Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
World Day of the Poor
Dublin’s Homeless Jesus sculpture will act as the focal point for an act of remembrance and commitment to mark World Day of the Poor, tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. The sculpture, which is located in the grounds of Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, will form the centre point for events remembering people who are homeless. It was dedicated in May 2015 by both archbishops of Dublin. The work is a 7ft cast bronze park bench, depicting Christ hidden beneath blankets – his identity betrayed only by the holes in his feet. It was donated to the city by an anonymous benefactor and was the first sculpture to be installed outside North America. It is one of over 100 worldwide.
The Homeless Jesus sculpture, by Canadian sculptor Timothy P. Schmalz, is serving as a catalyst for more than 40 cities around the world to hold events. Each city is putting its own spin on the day; the common denominator is that each event will take place near the city’s iconic statue of Homeless Jesus.
The Dublin event will begin at 3.15pm when people gather around the sculpture. They will then be invited inside the cathedral for Choral Evensong which will include an address by the Very Revd John Collins, a member of the board of the Mendicity Institution. People attending the service are invited to bring contributions of non–perishable food items which will be collected and donated to the Mendicity Institution.
The Mendicity Institution is the oldest working charity in Dublin. Established in 1818, it has been in operation for over 200 years creating opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, isolation and marginalization to live better lives.
In St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, tomorrow (Sunday) an Actors’ Memorial Evensong will be held at 3.15pm.
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin’s 7th candlelit film series, on the theme of ‘Connections’, continues in the Cathedral’s Music Room on Monday evening at 6.30pm when ‘Happy‘ (2011), which explores the concept of happiness throughout the world, will be introduced by Deirdre McGrath of the Dublin Wellness Centre. Admission is free, everyone is welcome and no booking is necessary.
On Wednesday evening the eleventh booklet in the Braemor Studies series, will be launched in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. The Hermeneutics of Humour: a Serious Look at the Lighter Side of Faith by the Revd Ian Mills, Curate of Larne Inver in the Diocese of Connor, will be launched by the Dean of St Patrick’s, Dr William Morton.
In St Mark’s church, Kilbonane, on Thursday evening at 8pm, the Bishop of Cork will licence the Revd David Bowles as Priest–in–Charge of Moviddy union of parishes and as Assistant Chaplain to Cork University Hospital. Mr Bowles has been curate in the Cork parish of Douglas since 2015.
To mark the 150th anniversary of Disestablishment, CITI will host a colloquium on Saturday 30 November, featuring three historians who will speak on Disestablishment and its context within Irish history. Professor Alan Ford will speak on ‘Flagrant breeches: the making, breaking and re–making of the Church of Ireland canons, 1870–1974’; Dr Miriam Moffitt on ‘Truly thankful do I feel: a constitutional crisis averted by the Queen’; and Professor Salvador Ryan on ‘Disestablishment and the Roman Catholic response: a brief survey’. The registration fee is €5 and delegates are asked to pay at registration which will be open from 9.00am. An optional buffet lunch is available for an additional €10. Delegates are asked to email seminar@ireland.anglican.org to register interest and also to indicate whether lunch will be required.
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times