Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland notes from the Irish Times
Bishops’ Appeal Supports Global Emergency Responses
While the health and economic impact of Covid 19 is all too apparent in Ireland, the effects in the developing world, where the most basic resources are often in short supply, is potentially catastrophic. In the light of the global Covid–19 pandemic, Bishops’ Appeal – the Church of Ireland’s World Aid and Development Programme – is releasing a total of €50,000 to five key partner mission and development agencies to support their efforts among the world’s most vulnerable people. The five agencies are Christian Aid, Tearfund Ireland, CMS Ireland, USPG, and Motivation. The emergency responses include distributing essential supplies such as food, soap, medicine and information to people whose markets have shut down and who have no access to supplies, people who live in informal settlements and in refugee camps, and people who are living with a disability.
The Bishop of Tuam, the Rt Revd Patrick Rooke, who is Chair of Bishops’ Appeal, said: ‘Aware of the financial pressures parishes are currently experiencing, the Church of Ireland is not launching its own major appeal but asking dioceses, parishes and individuals to give what they can to the appeals launched by our partner agencies, with Bishops’ Appeal acting as a conduit. In the midst of our own sufferings and fears at this time, it is vital that we remember those in countries with fewer resources and expertise.’
Further donations can be sent to Bishops’ Appeal through its website – www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/give
Christian Aid is using the lessons from the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus. The agency is already taking action in Rohingya refugee camps where 850,000 people live in cramped conditions. Tearfund is working in Ethiopia, Cambodia and Uganda and with Syrian refugees in Lebanon who are living in densely packed conditions waiting for peace and the possibility to return home. CMS Ireland is working with partner churches which are distributing handwashing supplies in refugee camps in northern Uganda. In South Sudan, partner churches are requesting funds for bicycles to help to spread accurate information while the Mothers’ Union in Maridi has been busy making masks for the diocesan clinic. USPG is launching a new fund in solidarity with churches locally across South and East Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Oceania, the Middle East and Europe. USPG has already sent money to Guinea, in West Africa, for the distribution of sanitation kits, and emergency support to families of agricultural labourers in central Sri Lanka. Motivation is working with disabled people in Africa and South Asia who have lost jobs and income, lack access to food and medicine which increases their risk of serious infection.
Tomorrow (Sunday) at 11am, RTE 1 television and RTE Radio 1 Extra will broadcast a service with Christian Aid led by Christian Aid CEO, Rosamond Bennett. The Revd Dr Liz Hughes, Christian Aid Ireland Chairperson, will speak and music by Victoria Johnston of Kilternan parish, and Russell and Isaac Harris from Ignite Community, Blackrock, will be included.
On Friday, the Archbishop of Dublin will chairing an online panel discussion on the response of faith communities to the Covid–19 crisis, which people are invited to join. It is a joint venture between Dublin City Interfaith Forum and the Anglican Church in Finland. Details may be had at https://dublin.anglican.org/news/2020/04/29/webinar-response-of-faith-communities
For those who wish to learn more about life in Dublin & Glendalough the diocesan magazine, Church Review, edited by the Revd Nigel,Waugh is available free for all online at the moment at https://dublin.anglican.org/news/church-review/about-church-review
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times