The Standing Committee of the Church of Ireland yesterday (Tuesday March 11) elected the Revd Gillian Wharton (pictured) as Clerical Honorary Secretary of General Synod. Ms Wharton, who is Rector of Booterstown and Carysfort with Mount Merrion in Dublin, succeeds the Ven Robin Bantry White who retired last month. 

The election has been welcomed by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson who said:

“It was a great pleasure to me to be in the chair at the Standing Committee and to announce the appointment of the Revd Gillian Wharton as Honorary Secretary of the General Synod. Gillian makes history in undertaking this role. She brings considerable energy, enthusiasm and experience to the central workings of the Church of Ireland.  We in Dublin and Glendalough are very proud of Gillian in this regard and wish her God’s richest blessing in her new responsibilities.” 

Ms Wharton said that she was honoured by the appointment but slightly daunted by the job ahead. She commented:

“I am very honoured that Standing Committee has elected me, but slightly daunted too, as I’m conscious that there are big shoes to fill; Archdeacon Robin Bantry White was an excellent Clerical Honorary Secretary; his knowledge of the Church of Ireland and his wise thoughtfulness meant that he brought clarity to complex issues. There is a lot ‘take on board’ so I will be relying heavily on the other three honorary secretaries to bring me ‘up to speed’.  I look forward to working with them and to doing the job to the best of my ability.” 

Ms Wharton has been Rector of Booterstown and Carysfort with Mount Merrion since 2004. Prior to that she was chaplain to Rathdown School for four and a half years. From 1996 to 2000 she was part time Curate of the Leixlip Union and part time Diocesan Youth Officer. She was Curate of Glenageary from 1993 to 1996.

Currently she is Honorary Clerical Vicar and Chapter Clerk of Christ Church Cathedral. She is a member of General Synod, Standing Committee, the General Synod Board of Education and Diocesan Councils of Dublin and Glendalough among others. 

Ms Wharton’s appointment by Standing Committee must be ratified by General Synod when it meets in May.

Archbishop Michael Jackson has appointed the Revd Dr William Olhausen (pictured) as his Theological Advisor.

Commenting on the appointment, the Archbishop said: “I am delighted that the Revd Dr William Olhausen has accepted my invitation to be my Theological Advisor in the service and leadership I seek to offer within Dublin and Glendalough Dioceses.

“William has shown himself to be assured in the area of hermeneutics and through his pivotal contributions to the Biblical Association for the Church of Ireland. He also puts these talents and gifts at the service of parish and diocese.

“As we actively develop vision and mission in these dioceses I know that William will be invaluable in the contribution and commitment he will provide in the service of God and neighbour. His capacity is unquestioned as is his energy.

“Theological derivation along with theological underpinning are essential to the work of mission and the articulation of vision. I know that William will open up new pathways for us in all ways which are attractive and principled.”

Dr Olhausen said he was looking forward to the opportunities the role presented. He stated: “I am honoured to have been asked by Archbishop Michael to become his theological advisor. These are challenging but exciting times for our church and I Iook forward to assisting him in any way that I can in furthering God’s mission in these United Dioceses.” 

The Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Committee for Social Action has launched a new ‘Handy to Have’ leaflet. The leaflet has been distributed to parishes throughout the dioceses and contains contact details for a wide range of support groups and helplines which are handy to have.

The leaflet provides contact information for those looking for help on issues such as abuse, addiction and matters affecting children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

There are also contact details for organisations providing counselling and support, homelessness and financial advice and help for immigrants.

The leaflets can be obtained in parishes and any parishes requiring additional copies can obtain them from the diocesan office. It will also be available to view and download from the Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Website at www.dublin.anglican.org/socialaction.

Photo Caption: Pictured are Scott Hayes of Ecclesiastical Insurance, who have supported the venture; the Revd Isaac Delamere, chairperson of the Social Action Committee, Archbishop Michael Jackson, and committee members, Nigel Warburton, David Whyte and Mildred Beresford.

A Lenten Reflection Series focusing on the theme of Compassion is being explored jointly by Bishops’ Appeal and the Church’s Ministry of Healing Ireland.  The series will reflect upon theological and practical aspects of compassion and will root its exploration in both the local and the global context. 

The opening reflection is provided by Jessica Stone who is the Ministry Coordinator for the Church’s Ministry of Healing.  It is a powerful extract from a reflection Jessica delivered at the Bishops’ Appeal Conference in February where energetic calls to respond to poverty and injustice were balanced by this reminder that in order to love others and respond compassionately to their needs in a way that is not determined by our energy levels, circumstances and emotional reserves, we need to constantly return to the Infinite Source of compassion.  Only when we are filled can we then turn and bless others. 

The reflection can be found at: http://ministryofhealing.ie/thoughts/tapping-into-gods-compassion-this-lent/ and http://bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/prayer-and-reflection

The Central Communications Board’s annual Magazine, Website and Social Media Competition is now open and invites entries within each category (details below) from Church of Ireland parishes, dioceses and associated organisations as well as individuals whose social media activity clearly relates to Church activity/outreach/witness. Quality of presentation, strength of content and outreach potential are once again to be the standards of excellence against which entries will be judged. The closing date is Friday 11 April 2014. Winners will be announced at the General Synod in Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, 8–10 May 2014.

Parish and Diocesan magazines are important for the exchange of news and views across Church communities and printed media continues to play a vital role within the life of the Church of Ireland. In addition, websites are now firmly established as vehicles which allow the wider community to know about and participate in the life of the Church of Ireland, whether in parishes, dioceses or organisations, as well as helping ‘internal communications’ by providing the hub for information and enabling increasing interaction. Beyond this, social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, E–zines, Flickr, along with Vimeo and YouTube video content and blogs have created two–way platforms for communications, providing a potentially vast audience and offering innovative ways to assist in the Church’s ministry. Within the Church of Ireland there are good examples of how all these various forms of communication are being used to build Christian community and communicate the Christian faith. This competition is an opportunity to learn what others are doing, to showcase good work and to join in.

CCB Chairman, the Rt Revd Trevor Williams, says: “Progress is only possible with good communication. Without it confusion and disintegration are inevitable. As a Church, those who assist our communications assist us in living as the Body of Christ. Communications is a ministry we value and want to develop.  This competition is more than finding winners. The intention of this competition is to learn from one another, to encourage more people to get involved, and to express our gratitude to all who serve the Church so faithfully in the ministry of communication. Be part of the Church of Ireland Communication community, and send in your entry.”

In the Magazine section entries are invited in three print media categories:

• Diocesan Magazine
• Parish Magazine/Newsletter
• Church of Ireland affiliated organisation Magazine/Newsletter

In the Website section entries are invited in three categories:

• Diocesan Website
• Parish Website
• Church of Ireland affiliated organisation Website

In the Social Media and Blogs section, two categories:

• Most innovative use of  social media e.g. Facebook, Twitter, E–bulletin etc
• Most engaging Blog

Entries are welcome from any committee or group associated with the Church of Ireland.

Please obtain an entry form for Magazines, Websites, and Social Media categories from Jenny Compston, Church of Ireland Press Office (by email: press@ireland.anglican.org or phone: from NI 028 9082 8880, from RoI 048 9082 8880) and send entries as follows:

N.B. Magazines and Newsletters – one recent copy – must be sent in hard copy with entry form to Jenny Compston, Press Office, Church of Ireland House, 61–67 Donegall St, Belfast, BT 1 2QH, Northern Ireland.

Website and Social Media entry forms should be sent with an example or link including a description of  the technology, how applied and the objective of the initiative to Jenny Compston, Press Office, Church of Ireland House, 61–67 Donegall St, Belfast, BT 1 2QH, Northern Ireland or to press@ireland.anglican.org .

Remember: the closing date for entries is Friday 11 April 2014

This Saturday morning, March 22, the latest Open Doors Quiet Morning will be held in Christ Church Cathedral.

The quiet mornings are designed to support those who seek a more contemplative way of life in the Christian tradition or who are interested in creating opportunities for silent reflection on the action of God in the midst of life.

This month the quiet morning will be led by Amada Dillon. Amanda is an artist with a passion for the spiritual life and she will use art to inspire during the times set aside for reflection.

Amanda says: “Works of art, both ancient and modern, may often reach places in the soul that words do not. The secret is to have the time to engage with these in a reflective and leisurely way.”

The morning begins at 10.00 am in the ancient east end of Christ Church Cathedral, which will be set aside for the morning’s reflections. Booking is not required but if you would like more information about the morning, contact the Rev’d Garth Bunting at the cathedral on 01 6778099 or garth.bunting@cccdub.ie.

Amanda assures all those coming that no artistic experience or knowledge is necessary and encourages people to come along and try out a quiet morning if they’ve never been to one before. “Art has another way of speaking to us about the spiritual journey and engaging us in contemplative practice. Beauty refreshes and restores and this is an opportunity to set aside for yourself a little time and space to gently enter into that,” she explains.

More information about the cathedral’s spirituality programme can be found on the cathedral website http://www.christchurchdublin.ie/Worship/Spirituality.htm. 

Redemptorist priest, Fr Tony Flannery was in Powerscourt yesterday evening (March 19) speaking about his experiences over the last two years. The Galway priest, who was silenced by the Vatican in 2012, addressed parishioners of Powerscourt and St Mary’s, Enniskerry, as part of a series of ecumenical Lenten talks in Powerscourt New School Hall.

The talks have been coordinated by the Revd Terry Lilburn, curate assistant of Powerscourt and Kilbride and Dr Tom Carey of St Mary’s Parish. This year’s theme is ‘Credo – I Believe’ and Fr Flannery spoke about how more than 40 years of being a Redemptorist priest and his experience over the last two years had affected his faith.

Outlining his journey to Ordination, Fr Flannery said he was the youngest of four boys who all joined the religious life. They lived close to a Redemptorist monastery in Galway and the priests there suggested sending the boys to the Redemptorist boarding school in Limerick. All four brothers went on to join the seminary.

He said it was difficult to recall his motivation for joining the seminary 50 years ago. He grew up next to a Bord na Mona bog and of his class in primary school, just two others went on to secondary school – the rest went to work on the bog or emigrated to Birmingham. He said his parents were ambitious for their sons and didn’t want that for them.

When Fr Flannery joined the Redemptorists he was 17. There were a lot of other young men joining at the time and it was also the era of the Second Vatican Council. “It was an exciting time and we had a vision of a whole new Church,” he recalled. “Did that have anything to do with my beliefs? Belief and faith are complicated things.”

However, he recalled the visit of Pope John Paul II and said that contrary to the great enthusiasm felt nationally, he came away from the youth event in Galway with a sinking feeling. “It was partly to do with what he said but mostly to do with his face… I remember thinking that the era of openness was over,” he said.

Fr Flannery said he wasn’t an academic and felt the Vatican would not have noticed him had he not been one of the founding members of the Association of Catholic Priests. “We were independent and spoke with an independent voice. We were pushing out the boundaries… we became well known spokespeople on anything to do with the Church and the Vatican didn’t like that. I don’t know why they picked on me in particular,” he stated.

He said they objected to a couple of articles he wrote on the origins of the priesthood but he said the Vatican also wanted him to state that he accepted that women would never be ordained to the priesthood in the Catholic Church and that he accepted the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, which he said included its stance on contraception. He said this was the breaking point and he knew in the autumn of 2012 that he would not be let back into ministry.

His experience has resulted in a lot of disillusionment, Fr Flannery said. “I think I still believe in God and I’m very much trying to work out what God I believe in. In my earliest days, God and religion were mediated to me through the Church, and by that I mean the institutional Church, and my view of the Church is different now. So of course that affects my view of God. So I’m in the in between time,” he stated.

The talks in Enniskerry continue for the next three Wednesdays. For details see the events section on dublin.anglican.org. 

Photo captions:

Top – Fr Tony Flannery addressing the audience in Powerscourt School Hall.

Bottom – Rector of Powerscourt and Kilbride, Archdeacon Ricky Rountree; Dr Tom Carey of St Mary’s Parish, Enniskerry; Fr Tony Flannery; and the Revd Terry Lilburn, curate assistant of Powerscourt and Kilbride.

Dublin City Interfaith Forum is organising an exciting programme to introduce people to some of the diverse faith communities located on Dublin’s Southside. Faith in the City gets underway next Monday, March 24, and will focus on the thriving Baha’i, Jewish and Christian communities within a small area of Dublin’s suburbs.

The introductory talks, aimed and providing an understanding of the different faiths, will be hosted in the centres or places of worship of the different communities and will run from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm on four evenings.

The first talk, on Monday evening March 24, will focus on the Presbyterian community, taking place in Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church, 18a Adelaide Road, Dublin 2.

People will have the opportunity to learn about the Baha’i community on Monday March 31 in the National Baha’i Centre, 24 Burlington Road, Dublin 4.

On Tuesday April 8 it will be the turn of the Church of Ireland, hosted by St Bartholomew’s Church, Clyde Road, Dublin 4.

The final talk will be on the Jewish community on Monday April 28 in the Irish Jewish Museum, 3 Walworth Road, Dublin 8.

Everyone is welcome to attend all or some of the talks.

DCIF works with interested members of faith communities to deliver interfaith gatherings and activities in Dublin City.

Recognising the diverse nature of the backgrounds of the residents of Dublin, DCIF seeks to provide the space and opportunity for Faith Communities to build relationships with and between Dublin City communities, statutory and voluntary organisations and the residents of Dublin City.

Download the poster for the programme here.

Members of boards of management of Church of Ireland primary schools from all over Ireland gathered in the King’s Hospital School, Palmerstown, for the fourth annual CIPSMA Conference, yesterday, Saturday March 22.

The Church of Ireland Primary School Management Association had lined up a wide variety of speakers whose subjects ranged from the work of the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills to supporting small rural schools in England. Legal matters affecting schools and boards of management and the recently published anti–bullying procedures were also covered and those in attendance also received an insight into being a school patron.

The conference, which received support from Ecclesiastical Insurance, opened with a service in the school chapel led by the chaplain, Canon Peter Campion.

WORK OF INSPECTORATE

Proceedings got underway with an address by Gary Ó Donnchadha, deputy chief inspector with the Department of Education and Skills who spoke about synergies for better learning, linking the work of boards of management and the Inspectorate. He said that a huge piece of work carried out by the OECD on quality in schools concluded that good practice is needed in all areas such external inspections and teacher appraisals. But the study also found that synergies, such as links between the Inspectorate and school boards, were very important in ensuring quality.

Mr Ó Donnchadha explained how the Inspectorate works and acknowledged with work of all involved in boards of management. He said all involved in school management should have ideas about high quality schools. He added that it was important that boards acquaint themselves with the codes of professional conduct as articulated by teachers through the teaching council. He advised those present that, following and external evaluation of their school, board members should find out what themes arose from the inspection and follow up on what the school is doing regarding recommendations made.

SMALL SCHOOLS AND CHANGING POPULATIONS

Director of Education with the Dioceses of Lincoln, Jacqueline Waters–Dewhurst, gave an interesting talk on small schools and changing populations. She said that immigration presented opportunities to serve the immigrant communities and indigenous communities. Lincoln has a lot of small rural schools with lot of Eastern European immigrant children whose parents come to work in farming. She said that small rural schools often struggled to be sustainable. Increasing immigration solved the numbers issue but did present challenges.

However, Ms Waters–Dewhurst said that schools must embrace the challenge of integrating children of immigrant communities on a number of grounds. Pragmatically, more children result in bigger schools and more staff meaning a better offer for all the school’s children. She said Church schools also have a duty in this regard. “In Church of England schools we do it for the local community, whatever that community looks like,” she commented. Education will benefit as local children will extend their knowledge and experience of the mixed world in which they live. She said that, contrary to what is often perceived, involving children with English as an additional language had a positive effect on school pupil performance.

“Welcoming pupils with different cultures and languages into your schools has positive effects on the indigenous pupils as well as the immigrant pupils. What’s important in church schools is to remember what’s at your core – what are your values – what do your schools believe. Your values will be what you call upon when you decide how welcoming your school is to the stranger in your midst,” she stated.

LEGAL MATTERS

In the afternoon Margaret Gorman, formerly of the CPSMA and now working for Eversheds, highlighted legal developments in education. She referred to recent seminal court cases and their implications for school boards. She told the members of boards present: “You have your procedures. Make sure you use your procedures. But the procedures need to be updated,” she said. She also spoke about bullying, harassment and stress at work, which she said was disproportionately high among school staff. Equality requirements and issues for the ethos of a school and what to do in family law disputes were also covered.

Solicitors, Brian and Marianne Matthews talked about school anti–bullying procedures. Mr Matthews explained that the new anti–bullying procedures from the department were not optional. He said there was a movement away from the traditional model of bullying of sustained multi incident problems to include once off incidents such as a hurtful post of Facebook, which while it may only happen once, has a sustained impact until it is taken down. He said the school’s anti–bullying procedures must be linked into their code of behaviour. Schools must have an appropriate policy in place and ensure that everyone in the school community knew what to do and who to tell, he stated.

Ms Matthews said that including appropriate social media messages in schools’ anti–bullying policies was vital. Parents needed to be included as they needed to monitor what their children were doing on Facebook and Twitter. But Ms Matthews reminded people that attaching the label of bullying was very damaging to the bully and it was important to investigate the allegation carefully. Children needed to be educated in school as to the appropriate use of social media and how it could affect them later in life, she added.

BEING A PATRON

The Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, gave the final presentation of the day on the role of the patron. As patron of 28 schools in seven counties he said that a large slice of his work as Bishop was taken up with patronage. “School communities have a legitimate expectation of their patron – that they will know us,” the Bishop stated. He said he had been told during a visit to one school that he was the ethos of the school and agreed that in some ways as patrons travelled around the schools they epitomised the characteristic of the school by their presence. He said it was important not to micro manage but that teachers and chairpersons knew that he was available to talk to.

Bishop Burrows asked if it was wise that school patrons remained individual human beings or whether a corporate patron should be set up for the Church of Ireland. He suggested that there was a strong argument for individual patronage with stronger backup than that available currently, although he praised the wonderful support that he received from Dr Ken Fennelly and Eimear Ryan in Church House. Speaking on the subject of ethos, the Bishop said: “Defining ethos is more difficult than defining the Blessed Trinity. However, what patron can convey is that this is a faith based place. We need to reflect on what faith based education is. It is often related to worshiping community of parish. It is not about tribalism. It is not about us and them. It is the acknowledgement that in a place devoted to learning that it will be part of the reality of being human that some things will remain unknowable. If something is mathematical or formulaic, then it is not faith based”.

He wondered what the future held for patronage and suggested that Minister Quinn would like patrons to be abolished. However, he said he had never met any hostility as a patron and never met visceral opposition to the idea that he was a patron. “The anti clericalism in Ireland is over estimated,” he stated. “There is more of a soul to this country than the newspapers would have us believe and it will go on. It will change. We may have more co–located schools… We will have more Christian schools and fewer denominational schools. So we need to have a more robust definition of why we have faith based schools,” he said.

Photo captions:

Top – Revd Dr Norman Gamble, the Revd Brian O’Rourke, Jacqueline Waters–Dewhurst, Scott Hayes, the Revd Lorraine Kennedy Richie, Gary Ó Donnchadha and Dr Ken Fennelly.

Bottom – Marianne Matthews, Margaret Gorman, Scott Hayes, Bishop Michael Burrows, Eimear Ryan, Dr Ken Fennelly and the Revd Dr Norman Gamble.

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, was filled almost to capacity this afternoon, Sunday March 23, for the Installation of the 12th Canon and the new Canon Treasurer by Dean Dermot Dunne in the presence of Archbishop Michael Jackson.

Canon David Gillespie was Installed as 12th Canon while Canon Robert Dean was Installed as Canon Treasurer.

Canon David Gillespie is the Vicar of St Ann’s and St Stephen’s. He was born in 1968 in Derry and was educated in Faughan Valley High School in the city. Upon leaving school he worked as a journalist with Morton Newspapers. In 1999 he moved to Dublin to study for Ministry in the Church of Ireland Theological College (now Institute). He was ordained a Deacon in 2001 and a Priest the following year. In 2001, he was appointed Curate in Agherton (Portstewart, Co Derry) in the Diocese of Connor and in 2004 was appointed Rector of Moy. He was appointed Vicar of St Ann’s and St Stephen’s in December 2008.

Canon Robert Deane is Rector of Swords and Donabate and was born in 1952. After study he was ordained a Deacon in 1985 and a priest the following year. From 1985 to 1988 he served as Curate in Raheny and Coolock before going on to become Rector of Clonsast with Rathangan and Thomastown in the Diocese of Meath and Kildare. He was a Canon of St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare from 1997 to 2000 and Trim Cathedral from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, he was appointed Rector of Swords with Donabate and Kilsallaghan. In that capacity he also serves as Chaplain to St Ita’s Hospital in Portrane. He is also Rural Dean of Fingal. He became a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral in 2008.

The foundation of Christ Church Cathedral dates back to the Middle Ages and Canons are appointed to the Chapter from throughout the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough by the Archbishop. The Chapter is responsible for the fabric and life of the church. It meets six times a year to discuss the affairs of the cathedral and is also a spiritual body caring for the spiritual life of the cathedral and the dioceses. It is the Canons’ privilege to preach in the cathedral twice a year.

Photo caption: Canon Robert Deane, Dean Dermot Dunne and Canon David Gillespie.

By Lydia Monds (Lydia is the Education Adviser for the Bishops’ Appeal.  She explores the theme of compassion in this the second reflection of the joint Lenten Series between Bishops’ Appeal and the Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland.)

Knowledge is Power.  This famous saying first attributed to Sir Francis Bacon has been unpacked and analysed from a multitude of perspectives over the centuries.  Knowledge provides confidence and security and its pursuit is certainly applauded as a desirable trait.

However, there is a flipside to this that can create a false encounter that prevents truth from surfacing, because our collected learning becomes our reality of someone instead of that someone being allowed to present themselves without our preconceived ideas or notions of them.  Our knowledge has replaced the reality in front on us and speaks for them instead of allowing them to speak for themselves.  With whom we feel connected, and for whom we feel empathy is not the other but our controlled pre–labelling of them.  In order to practise genuine compassion, the challenge is to relinquish that control – a purposeful self–emptying – not least so that we can tap into God’s infinite reservoir of compassion so eloquently spoken about in last week’s reflection.

From genuine connection flows genuine compassion.

Our stance becomes one that dies to the presuppositions that kept us safe and powerful in the knowledge of others and instead leaves us vulnerable to being transformed by the truth that meets us.   Particularly when the encounter is with a person or group perceived as marginalised or impoverished our preconception is that we have the opportunity and the obligation to transform them, to better them, to fix them, even to save them.  In those moments the truth of them retreats and they remain completely unknown to us.  When we respond according to achieving our own goals, even the goals of our good intentions, then the other becomes not a recipient but a means to our end.

And yet, if we respond to the Holy Spirit’s call to self empty, we become aware of the Divine Presence in the encounter ‘spinning the web of attention between the two who are facing each other’ (John V Taylor).  The response that the Holy Spirit commands is one that moves away from pre–judgment, fear and a desire to control.  It envelopes these by de–framing the self, by removing the power and by de–framing those who face us by allowing them to break free from the boundaries and minimising labels that we have imposed on them.

The beauty of the other exists beyond the self.  It is awesome beyond the capacity of the self to be awestruck by it and it is independent of any reaction the self may have to it or any relationship the self may form with it.

There are many ‘others’ in our lives.  Even those close to us, bound to us in intimate relationships – our partners, children, parents – can benefit from our de–framing of them in order that our almost intuitive and automatic knowing of them does not replace the truth of them.  As we spin the thread of our connected lives further out into the world, the other becomes our neighbours, our colleagues,  the sick, the elderly, those living with disabilities, the Travelling community, the International community, the poor both locally and globally.  Immediately, even these few examples spark emotions linked to stereotypes of those who have been named.  At once, we feel a certain way towards an entire group of people and that framing of them either creates a type of compassion based on our presumptions, or it ignites revulsion that quashes all potential for encounter or for compassion.

How do we overcome this?  We must again return to the Divine Presence in the midst igniting the possibility for genuine encounter, calling us to move beyond the boundaries of our narrow definitions and diminishing preconceptions to a place of seeing with ‘fresh eyes’.   As we allow the frames we have mounted to be taken down, then we realise we never quite beheld the picture we insisted it contained.

The Lent, take time to think of your opinion of two groups of people: 1 group you know well and the other that you only know about.

• How could the awareness that your knowledge of these groups is not them affect how you think about/relate to them?
• How could your attention to the Holy Spirit ignite your encounter with these groups?
• How could a shift in perception from seeking to transform others to allowing them to transform you alter how you engage with these groups in the future?

The Church of St John the Baptist in Clontarf will host an ecumenical service to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf on Wednesday April 23 at 12.00 midday.

The service will be attended by President Michael D Higgins and Archbishop Michael Jackson will preside along with the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, the Rt Revd Eamon Walsh who will represent Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

Local clergy from the Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist communities will also be present along with members of the diplomatic community, politicians and representatives of local business, sporting, educational and recreational organisations.

The Clontarf church was chosen to host the service due to the efforts of parishioner, John Patten, who attended community planning meetings. He cited the ancient lineage of the parish, which can be traced back to the 6th Century, as a reason why St John the Baptist on Seafield Road West was the most appropriate venue.

The Battle of Clontarf took place on April 23 1014 and while it resulted in victory for the Gaelic forces over the Vikings, Ireland’s King, Brian Boru was killed on the same day.

The Anglican Jewish Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury will meet in Dublin next week for the first time since its foundation. The conference, which is organised between the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and Lambeth Palace, will meet from Monday March 31 until Wednesday April 2. The meetings will take place in the Taca Hall at Terenure Synagogue and will focus on the theme of ‘Memory, Community and Identity’.

The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, is the Anglican co–Chair of the Commission, shared with Acting co–Chair Rabbi Rasson Arousi, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Ono).

The Commission’s three day visit will include a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin hosted by President Michael D Higgins. Among the invited guests will be the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke; the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Diarmuid Martin; His Excellency the Most Revd Charles J Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland; Rabbi Zalman Lent of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation; and Rabbi David Singer of Belfast Jewish Community.   

The Commission will also be visiting the Chester Beatty Library, the Irish Jewish Museum, and Dr Jason McElligott, Keeper of Marsh’s Library will be giving an after dinner speech regarding items of interest to members of the Commission. The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, the Very Revd Dermot Dunne, will host a reception for the Commission members and leaders from Dublin’s different religious communities. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission with the Chief Rabbis of Israel was established in 2006 in order to facilitate deep understanding between two historic World Faiths. The meetings have alternated between The Holy Land and England and this is the first to be held in Ireland.

When he was Bishop of Clogher, the Archbishop of Dublin, was appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to be the Anglican co–chair along with Chief Rabbi Cohen of Haifa. The Rabbis and the Members of the Anglican delegation have considerable experience in the fields of inter faith relations and dialogue. The Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, Bishop Suheil Dawani, is a member of the Commission and will be coming to Dublin and contributing to the dialogue.  

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chief Rabbis of Israel meet on a regular basis to review the implications and opportunities afforded by the dialogue and discussion of the Commission.

The members of the Anglican Jewish Commission 2014 are: Jewish delegation – Rabbi Rasson Arousi, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Ono and Acting co–Chair of the Anglican–Jewish Commission, Professor Rabbi Daniel Sperber, Jerusalem; Professor Avraham Steinberg, Jerusalem; Rabbi David Brodman, Jerusalem; Rabbi David Rosen, Jerusalem (a former Chief Rabbi of Ireland), and Mr Oded Wiener, Director General of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

The Anglican delegation comprises Archbishop Michael Jackson, Dublin, Co–Chair of the Anglican–Jewish Commission, Bishop Suheil Dawani, Jerusalem; Dr Clare Amos, Geneva/UK; Dr Jane Clements, UK, the Revd Canon Dr Toby Howarth, UK, Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Archbishop Michael Jackson has appointed the Revd Niall Sloane (pictured) as his Ecumenical Advisor.

Commenting on the appointment the Archbishop said: “I have great pleasure in announcing that the Revd Niall Sloane, Rector of Holy Trinity, Killiney, has agreed to be my Ecumenical Advisor. Niall has already shown himself to have a keen interest in ecumenical issues and in the relationships across churches and communities which this involves.

“I know that this has been a characteristic of his ministry since early days. Within the Church of Ireland and beyond he has shown himself to be abreast of current trends and concepts. He is the Assistant Secretary to the Church of Ireland’s Commission for Unity and Dialogue. He has facilitated both the recent Porvoo Consultation on the Diaconate and has worked closely with me on successive Four Nations Faith and Order Consultations.

“Dublin and Glendalough are dioceses in which interesting things regularly happen ecumenically. As we develop a deeper sense of mission and discipleship, the ecumenical perspective and contribution to this vision will be vital. Niall’s contribution will complement the work already begun by the Revd Dr William Olhausen as Theological Advisor. I have every confidence that our partners in the Gospel of all religious traditions will share with us in this journey even more than we can yet imagine.”

The Revd Niall Sloane said he was honoured and humbled to be asked by the Archbishop to be his Ecumenical Advisor.  

He said: “Never before has ecumenical engagement been so important to the life and mission of a healthy, mature and growing Church. I believe that this role is a formal recognition of the many active and engaged ecumenical partnerships taking place within the Church and these united dioceses. The Church of Ireland Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue is already at the forefront of ecumenical work and I would hope that this can be highlighted through this new role.

“I am excited by the opportunities and interactions that the appointment will bring in continuing to build on the good ecumenical relationships that already exist, as we all work together to make God’s love known in the united dioceses.”

The 65th annual Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of Sport took place in St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin, yesterday evening, Sunday March 30. The service was attended by presidents of schools associations from all over the country as well as many students and representatives of the sporting world.

Introducing the service the Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie, welcomed Cllr Gerry Ashe who was representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Jonathan Bell, President of the Association of Schools’ Unions.

The address was given by former Olympian and middle distance track runner, Senator Eamonn Coghlan. He spoke of what sport meant to him and stated that he had “enjoyed the thrills of victory and endured the agony of defeat”. He wondered if sport meant a person had to be the best or whether they had to give their best.

He described sport as being a microcosm of life. He said it was a short journey with 5, 10 or 15 years of competing at the highest level. “Sport is not the end result. It’s that journey and everything you learn on that journey,” the Senator contended.

He said that to be successful in sport required motivation and hard work but added that “the gift of sport is a gift received from the people who come into your life – the community you grow up in from your parents, coaches, volunteers and the mentors. These are the people who guide us on the path of life”.

Senator Coghlan also spoke about the important work done by the Children’s Medical and Research Foundation at Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin. A collection was taken up during the service for the charity.

The annual Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of Sport began 65 years ago following discussions between the Revd George Crummy and Bob Graves, Irish rugby international. The service focuses on thanksgiving for all men women and young people whose lives have been enriched and blessed by the gift of sport, whether through active participation, patronage or through the medium of radio, television or attendance at events.

Photo caption: The Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie; the Revd Andrew Dougherty, Methodist Centenary Church; the Revd Alan Boal, Abbey Presbyterian Church; Senator Eamonn Coughlan, who gave the address; Robert Prole, who organises the service; and Fr Michael Foley, St Mac Dara’s College, Templeogue.

The papers of the Rt Revd William Shaw Kerr (1897–1960) who was bishop of Down and Dromore from 1945 to 1955, feature as April’s online Archive of the Month presented by the Church of Ireland RCB Library. This important collection of materials provides a relatively rare detailed insight to clerical life in the northern part of the island, during the first half of the 20th century, particularly the period between the two World Wars.

Episcopal correspondence and other papers created during the course of the careers of bishops and archbishops are relatively rare survivals for documenting Church of Ireland history. In many respects, Kerr’s materials are no exception, for whilst they comprise correspondence, writings, sermon registers, select daily diaries, research notes and press cuttings on a wide range of topical, historical and theological issues together with Kerr’s additional literary and poetry interests, most of them pre– or post–date his time as bishop. What the collection does provide, however, is a very detailed insight into his clerical career up to 1945, and his political outlook which was strongly Unionist.

Most significantly it contains the evidence that Kerr was the hitherto anonymous writer who penned a column for the Church of Ireland Gazette under the nom de plume ‘Shebna the Scribe’, writing from the ‘Cave Hill’ Belfast on virtually a weekly basis between 1910 and 1916. This role terminated quite suddenly after a particularly hard–hitting piece on the Irish Rebellion in 1916. In this regard, Kerr’s related papers, and the insight they reveal from the perspective of a northern cleric about the rapidly–evolving Ireland at this period, are likely to become important sources for researchers.

Although Kerr served his entire clerical career in the north east of the island through the Partition era, he was actually born in the south. The son of a Wicklow gentleman, James Heron Kerr, and his wife Rose Smith Shaw (who originated in county Sligo) he was born in 1873, and grew up at the family seat Broomfield House near Ashford, in County Wicklow. Following divinity training at Trinity College in Dublin, he was ordained deacon in 1897 and served two curacies in Shankill, Lurgan (Dromore) 1897–99; and St James Belfast (Connor) 1899–1901. His first incumbency was the parish of Ballywalter (Down) where he stayed ten years (1901–10), followed by a further five–year incumbency in the parish of St Paul’s Belfast (Connor) between 1910 and 1915; and then a longer 17–year stint in the parish of Seapatrick (Dromore) from 1915 to 1932. During his time at Banbridge (the town where Seapatrick parish church is located) he rose through the senior clerical ranks serving as chancellor of Dromore 1920–29; and also archdeacon of Dromore for a further two years 1930–32. Following his appointment as dean and vicar of Belfast (Connor) in 1932, where he served a further 13 years, he became the first Church of Ireland bishop of Down and Dromore (when that diocese was separated from Connor) in 1945.

Most of the papers in Kerr’s collection originate from his parochial ministry, particularly during his time in Banbridge between 1915 and 1932. They provide a detailed insight to the intellect and mindset of one of the Church’s most prolific and outspoken commentators of this period. Following their transfer to the RCB Library Kerr’s papers were organised into 11 record groups, where they are accessioned as RCB Library MS 813/.

Of the more unusual items to be found in the collection is Kerr’s collarette as Grand Chaplain of the County Down Orange Order, and of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. It is the only item in the collection pertaining to his active and probably influential role within the Order, and was kept safe alongside his his certificates for deacon and priest orders, and his consecration certificate as bishop of Down and Dromore. Images of the item including its detailed inscription are included along with a selection of other materials from the collection on the online presentation.

To view the online presentation, see: www.ireland.anglican.org/library/archive

A memorial stone dedicated to the children who died in the Bethany Home between 1922 and 1949 was unveiled in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, yesterday, April 2.

The ceremony took place after a service, led by Canon Mark Gardner, which was attended by Labour Deputy Robert Dowds, representing Minister of State Joe Costello, the Northern Executive’s Danny Kennedy, Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn, the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council, Carrie Smyth, and Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald. Representatives of the main Protestant denominations were present as well as a representative of the Roman Catholic Church.

In his short address Canon Gardner said that on Mother’s Day he had observed that mothers no longer had to suffer the shame of giving birth in these homes and that children no longer had to be divided from their parents and siblings.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin said that people could be proud of the memorial but that pride was subdued because of the length of time it had taken to erect it. He commended the strength and determination of Bethany survivor, Derek Leinster, in leading the campaign for the memorial. “We’re here to remember them first and foremost because they were destined to be forgotten,” he said adding that in Irish society of old, young women were “prisoners of prejudice and fear”.

Speaking on behalf of Minister Costello, Deputy Dowds also paid tribute to Derek Leinster for his campaign for State recognition of its role in Bethany Home. Deputy McDonald praised the “sheer heroism and stamina” of the survivors of Bethany Home. “Our journey is not over and it is now way past time for the State to recognise, apologise and offer redress to the survivors of Bethany Home,” she stated.

Pamela Dooley of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NI) and Rachel Doyle of the National Women’s Council also spoke in support of the survivors’ campaign for State recognition. Danny Kennedy said that what happened in mother and baby homes was not known to the people who donated money to support homes like Bethany and added that it should be the prayer of those attending that no mother or family should suffer again as a result of this type of misguided care.

Niall Meehan, the college lecturer who discovered that the infants and children were buried in Mount Jerome, said that the best outcome for the day would be that the children would gain a family. He said that the names of the children were inscribed on the stone and would be available online to enable people to discover their relatives.

Derek Leinster described the Bethany Memorial Day as the day that the infants never had. “They didn’t want much, just to be treated the same as their fellow Irish citizens. This day is because there was a line drawn which they fell into. They had no decision where that line fell but they paid a terrible price, as did the survivors,” he said. He called on the Taoiseach to apologise to the survivors of Bethany.

The organ was played by Colleen Anderson who was adopted from Westbank Home and who urged people not to forget what had happened. The memorial stone was designed by Daniel Mulvihill and the names of the 222 infants and children who died are inscribed on it. It was funded by the Department of Justice and the ribbon was cut by Deputy McDonald, Rachel Doyle, Pamela Dooley, Carol Leinster, Noleen Belton, Rosemary Dalton, Elsie Hartford, Colleen Anderson and Anne Speed.

Photo caption: Canon Mark Gardner dedicates the Bethany Memorial surrounded by supporters of the Bethany Survivors Group. Derek Leinster is pictured beside Canon Gardner.

The Sunday School Society for Ireland is preparing to say farewell to the Revd Anne Taylor (pictured with her husband the Revd Ted Woods) when she moves across the Irish Sea to the Diocese of Liverpool. Anne has been involved with the Sunday School Society for Ireland since 1999 when she joined the committee.

During that time Anne helped in the organisation of the annual quiz Brainarama (1998–2009) and Annual Autumn Training for leaders held in Rathmines Church. She also represented Sunday School Society on CGMC (Consultative Group on Ministry among children) travelling to England to attend meetings since 2000.

In 2002 Anne, along with Heather Wilkinson, was a founder member of the committee for Building Blocks, the annual ecumenical Children’s Ministry Conference held in Dublin each November. In 2004 she was appointed The Sunday School Society’s Children’s Ministry Officer and travelled throughout the dioceses delivering training sessions to those involved in Children’s Ministry.

Anne was instrumental in the setting up of the Children’s Ministry Network in 2011, highlighting the important role of clergy in promoting and supporting Children’s Ministry within their parishes.

Over the years Anne has supported, resourced, encouraged and inspired many volunteer leaders and worked to ensure that Children’s Ministry has earned the attention it rightly deserves in the life of our parishes.

The Sunday School Society for Ireland thanks Anne most sincerely for all her time and talents and wishes her every blessing in a new chapter in her life and ministry as Vicar of Formby.

The Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, the Rt Revd Ferran Glenfield, returned to Kill O’ the Grange Parish in Dublin where he was rector for 16 years yesterday (Sunday April 6) for a special service to mark the 150th anniversary of the church.

The Bishop preached at the morning service and afterwards was presented with a painting of the church by parishioner, Joy Taylor, which was commissioned for the occasion. 

Following the ceremony two trees were planted one by Bishop Glenfield and the other by the Revd Arthur Young, the current Rector of Kill O’ the Grange.

A large number of parishioners joined the celebration including Bishop Glenfield’s son Richie who assisted his father with the tree planting.

A number of other events are planned over the coming months to mark the anniversary year.

Photo caption: The Revd Arthur Young and Bishop Ferran Glenfield at the 150th anniversary celebratory event in Kill O the Grange. (photo: James Darling)

Hearing the voice of God amongst the multitude of other voices vying for our attention was the focus of this year’s Trinity Monday sermon. The preacher at the service in the Trinity College Chapel this morning (April 7) was the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Revd Dr Heather Morris. The annual service of commemoration and thanksgiving follows the announcement of the new scholars and fellows of Trinity College Dublin at the beginning of Trinity Week.

Drawing on the New Testament reading from John 12: 9–19, Dr Morris recalled how the chapel formed the backdrop to her time at Trinity but said it moved to the foreground during exam time when she would go to it “to pray and listen for the one voice which amid all the other pressures and all the other voices I needed to hear”.

When Jesus was on his way into Jerusalem there were so many voices vying for his attention, she said. They ranged from those who liked him to those who wanted to satisfy their curiosity to those more dangerous ones, in the background for now, who wanted him dead.

She said that in today’s world people were bombarded with many voices, expectations, opportunities and pressures. “Expectations, pressures and opportunities are real, they are part of life, and in the midst of them all there is another voice which we are invited to hear. And not all the time, but sometimes it helps to draw aside to places like this to hear it. It is the voice of God, Creator of heaven and earth and all that is, seen and unseen; it is the voice of God whose name “Emmanuel” means God is with us. The voice of God who still loves the world and everyone in it.” Dr Morris said.

“My experience, and its true not just on exam days, is that it helps to remember that. My experience and belief is that life is changed, and changed utterly when we remember that no matter how great our strength or how profound our weaknesses that One stands with us who knows us, loves us, enables us and challenges us to love more than ourselves,” she added

She said that Jesus, with all the voices and pressures, did not disengage. He found a donkey and sat on it because he knew what the disciples did not yet realise, that he was fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy. This, she suggested was a subversive signal and a sign of another Kingdom to come.

Dr Morris said our lives could also become signs of that other Kingdom. “When we act on behalf of those who are conveniently forgotten; when we show unexpected kindness; when we develop policies so that no one is excluded from excellent education because of social deprivation we are pointing to another Kingdom. Our lives point to a different set of values, and to the God to whom all are significant, the God who desires justice and who loves mercy,” she stated.

Photo Caption: The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Revd Dr Heather Morris, was the preacher at this year’s Trinity Monday Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving in the college chapel this morning (Monday April 7). She is pictured (centre) with the college chaplains The Revd Paddy Gleeson, the Revd Darren McCallig, the Revd Peter Sexton and the Revd Julian Hamilton.