Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Petertide Ordinations
One of the pleasures of July is to read in the Church Times about the Petertide ordinations. A substantial insert carries accounts of the ordinations in each of the dioceses of the Church of England. The newly ordained are listed and photographed with their bishops and a number of short features discuss some individuals, highlighting the considerable diversity in background, training and outlook which is such a feature of the ordained ministry today. Not only is this a wonderful shop window for the Church of England and its theological colleges but it is also a powerful evocation of the continuing presence of the Church in the modern world.
Although it was customary to ordain priests and deacons at the Ember seasons, and especially in December, it is now more usual for Anglican ordinations to take place on the Feast of St Peter (29 June) rather than on Trinity Sunday. Until recently that too was the practice of the Church of Ireland with Peteride ordinations, being, in many ways, the highlight of the year but this is no longer the case. The introduction of a new training schedule in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute now sees ordinands ordained as ‘deacons intern’ in their third year of training, usually in the autumn, and then priested in the following autumn. The jury remains out on the effectiveness of this new model of training but many regret the loss of the Petertide ordinations and the sense of solidarity with the wider Anglican Communion that it offered. Ten ordinands will be made deacons in August and September. There are eighteen deacons serving as interns but when they will be raised to the priesthood remains unclear.
The Donabate Parish Fete will take place at 2pm today (Saturday) in the church field in Donabate with plenty of entertainment for all the family – stalls, teas, pony rides and the St George’s Brass Band in attendance.
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning, at 11am, RTE 1 will televise a service with the congregation of Douglas parish, Cork, led by the Rector of Douglas and Archdeacon of Cork, the Ven. Adrian Wilkinson. In Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, the services will be sung by the Chapel Choir of St Paul’s College, Hong Kong, while in St Patrick’s cathedral, the choir of St Mary’s cathedral, Limerick, will sing the services.
On Wednesday the lunchtime concert in St Mary’s cathedral, Limerick, will be given by soprani, Ellen Collins and Eve Stafford, accompanied by Peter Barley.
The 37th St Barrahane’s Church Festival of Music began last week in Castletownshend. Next Thursday evening at 8pm there will be a Music Ireland recital with Riona O’Duinnin (flute), Duanne Marshall (harp) and Beth McNinch (viola).
In Dublin, ‘Summer Music at Sandford 2017’ continues at lunchtime on Friday in Sandford parish church, Ranelagh, where pianist, Adam McDonagh, will play works by Mozart, Brahms and Ravel. In Skibbereen, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross, Dr Paul Colton, will attend the first West Cork History Festival where the keynote address will be given by Professor Roy Foster. Dr Colton is one of the patrons of the festival.
At a recent meeting of the choir members of St. Brigid’s cathedral, Kildare, the former Dean of Cashel, Dr. Philip Knowles, was elected as public relations officer for the choir and Sandra Brennan, a cathedral parishioner as secretary. The choir, drawn from many districts, sing at a number of cathedral services including the St. Brigid’s Festival service, the Diocesan Harvest Thanksgiving service, the Christmas Carol service. and on other special occasions.
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times