Alan grew up on the Northside of Dublin. He has been married to Ruth since 2001 and the couple have two children, Naomi (12) and Andrew (9), and a dog named Levi (1 1/2).

Having being involved in full time youth ministry since 1993 (working in Lucan Presbyterian Church from 1993 to 1997, Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church from 1997 to 2009 and Dunganstown Union of Parishes from 2009 to 2014), Alan went to train for ministry in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in 2012. He was ordained a Deacon in September 2014 and Priested in 2015. He is at present Curate in St Patrick’s, Greystones and Chaplain in Temple Carrig School.

Throughout his life, Alan has been involved in a variety of ministries and has been a speaker at conferences, camps, evangelistic events and more. He is also a co–host of the Graveyard Shift Podcast with Scott Evans and Greg Fromholz which has an average of 1,000 downloads per week.

Alan is very excited for the journey ahead in Kill O’ the Grange and eager to see what God has in store for the parish as they seek to serve and love God and the community within, and surrounding the church.

A service of remembrance to mark the 102nd anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide took place in Christ Church Cathedral on Monday evening, April 24. Archbishop Michael Jackson presided and also present was the Revd Bill Mullally, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland along with Dean Dermot Dunne, Canon David Gillespie and the Revd Ken Rue. The president of the Jewish Representative Council, Mr Leonard Abrahamson was also in attendance.

During the service, which started with a minute’s silence in remembrance of all atrocities, disasters and the Armenian Genocide, there were Bible readings in English and Armenian and there was beautiful Armenian music. Three speakers addressed different aspects of the Armenian Genocide.

Professor Maria Bagramian (School of Philosophy at UCD), an Armenian philosopher born in Iran, gave a talk entitled ‘The Denial of Genocide Perpetuates Testimonial Injustice’. She said that genocide had shaped the collective psyche of the Armenian people. People who denied the genocide robbed the bearers of testimony of their identity and humanity, she stated. You can read the full text of her talk here.

Sunniva McDonagh SC is a barrister practicing principally in the area of judicial review and fundamental rights. She spoke about human rights and human rights law and said the failure to acknowledge properly the wrongs perpetrated upon the Armenian people has had a huge effect on the world afterwards. She said the term ‘genocide’ could be applied to the events of 1915. She also spoke of transitional justice as a means of society’s attempts to come to terms with large scale events to get justice and reconciliation. You can read the full text of her talk here.

Ms Hayarpi Drmeyan, Consul of the Armenian Embassy to the UK and Ireland referred in her remarks to the tragic destiny of the Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire. She mentioned that the pain and memory of the first genocide of the 20th century will live forever in the hearts and minds of all Armenians. The representative of the Embassy underlined that the impunity of the perpetrators of Armenian Genocide, its denial and inaction at that time to condemn and recognize this crime against humanity prepared grounds for the Holocaust, Rwanda genocide and other mass atrocities against humanity, including what we witness today in the Middle East. She also stressed the importance of the concerted efforts in preventing future genocides. Consul of the Armenian Embassy appreciated the efforts of those countries, which became a shelter for the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and also contributed to the international recognition of the Genocide of Armenians.

Dean Dermot Dunne helped to draw the strands of the evening together. “With the need for acknowledgement that the genocide happened, the question remains – what about forgiveness?” he asked.

Archbishop Jackson concluded the service by thanking everyone who had enabled the service of remembrance and guided meditation which brought those present into the heart of what it is to be Armenian and to carry the pain of genocide. The evening concluded with the laying of flowers at the Khachkar Memorial which is located in the cathedral grounds.

A wonderful new portrait of the Rt Revd Walton Empey, former Archbishop of Dublin, was unveiled in Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday morning. The portrait, by Olivia Bartlett, was commissioned by the Friends of Christ Church Cathedral and will hang in the Chapter Room.

Bishop Empey was present at the Cathedral Eucharist, accompanied by his wife Louie and their children and grandchildren. The congregation included a great many friends and well wishers.

Speaking at the unveiling, Mrs Bartlett, said she had been deeply honoured to be commissioned to paint the portrait and outlined her artistic process. Bishop Empey had expressed the wish that the portrait depict him as he was in office and after a lengthy search and trawling the internet, she said she eventually found a suitable photograph on the front page of an old copy of the Friends of Christ Church Cathedral News.

In reply, Bishop Empey said he was deeply touched when told of the Friends’ decision to have a portrait commissioned. He said he was delighted with the new portrait and thanked the Friends, Olivia and Dean Dermot Dunne for enabling it to happen.

Bishop Empey retired as Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough in 2002.

A survey of 500 parents whose children attend national schools under Church of Ireland patronage has revealed major concerns about proposed school admissions changes being proposed by the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD.

The survey, which was conducted by the General Synod Board of Education (RI), sought the views of parents of children who attend primary schools under Church of Ireland patronage. 

The main survey results demonstrated that the vast majority of Church of Ireland parents (87%) consider that it is important for them to have access to national schools to provide education to their children within a Church of Ireland/Protestant ethos. 77% of parents expressed a fear that the abolition of a right of their local Church of Ireland school to afford priority on admissions to Church of Ireland/Protestant pupils when oversubscribed, would undermine parental choice and diversity within their local area.

The survey provided parents with an opportunity to leave their own comments and hundreds of parents took the opportunity to express their dismay at the possibility that their families could be denied access to a local school established to educate their faith community.

At least 90% of the respondents’ comments were strongly in favour of maintaining the priority for children of Protestant faith in oversubscribed Church of Ireland national schools. Many expressed fear that a change in the admissions rules would have a detrimental and disproportionate effect on their schools and on minority faith communities.  A selection of parental comments are included below.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Dr Ken Fennelly, Secretary to the General Synod Board of Education said that the concerns expressed by parents were real and very serious. He said that the proposals advanced by Minister Bruton were causing real concern in minority faith communities and needed to be revised.

Dr Fennelly said: “It is ironic that the sector of the community which feels the greatest threat and concern from Minister Bruton‘s new proposals on religion and admissions is a sector which has offered choice, diversity and inclusivity in Irish education for many decades. The Minister has repeatedly said that he has no wish to undermine minority religious schools but our schools are asking how he can avoid this in the light of the proposals he has put forward. This survey (along with the large number of submissions made by schools as part of the consultation process), is articulating real and serious concerns among school communities around the country. The Minister needs to allay these fears in a substantive way.”

Dr Fennelly added that he hoped that the Minister would reflect on the output of the survey and the concerns which parents have expressed.

Information and Sample Responses on Parent Questionaire

PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE
 

Total 501 replies completed. A further 45 replies were not completed correctly or were not legible. Three schools gave more than 20 replies so the first 20 alone were included to avoid distorting the figures.

Questions:

(a)    Is it important for you to have access to schools that provide education for your child within a Church of Ireland/Protestant ethos?


YES 87% NO 11% DON’T KNOW 2% 


(b)   In your opinion, do you think that the possible abolition of the right of your school to give priority to COI/Protestant pupils will undermine parental choice in your locality?


YES 77% NO 15% DON’T KNOW 8% 
 

Replies were received from parents from 95 schools. 39 schools gave 3 or less replies.

SAMPLE COMMENTS OF THE 345 GIVEN BY PARENTS IN RESPONSE TO THE SURVEY

·       I, my children, my parents and their parents before them have all been educated in similar schools. They are highly regarded and uphold Christian values of honesty, fairness, justice, concern and a responsible attitude towards others, all characteristics that we need more of, rather than less, in this world. My wife and I chose to send our children eight miles from our home to the nearest Church of Ireland school so they could be educated within their own ethos. Our local school is a three minutes drive away. We have no regrets as they have and are receiving such a wonderful start in life. If the rules are changed, this will have a profound effect on all schools into the future. The impact on our own minority faith school will most probably lead to its demise. It exists to serve the minority Protestant community as well as children of other faiths and none. If Protestant children begin to be excluded a situation will inevitably arise where the school student body will no longer reflect the school denominational character. This will also impact the local minority Protestant community into the future.

·       As a family of church of Ireland faith within a rural area our freedom of choice to educate our children in a school of church of Ireland ethos would be severely compromised. The Church of Ireland is a minority religion within Ireland and we as Parents should have the freedom to be able to choose where to educate of children with in the existing Church of Ireland Schools left in Rural areas.

·       As a high percentage of schools are still church connected/based (the vast majority still being under the patronage of the Catholic church), I think it is important to have the choice to send your child to a Protestant/COI ethos school. For this option to be available to families with this ethos, priority needs to be given to them (not exclusivity but priority). The Educate Together option (and other independent schools) provide for families of other faiths (or no faith).

·       As a member of the Christian Church and Church of Ireland it is extremely important to have a school of same ethos available for education. We made an informed decision on behalf of our children with baptism and expect them to receive direction in school which compliments and supports our personal religious belief. This assists our children in deciding right from wrong and making ethical decisions. It creates a sense of belonging. We have the same right to choose a Church of Ireland School for education just as Muslims now have their own schools and people of no religious belief are choosing non denominational schools. We wish to be treated as equal in the eyes of the state with access to Church of Ireland Schools with priority entry to same. Failure to do so results in loss of identity and inconsistency for our children.

·       As a parent, I want my children to be educated in the ethos they are brought up in (Church of Ireland) and this is my parental right under section 7(3) of the Equal Status Act. As parents, we do not have the option of sending our children to a Church of Ireland/Protestant secondary school in our area, our only option is for them to go to a community school as we cannot afford the fees for the nearest Protestant secondary school. If the admission policy had to be changed in all primary school we as parents would not have the ability to have our children educated in our ethos as we live too far from our parish school and pass several other schools on our way to it. We have chosen to have our children educated in our parish school, it is very much part of our faith community in our parish and our children are very involved in our parish, with not only going to church, but attending Sunday School, Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade and Youth Services. We chose to join this parish when we got married and our children have been part of this faith community since they were born, they have developed friendships which stretch across all the activities they are involved in. Every parent has the right to choose how their child is educated, but changing the admission policy to be more inclusive will in fact deny some parents those rights.

·       It is very important to keep the admissions policies as they currently stand, because if they change, the Church of Ireland ethos will be lost in these small schools.  The Church of Ireland schools are a key focus point for Protestant families and children in Ireland for which they serve, and they help bring and keep this minority community vibrant.  These small schools are unique in many ways.   They bring a very hands–on, community centred approach to both our children’s education and to many COI families who interact with the school.  Many COI lifelong friendships and relationships (including marriages) are formed from the bonds that were initially developed around the community of our COI ethos schools.    If COI families where to lose access to these schools, this would have a noted negative effect on dispersing and diluting our minority COI community.  Also, there are little or no substitutes in modern Irish life that would replace this important pillar in keeping our COI community healthy and sustainable.  Having a vibrant COI community also adds to the interest of our culturally diverse Irish population.

·       Parents should have the right to choose where their children are educated. They know their child best and deserve to be allowed select a school that caters best for the values they feel are most important. There are a number of schools locally for everyone to choose from, and it is important to offer everyone this choice. Just as some consider the Irish language to be important, we as Protestants consider our religious beliefs an important part of our heritage, and want to be able to select a school that supports this.      A child needs to be provided the opportunity to develop their identity in a safe environment. They will be in a minority within a different school – running the risk of isolation and bullying for being different. Within modern society today, as a working parent, our children’s wellbeing and happiness is always a cause for concern. A school should feel safe and inviting, it should not be about creating anxieties. Removing this choice could actually alienate us as Protestants, and result in losing an important part of our culture and heritage.

·       As a minority religion it is very important that Church of Ireland parents have the choice to send their children to a primary school under COI patronage  If the COI is to have any chance of surviving and prospering to the end of this century and beyond.   This is a vital part of our identity and heritage.  In the recent past we have seen the closure of the Adelaide Hospital for COI nurse training. The COI teacher training college in Rathmines is the process of closing down. Decisions like these chip away at our identity.  Numbers of people identifying themselves as COI has fallen from 200 000 to 100 000 during the last 100 years (approx figures). If we loose our COI schools this decline will become more rapid which will result in the probable closure of many churches and the demise of these parishes. This is a very important issue to us.

·       The importance of maintaining protestant schools is key to maintaining viable communities that can thrive and contribute to the future development of the country.

·       By solving one problem the Minister is creating another – by potentially denying Protestant families a faith based education of choice.  This will more acutely impact on Minority religions and those that wish to adhere by a particular ethos

·       Having attended a Church of Ireland primary school myself and now having my children being educated through the same system I would be very upset if this option was unavailable. I have chosen to send my children to this school. The link between school and church within our Church of Ireland community is very important to my family.  The dilution of our ethos would have a negative effect of the Church also.

·       Having chosen to baptise our children in our faith we rear them in our faith and expect that to be supported through their access to education.  Respect and tolerance for other faiths and none is important and so being open to others is welcome but the core tenets of our faith must remain at the heart.  Church home and school together support the development of faith.  Concerned that the discourse is seen as a polarised debate.  State must provide choice for parents with no faith but not through undermining faith of those who have.

·       I can’t speak for other schools but I firmly believe what effort our COI community and parishes put into supporting our school would be undermined if COI pupils were not given priority. It is the fact that we are COI that gives us such a close connection to our school. It is a symbiotic relationship and both the COI community and the school benefit from COI pupils having priority. I think we are very lucky to have access to a school which has the same ethos as us.

·       I feel that the issue of school patronage has been hijacked to disguise a lack of school places in a number of areas, particularly densely populated urban areas. Why should parishes of any denomination take on the running of these schools, and in many cases provide the land for the schools, without at least being able to give priority to parishioners when it comes to admitting their children? Certainly in our school there are very many children who are not from the parish and this is a good thing, but the parish should reserve the right to give priority to parish children. Church of Ireland parents who wish to do so should have the choice to have their children educated within a Church of Ireland ethos. The department should stop wasting time on this red herring and focus on the provision of school places where they are needed.

·       I feel very strongly about this. There are a lot of catholic families who want co–education schooling which most of the time they can’t get in their own faith, if there is no preference given to COI children it will deny them a place in a school of their own faith and ethos.

·       In no way do we support the exclusion of non–COI children.  However, as a minority religion we feel that it is important to support and nurture the COI community and ethos.  This is greatly helped by having a central place for our children to go to school given that the COI is thinly spread over a large geographical area.

·       In this minority CofI community, maintaining the ethos of the school by giving priority to community members is essential to maintaining the existence of the community. In addition to the parish church, the school is a “hub” for the community. Continuity is maintained over generations of parents & children who have attended the school along with a sense of ownership and belonging. If the school is no longer part of the parish and not run by a parish Board of Management, then an important part of the community will be lost as that sense of identity will disappear and the community spirit along with its history & traditions will dissipate.

·       Our family is Roman Catholic and we have been very happy with our daughter attending a church of Ireland School. It was very educational for her to attend various celebrations in the church and see how it is different to our Mass and she has learned to respect other religious beliefs.  I think it would undermine parental choice to abolish the priority to COI/Protestant Pupils.  It is great to have choice as I have stated already. My daughter is currently in sixth class and has never once been treated any different to the COI children or the other children who also have different beliefs.  We think that St Johns Parochial School at Ashe Street is Tralee’s best kept secret, there should be no change only promote it more.  It is a wonderful school where there is a great ethos for social inclusion, good manners and respect for all. 

·       It seems to me that the Dept of Education are looking to stream line admissions because of the demand for school places in Dublin, this is not a “one size fits all” solution.  Choice is abundant in Dublin where there is a much better public transport system and higher population.  Streamlining admissions in the rest of the country may erode parental choice and be damaging to the smaller communities.

·       Parents chose schools for a variety of reasons – size, reputation, facilities, location etc.  However, if parents have a specific belief ethos, this will be the only determining factor in their choice of school as it is only natural that they would like their children to follow and be educated within this same belief structure.   The size of Glebe National School, together with its excellent reputation, makes it a popular choice within the community.  However, the size of the school also limits places. Should the school be forced to accept a “quota” of non–COI students, it will result in parishioners being forced to either send their children to RC schools or to Educate Together – neither of which will provide the religious grounding of choice.   I believe that COI has a duty of care to its young members to provide them with a first class education within the belief structure.

The General Synod of the Church of Ireland takes place in the South Court Hotel in Limerick over the coming three days, Thursday May 4 to Saturday May 6. During the three days, elected clergy and lay members along with the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Ireland will consider a range of Bills and Motions and receive the reports of a number of Church committees.

Before the formal business of the Synod got underway at midday, the Synod Eucharist took place this morning in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick. The preacher was the Rt Revd Kenneth Kearon, Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe.

Synod proceedings are now underway in the convention centre of the South Court Hotel and the Archbishop of Armagh has delivered his Presidential address.

Archbishop Richard Clarke focused this year on the theme of identity. He said, ‘Many of the extraordinary changes on the world scene over the past year might reasonably be seen as revolving ultimately around a single conception, that of identity … Massive difficulties arise when there is a serious clash between differing perceptions of fundamental identity, when each side in the discussion seeks to demean, threaten or even destroy the other, and we have indeed seen many examples of this over recent months, and in many places, near and far.’ He will continue, ‘What then can easily follow … is a willingness to replace any obedience to truth with whatever risible nonsense will reinforce our prejudices as we seek to demonise the “otherness” of those we see as different from us, and hence is highly dangerous … The casual arrival of such a tactic – totally unblushingly – into public discourse in the society of today, in the supposed interests of maintaining one’s own cherished identity, has polluted the moral foundations of society itself.’

Archbishop Clarke added, ‘As Christian disciples, we recognise that we do indeed have a basic identity that we must share with all others, that of being made by God in His image and likeness. This means that others – all others – must be treated with a complete dignity and with an utter respect … There are of course other identities of which we must be aware … but these cannot be allowed to deface our essential fundamental identity of being loved equally by God. But we are called to find another identity within our Christian calling. This comes through strongly in the Gospels where Christ calls us to find a true identity, not only with those who are like us, or with those whom we find it easy to like or admire, but with those who most need our love and our care.’

The Archbishop drew on his theme of fear of otherness and insecurity of identity to speak about the refugee crisis, xenophobia and ‘the terrifying incidence of domestic abuse and violence’ across the island of Ireland. With regard to domestic abuse and violence, he said, ‘It is in every community. It is under our noses, perhaps even in our own families. People who suffer in this way must be encouraged to seek help. When people cannot come to terms with themselves and their real identity, or cannot be at ease with what they are, then the most terrible things can happen … It is in a world well beyond the comfort of our pews that people are living without meaning or identity, who need love and care, and who do respond … to unaffected generosity and concern in the name of Jesus Christ.’

Throughout the next three days reports and information, including a summary of business done, will be posted daily during Synod on the Synod website: https://synod.ireland.anglican.org/2017/general-synod-2017 (Archbishop Clarke’s full Presidential address can be read here also.)

There will be an audio broadcast during Synod and a Twitter feed using the hashtag #coigs. This hashtag will also be used for Facebook and Instagram as well as other social media outlets.

A Bill allowing for the appointment of two honorary Lay Canons and two Ecumenical Canons to Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, passed its first and second stages at General Synod in Limerick this afternoon (Thursday May 4). The Bill, if enacted, will allow for the appointment of two lay people who have given particular and distinguished service to the cathedral or community in the Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough as well as two Ecumenical Canons who would reflect the cathedral’s mission and ministry in the city and a changing ecumenical culture.

The Bill was proposed by the Very Revd Dermot Dunne and seconded by Canon Adrienne Galligan.

Proposing the motion, Dean Dunne said that Christ Church Cathedral was known as the spiritual heart of Dublin.

“Given the position of Christ Church in the heart of Dublin, the cathedral provides a tangible and visible ecumenical expression where all traditions of the Christian faith can come together in a space that is neither threatening nor exclusive. This is already happening in the cathedral where ecumenism is expressed in many of our liturgies and gatherings,” he stated.

“The provision for appointing ecumenical canons would strengthen the already healthy ecumenical dialogue and practice which is so much part of the united dioceses and would give a visible reflection of the depth and quality of that dialogue. Having ecumenical canons on the chapter of Christ Church would broaden the ecumenical landscape of both the cathedral and the dioceses,” the Dean added.

He said in creating lay canonries, the chapter sought to recognize the contribution gifted lay people make to the life of the cathedral and the community.

The Bill will receive its third reading on Saturday.

Mothers’ Union members from around Dublin & Glendalough and beyond filled All Saints’ Church in Raheny on Sunday (May 7) in celebration of MU’s 130 years in Ireland. Archbishop Michael Jackson presided and the guest speaker was Lady Christine Eames, former World President of Mothers ‘ Union. The service was led by Diocesan Mothers’ Union Chaplain, Canon David Mungavin.

The service also marked the beginning of the Mothers’ Union Way which will take All Ireland President, Phyllis Grothier, on a journey around all 12 dioceses of the Church of Ireland to celebrate with members.

Mothers’ Union in Ireland was established in Raheny in 1887 by Annabella Hayes, wife of the then Rector, Canon FC Hayes. The service began with prayers at a bench dedicated to the member of Mrs Hayes in the churchyard. Following the service a tree symbolising 13 decades of love and service was dedicated and planted by the Revd Neal O’Raw. Afterwards in the parish hall there was a sweet treat with 13 cakes also representing 13 decades of MU, baked by the diocesan trustees.

In her address Lady Eames said that the anniversary marked a significant time in the life of Mothers’ Union, and in the wider Church. She drew on the words: “It doesn’t matter how far along the way you have come, be ready for the gifts, and the new ones, for there is no stopping place”.

She said that Mothers’ Union was not stopping but merely pausing to celebrate the life of Mothers and to celebrate 13 decades of loving and giving. It was a time to give thanks, she said, that 130 years ago Annabella Hayes brought Mothers’ Union to Ireland, it having begun 11 years earlier in Winchester. Since its foundation by Mary Sumner, Mothers’ Union had grown to become a worldwide organisation with four million members in 83 countries bringing positive change to over half a million people every year, she said.

Lady Eames said many would be thinking about the people they had met through Mothers’ Union and the friendships they had made. Others will think of the projects in which MU has been involved and which make such a difference in the lives of so many. She highlighted the local and global nature of the organisation.

“I think of Mothers’ Union as around the corner and around the world. There is such diversity. It is all too easy when you meet in your branch to think that this is the limit of Mothers’ Union. It’s very hard to think that you belong to this global movement and yet you do. Mothers’ Union is bigger than any one branch,” she stated.

The world has changed enormously since Annabella Hayes established the first branch in Ireland, Lady Eames observed. There was much talk of the secular nature of today’s world and she said members of Mothers’ Union must reflect on the challenges that brings and the opportunities for the organisation. “We do what we do to bring the word of Christ to the secular world and to meet the needs of the future,” she said.

Following the service, President of Mothers’ Union in Dublin & Glendalough, Karen Nelson, thanked the Rector, the Revd Norman McCausland, the parish of Raheny and all who helped with the preparations for the service.

Phyllis Grothier thanked Lady Eames for sharing the message of Mothers’ Union and thanked the trustees and members in Dublin & Glendalough for making it such a wonderful occasion. She said that earlier in the spring, the Archbishop of Armagh had challenged Mothers’ Union to remember those in the community suffering domestic violence and asked members to think about how they could further this issue, noting that they had already joined the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. She looked forward to travelling around Ireland for the next two weeks meeting members of Mothers’ Union everywhere.

The Church of Ireland’s Church and Society Commission launched a leaflet on the spiritual care of people living with dementia at the Church of Ireland General Synod, in Limerick, on Thursday, 4th May.  The leaflet is also available online at https://www.ireland.anglican.org/resources/435/spiritual-care-in-dementia

Speaking of the launch, the Revd Adrian Dorrian said: “Dementia continues to be an issue that impacts our Churches at every level. This leaflet provides some useful information for pastors, church visitors and family members. It’s also a very real sign of the Covenant between the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church. We are very grateful for permission to reproduce this material.”

Archbishop Michael Jackson will take part in a historic ceremony in Dublin tomorrow (Saturday May 13). The beatification of Fr John Sullivan takes place in the Jesuit’s St Francis Xavier Church on Gardiner Street. It will be the first beatification to take place in Ireland and in an unprecedented move, the formal request for beatification will be made by an Anglican as well a Catholic Archbishop.

The principal celebrant will be Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He will be assisted by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

Fr Sullivan was raised and spent half his life as a member of the Church of Ireland. He was born on Eccles Street in 1861, the son of Edward Sullivan who would become Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Elizabeth Bailey from Cork. He attended Portora Royal School near Enniskillen and then Trinity College Dublin before studying law in London.

He converted to Catholicism in 1896 at the age of 35 and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1907. He taught at Clongowes Wood College until his death in 1933 aged 71. He was known for his life of prayer and work with the poor and ill.

His Cause was opened in 1944 and in 2014, Pope Francis declared him Venerable and said that he had lived a life of heroic virtue. The Congregation of Causes concluded that his prayers had cured a Dublin woman of cancer. One more miracle is needed before he can become a saint.

Previously, Archbishop Martin has said that “the holiness of John Sullivan was the fruit of his education in both Catholic and Church of Ireland traditions”.

Archbishop Jackson has said that Fr Sullivan’s “holiness has a strong ecumenical feel to it, as he never rejected the influence of the Anglican tradition on his spiritual flourishing”.

The beatification ceremony takes place at 11.00 am tomorrow. It will be streamed live at www.jesuit.ie/beatification.

You can read more here.

A memorial service for the former Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, the Very Revd Victor Griffin, will take place this Sunday, May 14, at 3.15 pm in the cathedral. The service will be attended by President Michael D Higgins and the current Dean, the Very Revd William Morton, will preside. The preacher will be the Archdeacon of Dublin, the Ven David Pierpoint.

Dean Griffin died earlier this year (January 11 2017). He was Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral from 1968 to 1991.

Born in Carnew, County Wicklow, in 1924, Dean Griffin was educated at Kilkenny College and Trinity College Dublin. He was ordained in 1948 for curacy at St Augustine’s in Derry. He served a second curacy at Christ Church in Derry where he became Rector in 1957 until 1968 when he was appointed Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral. He retired in 1991 and was living in Limavady.

Victor Griffin married Daphne Mitchell of Londonderry at All Saints’, Londonderry in May 1958; a teacher, she died of Multiple Sclerosis in 1998. The couple had twin sons, Kevin and Timothy, born in 1959.

The beatification of Fr John Sullivan took place in the Jesuit’s St Francis Xavier Church on Gardiner Street, Dublin, this morning (Saturday May 13). Fr Sullivan grew up in the Church of Ireland and converted to Catholicism at the age of 35.

The principal celebrant this morning was Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He was assisted by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

Archbishop Michael Jackson took part of the ceremony as, in an unprecedented move, the formal request for beatification was made by an Anglican as well a Catholic Archbishop. It was also the first beatification to take place in Ireland.

The church was filled for the service and among those in attendance were many from the Church of Ireland including clergy from Dublin & Glendalough.

Archbishop Jackson gave a brief reflection during the Mass the full text of which is below.

THE BEATIFICATION OF FATHER JOHN SULLIVAN SJ

ST FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH, GARDINER STREET, DUBLIN 1

Today is a day of celebration, of joy and of gladness. We mark with the Jesuit Order in Ireland and worldwide along with the Christian Church everywhere the beatification in the Roman Catholic tradition of John Sullivan SJ. We do so mindful of the unending need for reconciliation in Ireland and expectant of the abundant grace of God.

Today is a day of fruitfulness and discernment, the harvest of faith and action, of mercy and justice, of pastoral care and teaching commitment in a human life lived for others in obedience and service of God and neighbour, young and old, rich and poor.

Today John Sullivan has a special place in the hearts of all of us who are members of the Church of Ireland and of all of us who have an association with Portora Royal School and Clongowes Wood College.

Tomorrow is The Fifth Sunday of Easter and, as I have frequently done before in this church when we have commemorated John Sullivan ecumenically year by year, I quote a Collect, the Collect for tomorrow, from the Church of Ireland tradition for our reflection and our discernment on this great day. We Anglicans tend often to begin on a somewhat sombre note and then proceed to ask God to help us to rise to joyfulness through the hopefulness of faithfulness. I trust that these cadences are helpful to us all in our daily walk with God and I offer them as a gift from the Church of Ireland tradition that John Sullivan also loved:

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Floreat John Sullivan! 

Michael Jackson, archbishop of Dublin                                                           13.May.2017

St Patrick’s Cathedral was full for a memorial service for former Dean, the Very Revd Victor Griffin, which took place yesterday (Sunday May 14). President Michael D Higgins was in attendance as well as members of Dean Griffin’s family and many friends and associates who gathered to remember a man who the preacher, the Archdeacon of Dublin, described as “political, courageous, fearless, controversial, author, loyal, friend, family man and above all, priest”. Dean William Morton presided at the service which was sung by the cathedral choir.

Dean Griffin died on January 11 2017. He was Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral from 1968 to 1991.

In his address, Archdeacon David Pierpoint said that in politics Dean Griffin had many adversaries but twice as many friends and would have been both proud and humbled to have Uachtarán na hÉireann and the many representatives of politics and the State in attendance at the service.

Throughout his ministry, the Archdeacon said, Victor championed the cause of inclusivity and pluralism. Speaking out at times resulted in him being ostracized but this did not deter him from speaking out for what he believed.

“A tolerance so lacking in many groups in the 1960s, 70s and even 80s that he was accused of being anti–Irish, anti–republican, a protestant bigot and anti–Roman Catholic. He was however, supported and upheld by liberal Roman Catholics, concerned members of the Church of Ireland, the Jewish community and people of no religion. Victor’s mantra during that time was that Irish people should move away from exclusiveness to inclusiveness.   Thank God for Victor’s stance, for that is, in general, the Ireland we live in today. Our political future is constantly being fashioned by people like Victor, taking risks, living out the gospel message of mutual love and respect for one another. He was indeed political, courageous and controversial,” Archdeacon Pierpoint said.

In ministry, he said that Victor was never afraid to wear his faith on his sleeve. He recalled the Dean saying to him: “Never be ashamed to wear your collar in public, whether in the streets, hotels or local bars, for that is where you will find your flock and a fulfilment in your ministry”.

In his writings, the preacher stated, Victor put paid to many myths both in society and the Church and also provided many useful books and booklets.

Describing Dean Griffin’s dedication to St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Archdeacon recalled the appeal he launched for its restoration in 1972 exceeding its target by almost £100,000, his negotiations with the Department of Education to get new buildings for the choir and grammar schools, his opposition to the widening of St Patrick’s Street and he and his wife Daphne’s campaign to save the Deanery. As a priest he seldom missed being present at the daily office or on Sundays and he and Canon Bradley insisted on perfection in liturgy.

Victor was devoted to his family and Archdeacon Pierpoint extended his sympathies to them.

He concluded with words from Victor’s final sermon in St Patrick’s Cathedral: “Finally, my friends, Farewell.  Strive for perfection, be strong, be of one mind, live in peace and the God of peace will be with you. The Lord God omnipotent reigns, because Christ is alive and has won the victory over sin and death.  By his resurrection we know that love is stronger than hate, good stronger than evil and life stronger than death”.

Born in Carnew, County Wicklow, in 1924, Dean Griffin was educated at Kilkenny College and Trinity College Dublin. He was ordained in 1948 for curacy at St Augustine’s in Derry. He served a second curacy at Christ Church in Derry where he became Rector in 1957 until 1968 when he was appointed Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral. He retired in 1991 and was living in Limavady.

Victor Griffin married Daphne Mitchell of Londonderry at All Saints’, Londonderry in May 1958; a teacher, she died of Multiple Sclerosis in 1998. The couple had twin sons, Kevin and Timothy, born in 1959.

You can read the full text of Archdeacon Pierpoint’s sermon here.

The Rector of St Mary’s Parish, Howth, Canon Kevin Brew was installed as the Twelfth Canon of the Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, yesterday, Sunday May 14. The installation took place during a service of Choral Evensong at which the Precentor, Canon Neil McEndoo presided.

A large congregation of family, friends and parishioners joined Kevin in the cathedral for the service during which he made his declarations, signed the Chapter Roll and received his stall. Also present were a number of his clerical colleagues from Dublin & Glendalough.

Kevin was appointed to the Chapter by the Archbishop of Dublin following the resignation of Canon Patrick Comerford. He was ordained to service in Raheny & Coolock as curate assistant to the Revd Cecil Wilson. He was appointed Bishop’s Curate in the Parish of Finglas and Chaplain to the Rotunda Hospital in 1980. He subsequently served as Rector in the Mountmellick Group of Parishes in Kildare Diocese from 1983 until 1989, when he was appointed Rector of Ahoghill & Portglenone in the Diocese of Connor where he remained until 2005. He then returned to Dublin and Glendalough having been appointed Rector of Howth.

The 150th anniversary of the consecration of St Philip’s Church in Milltown was celebrated in style over the weekend. The church provided the backdrop for a beautiful flower festival which was accompanied by a fascinating exhibition on the history of the church.

The three day festival drew to a close with a special service of Evening Prayer on Sunday (May 14). Archbishop Michael Jackson preached and encouraged parishioners to take the opportunity to become a ‘living temple’ bringing the message of the Gospel into a materialist world.

Introducing the service, the Rector, the Revd Sonia Gyles, said that over the three days they had commemorated the 150 years that had gone before while celebrating the parish as it is today.

Later in the service she thanked all who had helped make the celebrations happen. She paid tribute to the Revd Anne Marie O’Farrell and organist David O’Shea for their work and commitment to the parish. “This weekend we have celebrated St Philip’s at its best. May we continue to work together to ensure that this parish remains a place of worship and welcome and outreach for 150 years to come,” the Rector concluded.

During the service a special piece, written by Anne Marie O’Farrell to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St Philips and dedicated to the Revd Sonia Gyles and David O’Shea, was performed by the choir and the parish’s choral scholars.

In his sermon, Archbishop Michael Jackson said that the church building, through its architect, connected us with the whole of Dublin and the whole of Ireland. The architect Sir Thomas Drew also designed Rathmines Town Hall and the Graduates’ Memorial Building in Trinity College and St Ann’s Cathedral, Belfast. “We continue to need this working combination of south and north, commerce and university today as we always run the risk of folding our antennae in our search for the spiritual and keep the sacred inside the church. We need also this working combination of north and south in the uncharted days of Brexit and the dawning recognition that it is a bereavement that will hurt us all. We need to engage politically and to apply ourselves to making sense of fast–moving national and international events and also to contribute to this sense of making sense,” he said.

He added that the place of God had no purpose without the people of God. “Neither God nor we have any use for empty and discarded shrines. A church, as a house of prayer, takes its role, its vigour and its personality from the people who use it, who come to it and go from it again”. He said we are called to be a church, a living temple, “moving out into the community and taking a role of engagement and participation, meeting and doing, talking and shining forth, confident and proud to be Christian…” A living temple, he said, was formed by a community of strength.

The Archbishop said that in the 150th year of St Philip’s we needed to grasp the centrality of the Gospel message and also of our centrality in living it and presenting it to others – if we were to have the strength and the conviction to stand within and to stand for a spiritual life in the middle of a materialist world.

“My encouragement is that you take hold of the tradition you have received – in the Bible, in the sacraments, in the dedication of this church, in the lives lived before you and in the lives you now live inside and outside the church – and live this tradition out with a sense of intention and a voice of excitement. The connections are not difficult to make. What we need is the courage to witness and to give an account of our belief in God; our concern for humanity, the overwhelming majority of whom we shall never see; and our responsible membership of a creation most of which has no voice to argue for itself. This is our world. This is our story. This is our opportunity,” he said.

The full text of the Archbishop’s sermon is available in the Sermons section of the website.

St Mary’s Church in Crumlin was filled with current parishioners and old friends on Sunday evening for a special service to mark its 75th anniversary. During the service the congregation renewed their baptism vows and some of the very first people to be baptised in the church gathered around the font with some of those who were most recently baptised.

The preacher was the Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, whose father Canon Walter Burrows was appointed to Crumlin Parish in 1937 and presided over the planning and building of the new St Mary’s Church which was consecrated in 1942.

People travelled from far and wide to attend the service and many more who could not be present sent messages of congratulations. Clergy who robed for the service included Canon Adrienne Galligan, Canon Leslie Crampton and the Revd Willie Black and Shona Rusk diocesan reader from St Laurence’s in Chapelizod also assisted. More clergy, who grew up and had their vocations nurtured in the parish were in the congregation and were remembered during the service. Past choir members joined the current choir and many who had celebrated special days in the church returned.

In his sermon, Bishop Burrows said he was proud to attend the service. Thinking back to events of 1942 he said he could never hope to achieve or rival what had happened in the parish in the 1940s in an atmosphere of poverty and in the middle of a war. “A faithful community built this church and out of it grew an amazing worshipping community,” he stated adding that it was a new community on a fresh journey and this all took place in living memory.

The Bishop said he was never a resident in the parish. By the time he was born his parents had moved to Dundrum. “But I was brought up on the wholesome humour of this place,” he stated before recalling many stories from his father’s ministry in the parish and his visits to people in the parish when he was a child.

When his father crafted the church, Bishop Burrows said, he wanted a place where the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper could be celebrated with dignity so the sanctuary in St Mary’s is huge. “The sanctuary of this church is very dear and special to me. I think of it as a place of Eucharistic focus,” he commented. Through the Eucharist the Church continues to remember Jesus as if they were actually in the Upper Room, he said. In St Mary’s the events of 1942 are still remembered by people who were there but at the 100th anniversary there will not be people who remember the beginning, he suggested.

The Bishop said that the Eucharist also offered a foretaste of the future, a taste of heaven. “As we anticipate the future in heaven we should also learn to live comfortably on earth with whatever God’s future will be,” he said. He explained that his father had an ability to live ahead of himself and say: “Won’t it be great. When it happens it will be of God”. He cited the east wall of St Mary’s which remained blank until 1982 when a cross, which would have been unthinkable in 1942, was placed on it. “Don’t be afraid of the future. The future is already God’s and the message of Easter is that Christ is always going ahead to a future which is God’s,” he said.

He concluded by revealing that the consecration was an extraordinary event with all the bishops in the Church of Ireland in attendance and the Archbishop of Armagh, John Gregg, presiding. In his sermon Archbishop Gregg could not bring himself to say that the church was beautiful. “Seventy–five years on let us lay that to rest – this is a supremely beautiful place in terms of what it has been. It is a place of great spiritual energy… It is a place of sublime beauty mostly because of its people,” he stated.

Closing the service the Revd Willie Black thanked the Rector for all she had done in making the evening a reality. The congregation adjourned to the parish hall where a cake was cut by long standing organist Joy Elliott.

A city wide chaplaincy team for Dublin was commissioned on Wednesday May 17 by the Archbishop of Dublin. The team covers both universities and hospitals and the chaplains have undertaken training in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute as part of a new initiative.

Archbishop Michael Jackson commissioned Susie Keegan (Dublin Institute of Technology), the Revd Rob Jones (Third Level Chaplaincy Team Leader), Sarah Marshall (DIT), the Revd Steve Brunn (Trinity College Dublin), Scott Evans (University College Dublin) and Philip McKinley (Dublin City University) in the area of Third Level Chaplaincy.

He commissioned Hilda Plant and Olwyn Lynch to work in the area of Hospital Chaplaincy.

The Archbishop thanked all who had worked tirelessly to bring the new chaplaincy team together paying particular tribute to those in the Dublin & Glendalough Diocesan Office, the Priorities Fund and the Allchurches Trust. He also thanked the Revd Rob Jones for the tremendous work he had done in developing the team.

Addressing the chaplains, Garda Darren Coventry–Howlett of the Garda Bureau of Community Diversity and Integration compared the roles of community policing and chaplaincy and said they were defined by their service to others. Often those involved in policing see people at their worst but their humanity is also there, he said. Those in chaplaincy meet people at their most vulnerable and how the chaplain responds shapes them, he explained adding that it is a matter of faith.

“The opportunities are amazing, in building bridges, in stepping outside our own personal bubble – it’s very easy to surround ourselves with people who believe the same as us – and in interfaith and intercultural engagement,” Garda Coventry–Howlett commented. “Interfaith and intercultural work is hard… but when you see it working it opens up your eyes to the potential and there is a great sense of joy when you see people coming together in shared purpose.”

Among the pitfalls of chaplaincy, the Garda suggested, was the feeling that it is something that has to be done alone and said the chaplains should never be afraid to reach out to others. He said expectations also had to be managed and being open to sharing the views of others was a challenge as was building trust.

He concluded with words of encouragement: “Embrace your vocation in a world that doesn’t acknowledge the idea that you do this for others. You have an opportunity to embrace the idea that you want to be in the service of others. It’s a hard road but it’s worth walking because it does sustain your faith”.

Archbishop Jackson thanked Garda Coventry–Howlett for actively seeking to help those being commissioned to find their place, engage in society and know they have support. “You have helped us to see vital connections: the relationship between God and Creation and the Holy and domestic is something we should cherish and develop within the context of and Ireland that is self–secularising. We should not be silenced to a faith that is the heartbeat of who they are or who we are,” he said.

The Archbishop added that interfaith engagement meant engaging with people of difference on a level playing field and building community. As with much of ministry, he said, it is about empowering, enriching and equipping others.

Following the commissioning Sarah Marshall and Hilda Plant spoke about their hopes and aspirations for their respective roles.

Sarah said that chaplaincy was the ministry of presence and that was her hope for her role in DIT. She said that she hoped to bring a presence of space and a flavour of God and for people to feel connected. She said she wanted to engage with the real issues on campus and create a space where people can have conversations about these issues.

In the hospital setting, Hilda said she had had the privilege to journey with people at the end of their lives. People believe that everyone has family with them at the end of life but some people don’t. “They have come to a place where in their dying moments want prayer and it is a privilege to be there with them at the end of their journey,” she said. 

Preaching at Dublin City University’s Service for Exams in All Hallows Chapel, Drumcondra, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Rt Rev Dr Frank Sellar encouraged students to use their University experience as an opportunity to ask the ‘vital questions of life’.

Dr Sellar said, ‘University is great. Enjoy it. It’s a privilege to be part of DCU but know this – Important though they may be, College is for far more than passing exams. It is for more than getting an education or even for preparing for life. Now is the time to be asking really big questions; Who am I? Why am I here? and Where am I going?”

Drawing upon the Gospel Reading from Mark 1, Dr Sellar added, ‘You are an infinitely valuable, unique individual made in the image of a loving, creator and creative God. As God said to the Lord Jesus at the start of his early ministry: ‘You are my Son, whom I love. With you I am well pleased”.

The ecumenical Service for Exams was held in the All Hallows Chapel, which is part of a newly acquired Campus within the fast–growing Dublin City University. The All Hallows Campus on Grace Park Road in Drumcondra, which was previously All Hallows College, now forms part of DCU’s Institute of Education which houses the Church of Ireland Centre (CIC). 

The CIC, which was formerly the Church of Ireland College of Education (CICE), prepares teachers to work in Primary Schools under Protestant patronage in the Republic of Ireland. Referring to his own personal connection to the Centre, Dr Sellar said, ‘During the 20 years I lived and ministered in Dublin I was Chaplain to the Presbyterian students training to be teachers in CICE when it was located in Rathmines. I still use with delight the inscribed fountain pen kindly given to me by some of the students’.

Following the Service there was a BBQ Reception in the garden of All Hallows for DCU staff and students, which was sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance Ireland.

Hundreds of past and present members and leaders of the Girls Friendly Society converged on Christ Church Bray yesterday (Sunday May 21) to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the organisation in Ireland.

The church was filled for the service which was celebrated by the All Ireland Chaplain, the Revd Tanya Woods. The wonderful music was led by the Belturbet Praise Band and the preacher was the Revd Janice Aiton. GFS Patrons, the Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin, were present and brought greetings to the service. They were joined by the Bishops of Derry and Raphoe, Kilmore and Limerick and Killaloe.

GFS All Ireland President, Sylvia Quinn, gave an appreciation of all the society stands for and thanked all who helped to organise the service.

Current members and leaders joined past presidents, past central secretaries, past office holders and leaders from all over Ireland. A huge number of diocesan and branch banners was processed into the church, including that of the Bray branch where GFS first began Ireland.

During the service Sylvia Quinn was commissioned as senior delegate and Tamara McKenzie as junior delegate to the GFS World Council which takes place in Perth, Australia, in July.

For her interactive sermon the preacher drew on Luke 15:11–24, Luke 5:17–26 and Hebrews 13:8. She focused on making choices highlighting the good and bad choices made by the prodigal son. She looked at the welcoming, forgiving, caring and loving character of the father and said that Jesus had the same qualities adding that we can trust in him as he is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The first official meeting of the Girls Friendly Society was held in the Marine Hotel in Bray on February 22 1877. The Viscountess Powerscourt presided and also in attendance were Viscountess Monck, the Hon Mrs Greene, Mrs La Touche, the Revd JG Scott (Rector of Bray), and the Revd JA Cross (Hon Sec). They made plans to form GFS in Ireland. The Countess of Meath became the first Central President in 1878.

The society was founded in London in 1875 by an Irishwoman, Mrs Elizabeth Townsend, to provide support and skills training for girls who came from the country to work in the city. It is the oldest Church of Ireland organisation for girls and women.

Canon Gillian Wharton was installed as Prebendary of Dunlavin in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, yesterday (Sunday May 21). Her installation took place in the context of a Service of Choral Evensong at which the Dean, the Very Revd William Morton presided.

Canon Wharton was joined in the large congregation by her husband, Alan Rowden. The many well wishers included family members and many of her parishioners and friends.

The Rector of Booterstown and Carysfort with Mount Merrion was elected to be Dublin & Glendalough’s representative on the Chapter of the National Cathedral at a special meeting of Diocesan Synods in Clontarf in March.

She succeeds Canon Horace McKinley who was elevated to Canon Treasurer in the Chapter earlier this year having occupied the stall for 26 years. She is also a Clerical Honorary Secretary of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland.

Canon 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.

In the cathedral, she now occupies the same prebendal stall as Jonathan Swift who was Prebendary of Dunlavin from 1700 to 1713 when he was appointed Dean.

Our hearts go out to the people of Manchester this morning as we learn the details of a devastating attack which has taken the lives of so many children and young people and injured many more.

Through our sorrow we pray for those whose lives have been changed utterly as a result of this callous act, for those who have lost loved ones, who have been injured, who have witnessed things they should never have to see and who have fought to help others. We pray also for the emergency services and for those who will help others come to terms with what happened last night.

Manchester is a city many of us will know intimately whether we have lived, worked or been educated there or visited to enjoy the highs and lows of sporting endeavour.

The children and young people affected by this attack were living their lives and enjoying a concert, as many children and young people like them did in Dublin over the weekend when the same artist performed here. We pray that they can find the peace of God in the midst of this tragedy.

We pray also that, while the aim of these people is to divide and make us fear ‘the other’, that there will be leaders in every community who can reach out to the other to seek truth and understanding.

Books of condolence have been opened in both Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.

Archbishop Michael Jackson