Diocesan News
Finding Peace in Advent
Christ Church Cathedral, a Cathedral of Sanctuary
In Dublin and Glendalough’s second video for Advent 2021, we visit Christ Church Cathedral which was designated Ireland’s first Cathedral of Sanctuary in February 2016. The award recognised their contribution to building a community to welcome newcomers. Watch the video below.
Inspired by the question put to Jesus: ‘But who is my neighbour?’ Christ Church Cathedral embarked on a journey to become a Cathedral of Sanctuary. At the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus asks, ‘Which of these three was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The teacher replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy’ and Jesus said to him ‘Go and do likewise’. This was the rationale behind the decision to become a Cathedral of Sanctuary. Dean’s Vicar at Christ Church Cathedral, the Revd Abigail Sines, explains how their journey took shape.
Meanwhile Syrian architect and artist Muhammad Achour tells of his involvement with Christ Church through two exhibitions he organised there. Mohammad is a member of Places of Sanctuary, a member of Places of ARcture (a group pf artists, architects and educators advocating for engaging art and architecture within the youth in local communities and refugees camps) and a founder member of Art Nomads (a group of artists hailing from around the world). He facilitated an exhibition during Refugee Week this year in Christ Church Cathedral featuring art by school children in Aleppo, Syria. Visitors to the exhibition in Dublin were invited to write down their reflections and messages for the children. These have been compiled into a book and are on their way back to the children in Aleppo.
Follyvi Simon is from Togo and speaks of how he has been embraced by the cathedral community. His involvement has helped him to learn many things and he speaks of the first time he read a lesson in English during a service marking Refugee Week this year. Abigail points out that this is very much a two–way process with the cathedral community being enriched through its reaching out to welcome newcomers.
You can learn more about Christ Church’s work as a Cathedral of Sanctuary on their website: www.christchurchcathedral.ie/cathedral–of–sanctuary. You can learn about Places of Sanctuary here: www.ireland.cityofsanctuary.org
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Dublin & Glendalough
087 235 6472
Mrs Lynn Glanville
dcodublin@gmail.com