Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Supporting Ukraine
The Representative Church Body, the Church of Ireland’s central trustee body, has approved guidance for local churches seeking to accommodate refugees from Ukraine in both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland. This is now available in the Parish Resources section of the Church of Ireland website.
Introducing the guidance, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell, and the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, write: “As part of the Church of Ireland’s response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine, the Property Committee of the RCB has developed most helpful guidelines for members of the Church of Ireland who wish to respond either as individual clergy or as parishes to Ukrainian people who now find themselves in Ireland.
“While the document speaks for itself, one of the key elements in encouraging such outreach is the safety and well–being of all who participate in giving and receiving assistance in this time of human tragedy and devastation.
“We draw particular attention to the Emergency Approval Process which will speed up decision making in a situation where human need accelerates daily.
“We commend this timely initiative and encourage all members of the Church of Ireland to avail of opportunities to serve the needs of displaced persons from Ukraine in whatever ways are humanly possible.”
Late last month in Dublin there was another initiative to support refugees from Ukraine arriving in Dublin & Glendalough when the Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, which is normally a Christmas affair, re–appeared. Led by St Ann’s caretaker, Fred Deane, along with friends and supporters of St Ann’s, the sit out was to raise funds for the United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough’s U&Ukraine appeal. The dioceses have committed to responding practically to the crisis and the U&Ukraine initiative will help meet the needs of Ukrainian people arriving in Ireland. In consultation with community representatives and those working with refugees from Ukraine in the Dublin 1 area, the proposal is to utilise St George and St Thomas’s Church on Cathal Brugha Street as a centre to support those who have arrived here. It is also planned to facilitate worship in the Ukrainian Orthodox tradition to provide pastoral and liturgical ministry to Ukrainians who have been displaced.
A selection of hopeful reports and prayers from our colleagues who are responding to help the people of Ukraine can be viewed on the Church of Ireland’s YouTube channel.
These short videos have been provided by Habitat for Humanity, the ACT Alliance (through the World Council of Churches), the Conference of European Churches, and the Anglican Diocese in Europe. It is hoped that they will be encouraging.
As part of a project funded by the Paul Mellon Centre involving the study of Archbishop Robinson’s collection of over 4,000 16th–18th century prints, the Armagh Robinson Library has organized a series of weekly lunchtime lectures. They will explore the production and collecting of prints in the period up to 1840. The lectures will be delivered via Zoom at 1–2pm each Tuesday from 3 Maty until 7 June. Last Tuesday Ad Stiiman spoke on ‘A Concise History of Prints and Printmaking up to 1800’ and next Tuesday Anthony Griffith from the British Museum will speak on ‘Buyers, Collectors and Connoisseurs: a European Perspective’. Free places may be booked on–line – at http://armagh-robinson-library.arttickets.org.uk – or by e–mail to admin@armaghrobinsonlibrary.co.uk or by telephoning 028/048 3752 3142.
Published in the Friday edition of The Irish Times