Church services and events; Media reports on social work in NI, the abortion debate,women bishops and relations between Catholic bishops and priests
Blessington Christmas Craft Fair
The Blessington Union of Parishes will hold a Christmas Fair on Sunday December 2 in St Kevin’s Hall between 11.00 am and 4.00 pm. There will be plenty of stalls brimming with festive items and there will be home baking on the parish stall. (All contributions gratefully received). Children will be able to meet Santa between 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm so have your lists ready! Contact Aisling if you have any queries (045) 865127.
TCD Choir Sing at Houses of the Oireachtas
The Trinity College Dublin Chapel Choir will sing at the lighting of the Houses of the Oireachtas Christmas Tree at 5.00 pm on Tuesday December 4. In the presence of TDs, Senators and the party leaders, the TCD Choir will sing seasonal favourites. The engagement is the final event in the Choir’s year of festivities to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its foundation in 1762.
Evening of Arias and Song at TCD Chapel
A fundraising concert in aid of the Dublin Simon Community and Opera Theatre Company will be held in Trinity College Chapel on Wednesday December 5 at 8.00 pm. This will be a rare opportunity to hear two of Ireland’s most renowned voices, as Ann Murray and Virginia Kerr take to the stage for an evening of arias and song. Accompanied by Brenda Hurley (Director of the International Opera Studio in Zurich) this unique concert will feature many familiar gems of opera interspersed with highlights from Opera Theatre Company’s work, covering everything from baroque to contemporary song, via Mozart and Puccini. Tickets priced at €30/26 are available from www.nch.ie or 01 417 0000.
A Classical Christmas in Aid of Drumcondra NS
Drumcondra National School promises to provide an evening of uplifting music featuring a host of Irish and UK musicians and singers on Thursday December 6. All Hallows College have given Drumcondra NS the use of their facilities to host the inspiring event. The evening will begin at 7.00 pm, when the doors open to allow attendees to refresh themselves with a glass of wine. The main event will then begin at 8.00 pm.
What will follow will be an evening of uplifting music, starring pianists Finghin Collins and Dearbhla Collins. Imelda Drumm (mezzo soprano star of the Welsh National Opera) and Mairéad Buicke (a soprano who regularly sings with the English National Opera) will entertain the audience with their beautiful voices. Dolce Choir and the senior children of Drumcondra NS will sing Christmas favourites. Bryan Dobson has kindly agreed to MC the event. The programme will include classical and Christmas favourites and promises to be an exciting way to kick off the Christmas season.
Tickets for this amazing event are €30 each or a special deal of €50 for 2 is available. Tickets may be purchased through the school by contacting (01) 8374886, emailing drumcondrans@gmail.com or on the website http://drumcondrans.scoilnet.ie/concert.html ). Book early to ensure your seat.
All proceeds will go towards Drumcondra NS Building Fund. The school has grown over the last number of years and is now a four teacher school. The children are still receiving an excellent education, but the building is very cramped. The Board of Management have applied to the Department of Education and Skills for funding to build two additional classrooms, but there will be a shortfall. This musical extravaganza is being organised to help offset this shortfall and the school asks for your support.
StPages Patrick’s bell ringers
From the December issue of Close News, magazine of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin –
On 27th October 2012 the St. Patrick’s bell ringers took part in
the Irish Association of Change Ringers Festival in Dublin. Ringers came
from all three Irish bell ringing districts (Northern, Eastern & Southern).
Ringing took place in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral, St.
Audoen’s Church and St Augustine & St John’s Church. Some of the bells in
St. Audoen’s were cast in 1423 and are still rung regularly. Lunch was
kindly provided by St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the Grammar School. The
President Mrs. Jean Jeffery expressed the thanks of the bell ringers for the
excellent lunch. After ringing an excellent dinner organised by the
Association was enjoyed in the Buenos Aires Grill.
In September 2012 several St Patrick’s bell ringers were among thirty eight
Irish bell ringers who rang in several London Churches. The Tour was
organised by Mrs. Julia Lysaght and Michael Crockett. Included were St.
Olave’s Church which was the church attended by Samuel Pepys. It was
later damaged by bombing in World War II but has been restored. We also
rang the very fine bells in St Magnus the Martyr, although this was an
interesting experience as the tower sways significantly when the bells are
rung. The supporting rods can be seen flexing and straightening with the
movement.
Of particular interest was the opportunity to ring the ‘Royal Jubilee Bells’.
These bells were mounted on a barge and proceeded the Thames pageant of
boats in celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. The bells have
now been hung in the tower of St. James, Garlickhythe. They are
beautifully balanced, have great clarity and are a joy to ring.
Anyone interested to find out more about bell ringing should email
bellringing@stpatrickscathedral.ie
Glencairn sale
St Andrew’s Church Glencairn is holding a sale of arts and crafts, etc on Friday 14th December at 7.00 p.m. in the church hall on Forthriver Road. Snacks are also available. If you are in the neighbourhood (or just feel like a drive to the upper regions of the Shankill), please drop in for at least a cup of tea.
MEDIA REVIEW
Social workers in NI spend two-thirds of time on paper work
The majority of childcare social workers in Northern Ireland spend less than a third of their working week with young people, new research has indicated.
The rest of their time is taken up with paperwork and other administrative tasks, according to figures compiled by the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers.
Of the NIASW members questioned for the survey, 94% said they would like to spend more time with children and families.
But three out of four social workers surveyed said they were already working between 20 to 60 extra hours a month.
Two thirds of the respondents said direct client contact accounted for less than 30% of their working week.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/social-work-is-two-thirds-paperwork-1-4534431
Savita and the Church
Derry Journal – Eamonn McCann – This shifty approach appears to suffice for both Church and State in Ireland. But it won’t wash elsewhere. When two Irish women brought a case to the European Court of Human Rights a few years back saying that they had been denied their rights when …
http://www.derryjournal.com/community/columnists/eamonn-mccann-savita-and-the-church-1-4537834
Legislation is not abortion on demand – Kenny
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/legislation-is-not-abortion-on-demand-kenny-215294.html
Election of women bishops
Irish Times – Letter – I look forward to the Anglican Communions in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland following the example set by the Anglican church in Swaziland. – Yours, etc,. Revd Canon MARIE ROWLEY-BROOKE ,. Church Road,. Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2012/1128/1224327204609.html
Why do Bishops refuse to meet their priests?
Mayo News – The Association of Catholic Priests believes that the current crisis demands real engagement between the different groupings in the Irish Catholic Church. Unless this engagement takes place it will not be possible to plan strategically for the future …
http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16648:why-do-bishops-refuse-to-meet-their-priests&catid=81:defacto&Itemid=100038