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Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Support for India

The Bishops’ Appeal, which is the Church of Ireland’s principal agency for assisting the developing world, has released €10,000 in emergency funding to support two frontline agencies responding to India’s second coronavirus wave: Asha, a Christian charity working in communities in Delhi; and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).  Donations in support of this appeal can be made online or by post using the reference ‘CIBA India Covid Relief’ and all details about how to contribute can be found here

Asha has committed supporters across the world and enjoys good relations with development agencies, diplomatic missions and governments. It is well–placed to bring medical treatment and to model good practice in terms of hygiene and face–coverings. Asha’s founder, Dr Kiran Martin, who has worked in over 60 slum communities in Delhi for 25 years, has made an impassioned plea for support.  The agency needs N95 masks and medical masks, nebulisers, pulse oximeters and thermal scanners, steroids and anti–coagulants, or the funds to purchase the supplies.  Her team is treating people who present with Covid in their homes. 

Médecins Sans Frontières has restarted its emergency response amid a surging second wave of Covid–19 in Mumbai, in Maharashtra state. The city’s population density, poverty, and poor hygiene conditions are a triple trigger for the virus to breed, infect and spread rapidly. Among many other responses, MSF is supporting two units within a jumbo hospital in Mumbai. The units will include two tents with the capacity for around 1,000 intensive care beds in each.

On Tuesday in St Mary’s cathedral, Limerick, the second in a series of free online talks on the theme of ‘2021 Anniversaries’ will begin at 1.15pm when the Precentor, Canon Patrick Comerford, will speak about the Limerick scientist, John D. Bernel, marking the 50th anniversary of his death. In Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, at 7.30pm, online via the cathedral webcam, there will be a short meditation on the theme of ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, in anticipation of Pentecost Sunday. The evening will include a focus on breathing with gentle body awareness along with a short scripture reflection to help participants to enter into a time of prayer for the needs of our loved ones and the world around us.

The Property Department of the RCB has advised of some opportunities that may be of interest to parishes and dioceses as they consider their property needs at this time and going forward.

Parishes in Northern Ireland are reminded that the grants deadline for the National Churches Trust’s ‘Treasure Ireland‘ initiative is Tuesday, 1 June.  Parishes are encouraged to get in touch with the Representative Church Body’s Property Department to find out more: property@rcbcoi.org. Among therecipients of recent grants have been the cathedrals in Belfast, Dromore and Enniskillen, the churches  of Kiltermon (Clogher) and Termonamongan (Derry) and the Belfast parishes of St Simon and St Columba’s, Knock, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

Sustainability and the Built Environment’ – a free webinar hosted by the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) Ireland will be held on Thursday, 20 May, at 12.30pm. A 10–part online Vernacular Irish Buildings Lecture Series, with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Ireland, is to start in August and run weekly until October.  Details of this and a new podcast series will be released soon.  Check in at SPAB’s website for more information.

More information on sources of funding for property and caring for your church is available in the Parish Resources section of the Church of Ireland website.

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