| Friday 20th June, 2008 You are here: Home - 20th June 2008 Index Page |
St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir to visit Denmark to welcome Viking ship
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Some of the boy-choristers of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin – complete with their new ‘fleeces’ provided by the Past Choristers’ and Pupils’ Association – seen here with (left to right) Peter Barley; Victor Williams, President of the Past Choristers’ and Pupils’ Association; Alison Young, Director of the Seafield Singers; Martin Cullen TD; and Stephen Burleigh, Honorary Treasurer of the Past Choristers’ and Pupils’ Association.
The boy-choristers and gentlemen of the choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, will be visiting Roskilde in Denmark from 8th-11th August, in conjunction with the arrival of the Sea Stallion from Glendalough on its return from Dublin. Sea Stallion from Glendalough is a replica of an original Viking long ship of that name which was built from Irish oak in Dublin around 1042 AD. It reputedly sailed from the Viking settlement at Wood Quay in Dublin to Roskilde after the Battle of Hastings.
Editorial
AFTER THE REFERENDUM
Two weeks ago, we sounded a seriously cautious note on the Lisbon Treaty, voicing concerns in a variety of areas (Gazette, 30th May, Editorial, page 2). The clear decision now to reject the Treaty has shown tremendous courage on the part of voters in the Republic of Ireland. It is never easy to stand up to powerful people, but, as Gerry Adams said, in this case David won again against Goliath. Indeed, it is gratifying to see Sinn Fein giving such a positive lead; Mary Lou McDonald MEP certainly figures now as a real possible successor in the Sinn Fein leadership in due course. Full Text
Home News
Clogher MU President honoured by local council
Geraldine Beattie, Clogher Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union (MU), was honoured at a recent reception in Omagh Council Offices for her services to the MU. She was presented with a crystal paperweight bearing the Omagh coat of arms by the Chairman of Omagh District Council, Bert Wilson.
Extension opened to Co. Donegal National School
The Rt Revd Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, recently opened a new extension to and refurbishment of the grounds at Welchtown National School, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. This marked the completion of a project which began in April 2006 under the leadership of Julie McGee, the Principal.
Two girls from Connor Diocese receive GB Queen’s Award from International President
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Two girls from St Paul’s parish, Lisburn, Diocese of Connor, recently received the highest award attainable in the Girls’ Brigade – the Queen’s Award – at a ceremony in Belfast attended by the International President, Ruth Chikasa, from Zambia. The girls, Lauren Mulholland (extreme left) and Laura Strain (extreme right), are seen here with (left to right) Morva Brown, President of the Girls’ Brigade NI; Ruth Chikasa; and Lynda Bryans, Patron of the Girls’ Brigade NI.
Visiting Choir
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Members of the choir, ‘Ad Mundi’, from the parish church of Adelsö-Munsö in Sweden, who sang at a recent service of Holy Communion in Taunagh parish church, Riverstown, Diocese of Elphin.
Youth workers meet to share concerns
With the support of the Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD), ten CIYD and diocesan youth workers met recently for their annual conference at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine Retreat Centre in London.
Connor retreat proves a time for ‘recharging the batteries’
A group of nearly forty people from the Diocese of Connor recently undertook a threeday retreat held in the Ammerdown Retreat and Conference Centre, situated half-way between Bristol and Bath, in Somerset. The group included thirty- five Connor clergy, along with the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy; Sr Valerie Thom CA, Greater Shankill Community Evangelist; and Peter Hamill, the Connor Diocesan Training Co-ordinator, who organised the retreat.
Tribute
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Canon Frank Edwin Beamish
The following is the sermon of the Very Revd Patrick Rooke at the funeral service of Canon Frank Beamish, held in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, on Monday 2nd June 2008.
"Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40: 31) This verse was used as a text by a southern bishop at a confirmation service some 65 years ago and remembered ever since by one of the candidates that day; the verse - and the bishop’s expounding on it - played a significant part in what was to lead the candidate to a lifetime of service as a priest of the Church.
Institution
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The Revd Roy Byrne (back row, left) seen following his institution as rector of Drumcondra and North Strand, Diocese of Dublin, with (from left) Sam Battle, people’s churchwarden, Drumcondra; Gladys Gent, people’s churchwarden, North Strand; Archbishop John Neill; Olive Cooper, rector’s churchwarden, North Strand; and Bill Mercer, rector’s churchwarden, Drumcondra.
Anniversary presentation
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Canon Albert Kingston (2nd left) and his wife, Frances (right), seen following a presentation of gifts on behalf of the parishioners of the Ardagh group of parishes, Diocese of Ardagh, to mark the 25th anniversary of Canon Kingston’s institution to the parish. Looking on are Bishop Ken Clarke and Emma Corry, parish secretary and people’s churchwarden.
Parish Profile
St Gall’s Parish, Carnalea, Diocese of Down
By Gazette journalist, Harry Allen
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| Some parishioners of St Gall’s enjoying themselves at last year’s parish fête; this year’s fête takes place on Saturday 21st June. |
In 2005, the Select Vestry of St Gall’s parish, Carnalea, near Bangor, Diocese of Down, took a decision to become a ‘Fair Trade’ church. This means that all tea and coffee served at events after services will have come from a fairly-traded source and the people who provided these drinks will have been paid a fair price for their produce and their labour.
World News
Immediate Church attention needed for greed-driven global food crisis
With an estimated 850 million people suffering from hunger worldwide, nine out of ten of whom live in developing countries, "the scandal of hunger demands the immediate attention of the Churches," said the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, the Revd Dr Samuel Kobia, in a recent statement.
Bishop Gene Robinson in civil union with male partner
Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire, whose 2003 consecration as a bishop has caused an ongoing battle within the Anglican Communion over the issue of sexuality, has joined in a civil union with his male partner of 19 years.
Burundi Church leaders hail ceasefire as end of war
Church leaders in Burundi have welcomed the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the government and the rebel Palipehutu-National Liberation Forces (FNL) as the end of war in the tiny East African country.
Lutheran grouping will not interfere in German gay bishop row
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has said it does not intend to get involved in a controversy surrounding the candidacy of the openly homosexual Horst Gorski for the post of bishop in northern Germany.
CORE duo succeed in Everest climb challenge
Garrett Casey interviews two Irish climbers who attempted
to conquer Mount Everest as part of a fundraising project for an African school
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| Ian Taylor on the summit of Mount Everest |
Ian Taylor from Leixlip and Graham Kinch from Dun Laoghaire, two members of CORE church in Dublin, have succeeded in their attempt to conquer Mount Everest in aid of the Irish charity, ‘Fields of Life’
Insight II
A ‘risky, messy business’
Mary Taylor talks to Ian Smith on the first anniversary
of his appointment as CMS Ireland’s Director of Mission
Ian Smith wants Christians in Ireland to "see mission as God sees it". At the end of his first year in office, he emphasised that mission was for all people, not just one type. He spoke of a need for "breaking open the concept of Church community." Anglicans and others in Ireland, both North and South, he said, avoid treading into each other’s territory for fear of being seen as sheepstealers.
Soap
The Archbishop had moved quickly to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Bishop Arthur Evans, and had called the Episcopal Electoral College for 11th July. In truth, there were only two candidates: the Archdeacon and the Dean.
Popular Culture
Here’s to you, Iris Robinson
Whatever Iris Robinson meant to say, or whatever she thought she was saying when she went on the radio within hours of a brutal homophobic attack to reiterate her assertion that homosexuality is an abomination, her intentions are now lost in headlines that imply Northern Ireland’s politicians can’t wean themselves off a playbook found somewhere near Alabama in the 1950s.
Life Lines
Three cheers for Ruth and Boaz
I saw this cartoon in a theological journal: two bright, young curates chatting. One says: "I’ve made a breakthrough in Old Testament studies. I’ve started reading it!" Good cartoons contain an element of truth. Even Christians who read the Bible regularly (a minority, alas?) feel more at home in the New Testament than the Old Testament, and some succumb to the annoying fallacy that the God of the New is a God of love (good!), while the God of the Old is a God of wrath (ugh!).
Yours Faithfully
Dark weeds
Having coffee with some friends the other day. One of them is a psychiatrist and, I suspect, a closet mystic. We were talking about Jesus’s penchant for winding up the Scribes and the Pharisees. He really seemed to get a kick out of it. Even if I’m projecting (remember, I’m talking to a psychiatrist here), he couldn’t have been an easy man to have as an enemy. Otherwise, I suppose, they wouldn’t have had to crucify him. It seems obvious to us now that those simpering ‘bearded lady’ portrayals of him that you sometimes see in Victorian stained glass seriously missed the mark.
Book Reviews
DEDICATED TO ST. ANNE
Author: Duncan Scarlett
Publisher: Choice Publishing, Drogheda; pp.98
Price: £8.00
A CASE OF CONFIDENCE - SINAI TO ISTANBUL: SPIRITUALITY IN THE BIBLE LANDS
Author: Ian R. Smith
Publisher: Highland Books; pp.256
Price: £6.99
News Extra
St Anne’s Cathedral opens treasury display
As part of Belfast Cathedral’s Festival ’08, a treasury was recently opened in the cathedral to enable its silver to be displayed to the increasing number of tourists and visitors who are coming to Belfast in these more peaceful times. For example, 37 cruise ships are due to visit the port of Belfast this year.
New Charity Commission will consider ‘spiritual’ benefit
Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland has said that it is pleased to learn that the proposed Charity Commission for Northern Ireland will be encouraged to acknowledge the value of intangible or spiritual benefits when deciding whether to grant an organisation charitable status.
Archbishops to honour journalist who took his life
Two archbishops are due to be present today (20th June) at the funeral service in Llandaff Cathedral in Wales for the religious affairs writer and broadcaster, Christopher Morgan.
Appointments