Irish Times Notes08 Dec 18

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

New Governor for Anglican Centre in Rome

The Governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome have announced the appointment of the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, as the Chair of the Board of Governors from 1st January 2019. Bishop Burrows will succeed the Rt Revd Stephen Platten, former Bishop of Wakefield, and who has served the Anglican Centre in Rome for three decades, the last fifteen years as chair.

Bishop Burrows said, “I’m very honoured to have been invited to become the Chair of the Governors of the ACR. For many years I have admired its vital and fruitful work, and I have been personally enriched through participation in courses and events there. The Centre is renowned as a place of learning, hospitality and presence – a veritable ‘embassy’ for Anglicanism in the heart of Rome. It will be a privilege to make a contribution to its governance.”

The Anglican Centre in Rome is the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s personal representative to the Holy See, and thus works closely with the instruments of unity of the Anglican Communion, the Roman Catholic Church, and other ecumenically minded bodies, for reconciliation, peace–making, and greater, visible, unity among the Christian Churches and all people. The current representative is Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi, former Primate of Burundi. The Centre also works as a place of pilgrimage, education, and encounter for all Anglicans and Episcopalians from around the world: it is the Anglican Communion’s ‘home in Rome’.

Bishop Burrows is also to be the leader of a forthcoming retreat for which booking is now open. Organized by the Church of Ireland Commission on Ministry, the retreat is an invitation to journey through Holy Week with a central but under–explored player in the Passion drama – Judas Iscariot. Through addresses, daily worship, silence and contemplation, Bishop Burrows will explore the mystery and problem of Judas. As the week continues, he will challenge participants to ask how meeting Judas in a new way may also be an encounter with some unfamiliar aspects of ourselves. This is a residential retreat, based at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, beginning with lunch on the Monday of Holy Week and ending on the morning of Good Friday. Some places will be available for non–resident participants at €120 while the residential cost will be €250. For further information please contact Dr Bridget Nichols at bridgetnichols@theologicalinstitute.ie or (00353) (1) 499 7279.

Tomorrow (Sunday) morning at 11.10am, a Service of the Word will be broadcast on RTE 1 television. The service will be led by the Rector of Howth, Canon Kevin Brew, with parishioners from St Mary’s church, Howth. The Archbishop of Dublin will preside and preach at services in the Blessington union of parishes, Co. Wicklow, where the rector is Canon Leonard Ruddock.

The annual lunchtime Carol Service in aid of Peata Therapy Dogs will be held in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, on Tuesday at 1.15pm followed by tea and mince pies courtesy of the Friends of Christ Church.

On Thursday at 1pm the Archbishop of Dublin will be in Dawson Street for the official launch of the annual Black Santa Charity Appeal at St Ann’s Church. In the evening at 7.30pm in St Philip’s Church, Milltown, there will be a Christmas Concert and Sing–along with Sandford and St Philip’s Choral Union and Choral Scholars followed by mince pies and mulled wine. Admission is free with a collection in aid of the St Philip’s Church Organ Fund.