and Transition Year Geography; Archbishop of Canterbury contributes to new blog on Europe; Church of Scotland piloting Volunteering Vocations; Pope Francis holds ‘virtual’ meeting with Catholics in three US cities; Media digest
So often has the power-sharing arrangement in Northern Ireland teetered on the brink of collapse that the temptation is to turn a blind eye until the threat is either averted or comes to pass - writes Mary Dejevsky
Colombanus link - Down and Connor priests invested as Hon Canons of Bobbio Cathedral, Italy; C of I clergy visit to Chile and Peru; East Antrim venue for CE convention; Reconnecting the Disconnected seminars; Arklow Children’s Ministry training morning; Crew wanted for Connor Kids Big Adventure; Mossley Parish community family day; Sr Stan celebrates 30 years of homeless charity Focus Ireland; Pope will visit Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic in November; Media digest
Provincial Secretaries of the Anglican Communion meet in Dublin; Catholic preacher at Dublin rector’s institution; Friars walk to Dublin in bid to save church; Cregagh churches create colourful mural at local flats; Writing Workshop with Maureen Ryan; Survey indicates 1.5 million Scots identify with Church; Catholic canon’s funeral Mass to be celebrated in Anglican church; Majority of US Catholics favour same-sex union - Pope Francis urged to clarify stance; Media digest
Only a public inquiry where counsel can cross-examine Gerry Adams and his comrades will reveal big picture about Sinn Fein - Maria Cahill writes in Sunday Independent
New President of the Methodist Women in Ireland; Open Night and courses at St Luke’s Home Education Centre, Cork; Church music workshop in Doagh; Youth Work Coordinator Appointed for Dublin and Glendalough; C of I Longford Rose responds to unsavoury social media comments; Hospitality and Sanctuary For All - Racial Justice Sunday 2015; Oldest Bible to be displayed at British Museum; Vatican backs plan to name square in Rome after Martin Luther; Media digest
Politics in Ireland North and South is as predictable as the awful weather, a never ending cycle of orchestrated outrage and carefully managed crisis - Alison Morris writes
Brigid’s Way walk for National Heritage Week; Friel’s Columba drama in Belfast church this Saturday; Godfrey Day Memorial Lecture 2015 and Visitors from Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui; Renowned Benedictine monk’s contribution to Bere Festival; New Braille Church of Ireland songbook does double duty; Relief and disquiet as controversial church split minister resigns; The Future of Northern Ireland - Duncan Morrow; Media digest
Newton Emerson writes -
New Seafarers Centre opens in Warrenpoint Port; Knocknamuckley minister formally quits; Windsor organ scholar wins NI International Organ Competition; ‘Of what earthly use is the Bible?’ - Belfast Cathedral course; Methodist President Visits Africa; Rose of Tralee is a Lourdes volunteer; Derry clergy abseil challenge helps raise 5K for Parkinson’s; Appeal to churches on farming safety issues; Belfast Healing services recommence; WCC general secretary reflects on 75th anniversary of Taizé Community; Media digest
Drone captures stunning views of inside of St Patrick’s Cathedral; Priest says demand for secular schools is low; Methodist Newsletter Art Competition; 17 men begin studies for priesthood at Maynooth; Lack of priests in Irish Catholic Church: The problem is becoming more acute; Methodist and C of I students study tour to Rome; Conserving Buncrana’s iconic Christchurch; Kells parishioners visit Áras an Uachtaráin; New coordinator of Down diocesan link with Albany; Anglicans called to join worldwide Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation; Media digest
Rector to celebrate historic Royal anniversary; Kerry missionary wins Mgr Hugh O’Flaherty award; Dublin and Glendalough mission focus - Come and C; Legion of Mary founder Frank Duff a model of robust lay leadership; BBC stands by ‘unpopular’ religious Radio 4 programmes; Popemobile shipped to USA ahead of Papal visit; Media digest
Canon Robert C (Bob) Reed, who has died aged 68, was a teacher in Wesley College, Dublin, for 42 years, during most of which time he was housemaster. He was also closely associated with St Patrick’s Cathedral for almost 30 years.
Heritage Week 2015 - August 22 - 30; Summer music events; Bishop cancels talk by liberal priest Fr Tony Flannery; Major South Korean honour for Irish missionary; Irish cleric’s change of post in C of E; Dublin visit by Secretaries of the Anglican Communion; Papal nuncio warns Catholics against becoming ‘caricatures’; ‘Families ministering to families’ could be new model for evangelisation in Ireland; Stop lowering the level of immigration debate, churches tell UK government
Martin Magill writes……
Irish Presbyterian focus on church planting; Internment was nothing less than torture – alleges priest; Dublin chorale Peregryne on tour in the West Country; Come and Sing: Fauré Requiem; A new movement in music ministry; 76 year old MU member’s sponsored fun run; Bishop’s wife to cycle across Wales in a day – for Christian Aid; Australian to be Dean of St George’s College, Jerusalem; Media digest
Gay scout leader pulled out of race for top role after receiving e-mail full of ‘insinuations and threats’; Methodist President visits Africa; PP warns only catholic parents can chose to divest schools; Catholic neighbour to preach at C of I rector’s institution; C of I Children’s Ministry Harvest Newsletter; The BIble’s Unexpected Stories - Biblical Association AGM; Celebration as major project in Derry parish is completed; Thanksgiving for life of Marlene Jefferson - Londonderry’s first female mayor; China honours Christian missionary and Olympic athlete Eric Liddell; Media digest
Patsy McGarry writes - I was in Belfast last month for the Twelfth “festivities”. It was awful. Those “festivities” were held on a Monday, as the Twelfth this year fell on a Sunday. Yet the awesome Eve of the Twelfth bonfires went ahead on July 11th. Those bonfires were another story.
Irish immigrant council calls for law to protect trafficked sex workers; New suite of parish halls for Dunboyne & Rathmolyon Group; Connor Archdeacon on the airwaves; Tipperary church’s 150th anniversary celebrated; Cambridge tour for Finaghy parish choir; Cathedrals in England welcome over 10 million annually; Church of Scotland urges members to sign global education petition; New warden for retreat house on Cumbrae; Media digest
I hope Pope Francis pays close attention to the call of the women that they be ordained - Paddy Clancy writes
Independent report into sex abuse in Catholic church in Scotland released; Prayer request for team from Dromore parish in Thailand at present; More Action Needed to Tackle Homelessness - C of I; Church focus on northern education; Northern Ireland teachers to attend training school at own expense following government cutbacks; Tenth annual visual arts project at Lismore Cathedral; New healing service at First Lisburn; Archbishop warns over immigration scaremongering; Mothers Union welcomes Age Ratings being added to UK Music Videos; Media digest
Sign up for the Tour de Foyle Charity Challenge; Galway Cathedral celebrates 50th Anniversary; Derry organ recital; Another milestone in life and witness of Belfast’s Dock Cafe; Orange Order reaches out to local community; Out today - Restoring Trust Between Faith and Culture – Greg Fromholz’s new book; Buy local, ask questions - C of E National Rural Officer; Media digest
Irish Government urged to take role in banning nuclear weapons; Dublin exhibition of the photographs of Fr Browne; Musical events; Catholic Historical Society of Ireland Annual Conference; Archbishop welcomes pilgrims to Novena; National Maternity Hospital Annual Remembrance Service; Methodist Church app; Obituary: John Scott; Media digest
Chaim Herzog in Belfast online exhibition; Bishop McAreavey supports ‘Christian Bells’ initiative in solidarity with persecuted Christians; Former President’s son challenges Irish primate on pastoral care for gays; Bangor Parish seminar on sharing Gospel with Mormons; National Eucharistic Congress 26-27 September 2015; Employment obtained via Christians Against Poverty job club; Great Welsh churches join UK network; Media digest
Bird of Paradise Ministries support team commissioned in Bangor Abbey; Council of Europe honours Irish missionary nun; Tuam Team Mission Support with Kajiado; Death of former MU World President; Catholic Women of the Year 2015 announced; Rural partnership begins innovative project tackling financial exclusion; The Tablet 175 Awards and Bursaries; Christian Aid support for local partners in flood-hit areas of Pakistan and India; Media digest
Engaging faith creatively as Electric Picnic returns for a fourth year; Teams return from Africa to three Belfast Presbyteries; Documentary on Knock seeks funding from public; ”Criminally naive" to think assisted dying bill wouldn't put vulnerable at risk - Irish adviser to C of E; The Middle Eastern tree that has prospered at St Columba’s, Portadown; Mothers Union at first Church and Community forum in Africa; Bird of Paradise Ministries - Revd Jerome and Mary interviewed on BBC Radio Ulster; Media digest
Dublin archbishop defends allocation of school places; Are Syrian refugees welcome here? Belfast seminar asks; Mary Sumner Day Celebrated at Derry See House; Canon Robert Reed - a brother’s tribute; Lough Derg is tough - Bishop Donal McKeon on a recent visit; Heritage Week events in Dublin and Glendalough; The Voice of Ireland needs you; Psalms on the go - C of E launches new mobile app; Anglican archbishop says China cross removals must stop; Pope Francis thanks Jordan for welcoming; Christians escaping from ISIS persecution; Media digest
Open day at Historic Dominican church in Cork city; Gallipoli Commemoration service in Lisburn Cathedral; Methodist President’s visit to Dundrum, Newcastle and Downpatrick circuit; Knock shrine - New York pilgrims take first flight to Irish Catholic site; ISIS captures Syrian town - home to thousands of Christians; Media digest
The billboard at Belfast airport spelt out the words sun, sky and ski. A better résumé of my few days in the Mediterranean would have been sun, sex and church - writes Denis Bradley in The Irish News.
Creation Time to focus on climate justice; Documenting Archbishop Gregg’s Papers; Garvagh Spark programme grows in popularity; New church is planned for Lisburn; Bishop Crean calls for special prayers for all involved in Mediterranean refugee crisis; Calais has become a place of ‘tension, violence and death’, says French bishop; Media digest