Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Gaza Hospital Appeal
The recent situation in the Holy Land has put huge pressure on hospitals, including Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza city which is run by Dublin & Glendalough partners in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Dublin & Glendalough has previously supported the hospital by raising funds to refurbish its on–call facilities for staff and for solar panels. Now they are seeking support again and asking for donations to the hospital over the next three weeks.
Last week the newly installed Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, the Most Revd Hosam Naoum, appealed for support for the hospital. Archbishop Naoum said the hospital is in desperate need of funds for fuel for its generators and to purchase emergency medicine and supplies.
Dublin and Glendalough Council for Mission is coordinating the fundraising drive for Al Ahli Hospital until 11 June. During that time donations can be made securely by card via the Christ Church cathedral website at: https://christchurchcathedral.ie/al-ahli
Over the next three weeks the Dean’s Vicar at Christ Church cathedral, the Revd Abigail Sines; Lay Reader at Christ Church, Bray, David Reynolds; Lydia Monds, Education Officer at Bishops’ Appeal; and Chaplain of the King’s Hospital School, Canon Peter Campion, have pledged to walk 100 kilometres – the distance from Gaza city to Jerusalem – in solidarity with all people who are suffering as a result of the latest eruption of violence. Those who would like to join them in expressing solidarity and raising awareness and funds by committing to walking 100 kilometres individually or as a team should email abigail@christchurch.ie
Donations can be made directly to the fund or by sponsoring a walker. Both options are available on the Christ Church cathedral website. All funds raised will be transferred to the Diocese of Jerusalem following the conclusion of the appeal.
The Revd Abigail Sines, organiser the fundraising drive, comments: “In recent years the United Dioceses have built connections of friendship and solidarity through the Jerusalem Link, with previous contributions made to the Al Ahli Hospital as well as the building of friendships through exchange visits. We would like to continue in this relationship of solidarity, even though our plans for further exchanges have had to be placed on pause for another year. We look forward to 2022 when we hope a group of Dublin & Glendalough clergy will make a return visit as part of our joint retreat with colleagues in Jerusalem, and for three lay readers who have been awarded bursaries to take up their selected courses at St George’s College.”
While Anglicans represent only a tiny minority of the population of Gaza, Al Ahli Hospital serves all people of Gaza city without discrimination on religious, gender, social or political grounds.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the Archbishop of Armagh will be the preacher at the Patronal Festival in St Columba’s church, Knock, in East Belfast, where the rector is Canon John Auchmuty.
On Tuesday in St Mary’s cathedral. Limerick, the final talk in a series of free online talks on the theme of ‘2021 Anniversaries’ will be held at 1.15pm when Noreen Elleker, the Tourism Officer in St Mary’s, will speak about the fashion designer, Coco Chanel, marking the 50th anniversary of her death.
The Central Communications Board has produced a beginner’s guide to the Daily Worship app with rhythms of worship from the Book of Common Prayer and daily Bible readings. It is available for Apple and Android devices, through Google Play and the App Store respectively. You can find out more at www.ireland.anglican.org/dailyworshipapp. For any queries about its operation, email dailyworshipapp@ireland.anglican.org
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times