News – April 8

Secret deals on priests' children should not be 'unjust' to mother or child - Irish bishops;  Irish Imam condemns persecution of Christians in Muslim countries;  More names added to evangelical Bethany home memorial;  Paedophile Priest's Order Quitting Co Cavan Abbey; Tales of Brian Boru - for children and adults; Gay teachers suffering 'real anxiety' over religious law; RE teachers 'not ordinary', GB campaigners say;  Media digest

News – April 7

Christians harangued for beliefs - Archbishop Martin;  Vicar of Baghdad to visit Enniskillen;  Methodists in Missional Conversation;  C of I Youth leaders retreat;  Women’s Link Annual Fellowship Day;  St George’s Belfast Bicentenary Recital; Christian Aid 70th Anniversary services;  New Diocesan Youth Officer for Meath and Kildare;  £81k for roof repairs on historic Carrick church;  Causeway Christians Against Poverty appoints extra staff;  Irish pupils packed into biggest classes in the eurozone;  Increase In 'Mixed' Housing in NI Due To Financial Reasons Study Claims; ’Promote gay relationships as positive in school,' teachers say; Ireland recognises famine gift from Choctaw Nation; Archbishop of York gives a stirring, political, Christian message for Easter

News – April 6

Persecution highlighted in Archbishop of Canterbury's Easter sermon and Pope’s ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message;  Derry Church leaders carry Cross through city centre to mark Good Friday;  Archbishop calls on Dubliners to stand up to violence in the city;  Dublin Easter morning Spire inter-church service;  St Patrick’s Deans brought to book;  Willowfield parish Hustings Evening;  Red Cross asylum project launched with Black Santa’s help;  Anglican leader urges world to rally behind Kenya;  Appointment of Anglican Communion Secretary General: Statement from ACC Chair

News – April 4

Clergy urge faithful to give blood in spirit of Holy Week; ‘Homeless Jesus’ sculpture delayed on way to Dublin; Café Church at Kill O’ the Grange Offers Informal Setting for Worship;  Eucharistic Congress will be held in Knock in September;  Christ’s willing sacrifice - Presbyterian Moderator’s Easter message;  Presbyterians to reflect on Christ’s Resurrection at Dawn;  C of I paper’s archives highlight Gallipoli campaign and clergy families war service;  Concerns regarding new head of Anglican Communion Office views on homosexuality and Gafcon links;  WCC condemns terror attack in Kenya;  Islam is world's fastest-growing religion, will equal Christianity by 2050

News – April 3 – Good Friday

Dean from Belfast welcomes Queen at Royal Maundy service in Sheffield;  Good Friday Stations of the Cross walk in Nenagh;  Passion play tonight in Down Cathedral;  Woman Church warden and mayor of new super council;  Enniskillen teacher to give organ recital In St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh;  Exhibition of stage clothes to benefit Dungarvan parish;  Engage Connor Youth Plans Streetreach In North Belfast;  Seedtime and Ploughman’s Service;  First Palm Sunday Walk of Witness in Belvoir;  Revd Canon Jack Mercer - a lovely and godly man;  Church of Scotland says more must be done to get Scots online;  Nigerian bishop to be Anglican Communion’s next Secretary General;  Influential black-led coalition breaks with US Presbyterians over gay marriage;  Pope Francis told to lay off pasta after apparent weight gain;  Media digest

News – April 2

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

TV and Radio broadcasts Easter 2015

An overview of BBC, Radio Ulster and RTE schedules

News – April 1

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

News – March 31

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

News – March 30

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

News – March 28

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

News – March 27

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

News – March 26

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

News – March 25

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

News – March 24

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

News – March 23

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

News – March 20

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

News – March 20

‘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

News – March 19

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

News – March 18

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

News – March 17

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

News – March 16

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

News – March 14

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

St Patrick’s Day review of services, events and places to visit

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

News – March 13

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

News – March 12

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

News – March 11

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

News – March 10

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

News – March 9

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

This Week’s Focus

Spring Cleaning with Jesus