Diocesan News
News from around the Church of Ireland
Happy Christmas in advance! Welcome to our weekly round–up of news from around the Church of Ireland’s dioceses and parishes. Please click on the links in each report to read the full story – and also keep an eye out for longer, more occasional, features on major appointments and other significant initiatives.
This week’s selection of stories comes from:
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork
24 hour sit–out raises £5,500 for mental health charity
Rector of Drumbeg, the Revd Willie Nixon, has raised £5,500 for a local mental health charity through his annual festive 24 hour sit–out. Willie and his daughter Anna took up their posts at the end of the church’s driveway at 8.00pm on Sunday evening and, with the help of parishioners and supporters, braved the elements for a full 24 hours. The funds raised will go to Made for More, a local Christian charity which delivers mental health and well–being workshops to young people. Willie and Anna received a visit from Project Manager Jamie Meiklem and a group of local councillors also dropped by to lend their support.
Congratulations to the Carlow Union of Parishes Eco–Group who have won the Gold Award from Eco–Congregation Ireland for their great work. Read about their achievement and about how they did it. They also encourage other parishes to make a start as well.
Live Animal Crib opens at Dublin’s Mansion House
Archbishop Michael Jackson was at the Mansion House in Dublin on Monday morning (13th December) for the official opening and blessing of the Irish Farmers’ Association Live Animal Crib. He joined the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland, and the President of the IFA, Tim Cullinan, as well as Imam Jameel Mutoola, a fellow member of the Dublin City Interfaith Forum.
‘Rebuilding and revitalising faith needed’
The Clogher Diocesan Synod took place by Zoom on Thursday, 25th November, when the Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd Dr Ian Ellis, in his first Presidential Address referred to the strength of faith of parishes and looked to rebuilding of the church as we emerge from the Covid pandemic.
Bishop Paul Colton blesses new runway at Cork Airport
On Saturday, 20th November 2021, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, attended the re–opening of Cork Airport after having been closed for ten weeks due to the reconstruction of the main runway.
‘People and Places’ series visits Moviddy
In this last video in this series before Christmas, the Revd David Bowles shows us around the churches of Moviddy Union, including some spectacular ruins.
Following the Star in Knockbreda
A ‘Follow the Star’ event in and around Knockbreda Parish Church on Saturday, 11th December, proved a big hit with local families. Participants picked up their star maps and then headed off in search of the star clues in order to break the Christmas code and discover the meaning of Christmas. Once they had completed the trail everyone was then able to share the decoded Christmas message with Santa himself who gave everyone a Christmas gift for their efforts.
Barks ring out for Christmas as Peata Carol Service returns
Peata therapy dogs and their owners made a very welcome return to Christ Church Cathedral for their traditional Peata Carol Service on Tuesday, 14th December. After a gap of one year the service went ahead and while numbers in attendance were reduced, the dogs and their owners enjoyed a joyful reunion.
An Bíobla Naofa presented to St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork
On Saturday, 11th December, Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise presented a copy of ‘An Bíobla Naofa’ to St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork. An Bíobla Naofa is a translation from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek Bible texts into Irish which was completed in 1981.
79th Anniversary of the Cork Harbour Tragedy
Also on 11th December, the Rector of Cobh and Glanmire Union of Parishes, the Revd Canon Paul Arbuthnot, led the act of worship at the 79th anniversary of the Cork Harbour Tragedy. On 12th December 1942, five men from the Marine Service died during a storm in the harbour.
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