Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Ukraine Appeal
Members of the Church of Ireland are being encouraged to give urgent consideration as to how they can provide accommodation for people fleeing war in Ukraine. This appeal for help is being made further to consultation with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), which manages short–term accommodation needs, in light of the current shortage of accommodation and the need to sustain the momentum for the long run on behalf of people who have lost everything at home.
Anyone who owns or knows of buildings in good or habitable repair for immediate use which could accommodate groups of Ukrainian refugees is asked to contact DCEDIY directly at: ukrainetempaccom@equality.gov.ie
Each local authority has a Community Response Forum which is co–ordinating efforts at the local level. All parishes are also encouraged to contact their Community Response Forum to see how they can support people through the next steps in their journey and to help them integrate with the communities in which they find themselves. Each forum will know best about the needs that exist locally which may, for example, include good quality clothing, bicycles, or offers of transport to help people resettling in more remote accommodation to connect with local support hubs or to attend appointments.
The Department has commended and welcomed the initiatives of Church of Ireland parishes and other organisations around the State for all their generosity to date in response to the crisis.
The chairperson of the Church of Ireland’s Church and Society Commission (CASC), Archbishop Michael Jackson, said the warmth of our welcome is very important, especially for children who make up one in three of the people arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. Many children arriving from Ukraine are unaccompanied.
“The Department has asked for our assistance in this urgent matter which comes at a time when our entire country is struggling to find solutions to a housing and accommodation crisis,” Archbishop Jackson stated.
He added: “I encourage people to embrace this need as an opportunity to develop an ever–expanding understanding of neighbourliness. General Synod passed a motion in May urging Standing Committee to work with parishes and dioceses to identify ways to help those affected by the housing crisis.”
In Calary Church, Co. Wicklow, there will be two concerts to look forward to. This evening, the performers will be Fiachra Garvey (piano) and Patrick Rafter (violin) and on Tuesday, Anna Cashell (violin), Aisling Ennis (harp) and Simon Watterton (piano). To book tickets for these concerts or for more information, please ring John (01) 281 8146 or email derekneilson11@gmail.com
St Patrick’s cathedral, Armagh will host an organ recital by Weston Jennings, tomorrow (Sunday) at 4.00pm. Mr Jennings currently lives in Tyler, Texas, where he serves as Director of Music and Organist of First Presbyterian Church, as well as Artistic Director of the Tyler Civic Chorale. His Armagh programme will include works by Johann Christian Kittel, Felix Mendelssohn–Bartholdy, Lefébure–Wély, George Shearing and Léon Boëllmann. For further information, please contact Carol Conlin: carolconlin@btinternet.com
On Friday, at 1.10pm Summer Music in Sandford continues in Sandford parish church, Ranelagh, where Padraig O’Rourke (baritone) and Michael Grant (piano) will present songs by Vaughan Williams.
The next Certificate in Christian Theology and Practice (CCTP) course will commence in January 2023 and the deadline for application for this course is 14 October. For more information and to apply, please visit the ‘Exploring Ministry’ section on the Church of Ireland Theological Institute (CITI) website – www.theologicalinstitute.ie
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times