Rededication of Cork hospital chapel; Derry ‘Lights Of Love’ Carol Service; New Diocesan President for Down and Dromore Mothers’ Union; Re–opening and Rededication of Lisburn Cathedral; MU Samaritan’s Purse effort: Media review – Choir to sing in Rome for Pope; Concerns over reporting of abortion issue
Rededication of Cork hospital chapel
The Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Paul Colton, will visit Cork University Hospital today, Thursday, 6th December – the Feast of St Nicholas – to rededicate the Chapel of Christ the Healer. The Church of Ireland, working with colleagues from sister churches, has provided continuous ministry at Cork University Hospital since its establishment in 1978. The Chapel of Christ the Healer, consecrated in May 1980 has been an oasis of prayer, healing and sanctuary for thousands of patients, families, staff and visitors since then. Over recent times the Chapel was generously refurbished to meet modern needs.
Bishop Colton will bless a new icon at the start of the Service. The icon called ‘Jesus, healing Lord of all’ was written by Romanian Orthodox artist Calatin Balut.
Included in the icon are: the blessing of the children; the healing of ten afflicted with leprosy; the healing of a paralysed man; the healing of two men troubled in spirit; the healing of a blind man; and the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead.
Before celebrating the Eucharist, the Bishop will consecrate a new altar designed to reflect a core value of open welcome and accessibility where both priest and people remain seated for the Eucharist. The Hospital Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel Nuzum explains, ‘This bold action breaks down barriers of ability. At this table all are equal.’
Finally the Bishop will bless a new Aumbry of Healing for the sacrament and the oils of healing. The aumbry was designed by Cork glass artist Eoin Turner. Again Daniel Nuzum explains: ‘The glass reflects the liturgical colours of the year and speaks as a womb of new life and light that God brings through the sacraments, Christ’s healing touch and the power of the Holy Spirit.’
The Service will be broadcast live on CUH102FM at 10.30 a.m.
Derry ‘Lights Of Love’ Carol Service
Sands NI, the regional branch of Sands UK, is hosting a Christmas Carol Remembrance Service with poems and readings for parents in St Augustine’s Church Derry/Londonderry on Sunday 9 December 2012 at 7.30 p.m.
The service, entitled “Lights Of Love” is just one of ten similar services taking place across the UK & also in Cork over the weekend of 7 – 9 December. The main focus of the service is the Sands Christmas tree where parents are invited during the service to place their handwritten cards in memory of their child. Parents are also invited to place a toy/gift under the tree for the age their child would be this Christmas. These toys/gifts will be donated to The Salvation Army & St Vincent De Paul who will distribute them to children who otherwise wouldn’t receive a toy/gift at Christmas.
Sands NI Regional Co–ordinator, Steven Guy says “Many parents struggle with an urge or need to buy some small toy/gift for their child at Christmas and the service provides an opportunity for them to do this without feeling that it is somehow wrong. Buying a gift for their child helps to include them in the family Christmas preparations and also brightens another child’s Christmas in the process. We have found that parents take great comfort and hope from the Lights Of Love services and warmly invite parents and their families to attend.” The service although organised by Sands is open to any parent whose child has died at any age and from any cause of death. For further information contact Steven Guy (Sands NI Regional Co–ordinator)on 028 3839 2509 OR steven.guy@uk-sands.org
New Diocesan President for Down and Dromore Mothers’ Union
Down and Dromore Mothers’ Union’s new Diocesan President is Joy Silcock, a parishioner of Magherahamlet in the Diocese of Dromore. Joy will be commissioned at a service in her own parish on Sunday 6 January 2013 at 4.00pm. She introduces herself below:
I am married to Billy and we have 2 sons Alan and David aged 28 and 26. Alan is getting married next year in our parish Church in Magherahamlet (just outside Ballynahinch). We are looking forward to that very much! I work part–time in a day nursery, I am a volunteer for Downpatrick RDA (Riding for the Disabled) and also for Ballynahinch Child Contact Centre which opened 18 months ago. Billy and I both enjoy watching rugby and are members of Ballynahinch RFC and try to support them as often as we can. We enjoy going to Ulster Orchestra concerts.
My Mum had been a member of Ballywalter Branch and I now have been a member of MU for 20 years. I have had the pleasure to serve as my branch secretary. I also was the Young Families Representative on Down and Dromore Executive (as the Trustee Body was known then) which led to me becoming Young Families Representative for the Northern Dioceses on the All– Ireland Executive. I look back on those days very fondly! In 2002 I agreed to be Editor of the All–Ireland Focus magazine. The next three years were extremely busy but very satisfying as I had direct contact with branches and members from all over Ireland. My computer and I became best friends and I learned so much about type setting and editing – although the high quality of the editing was due in no small part to Sally Cotter who proof read each copy so thoroughly. I have huge respect for all involved in our MU magazines!
I have not been involved with MU at a Diocesan level for a few years as my attention has been focussed on acting as secretary to the building committee in Magherahamlet. We have just completed the challenging undertaking of providing a new Church Hall for our Parish. The new building has just been dedicated and opened and I look forward to welcoming as many of you there as possible to my commissioning and coincidently to our spring council in 2013!
Service of Re–opening and Re-dedication of Lisburn Cathedral
A Service of Re–opening and Re-dedication was held in Lisburn Cathedral on Sunday December 2. The preacher at the special service was the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy who dedicated the building. The lovely warm cathedral was full to capacity, and guests and parishioners were welcomed by the rector, the Rev Canon Sam Wright. Lisburn Ladies Harmony Choir performed two sets during the service, adding to the atmosphere of thanksgiving and celebration. The historic building in the heart of the city has been subject to a series of renovation and refurbishment works in recent years. Phase one of the works to the Cathedral building were completed some two years ago and involved exterior work including repointing, repairs to the spire replacement of the weather vane, repair of the east facing stained glass window and partial replacement of the roof.
The phase two works were all internal and included rewiring, new lighting, new seating, a coffee area, new audio visual provision, carpeting and redecoration. These were completed last week and the building re–opened for use on the day of the rededication. Reaching this point has been a long road through years of census, questionnaires, audit, vision presentations, debates and consultations, before a final report from CREED Ireland.
Canon Wright said: “The Select Vestry have provided immense leadership and vision, in particular the Glebewardens, Paul Duggan and John Humes. The experts on the sound and vision team – Martin Lester, Des Henry and David Lamont, have put in hundreds of hours creating first class visuals and sound.
“The works have been supervised on a daily basis by Des Cairns (Architect) and the end result is a fitting tribute to his skill and attention to detail.” Canon Wright continued: “The main contractor Annvale Construction Ltd have been professional and courteous as they have carried out the very detailed work in the Cathedral.” The total cost of both the exterior and interior renovation phases of the building works was £800,000. “In addition to this new church heating has been installed, the chapter room/toilets/choir room renovated, and in the cathedral hall a new kitchen has been installed,” Canon Wright said.
“As there were problems with the defective electrical installation and numerous issues with regard to the internal finishes and Health & Safety problems the vestry decided not only to work hard at restoration and solving of the apparent problems but also to allow the building to be flexible and able to be used in different ways, which would allow more people to come in, feel welcome and comfortable, and to experience God and be part of a church family. “Like all historic Buildings the cathedral has great cultural significance, it embodies a great many things to many people, the aim was to carry out the work in such a way as to enhance the heritage elements and yet provide modern safe and adaptable facilities.”
Guests arriving on Sunday afternoon approached the church through the main door into a welcoming bright new oak and glass porch. New lighting has been installed and the stairwell decorated. The doors into the nave have been refurbished and upgraded for fire safety, and the new coffee area has a newly sanded and polished floor. The coffee making facilities are to the right, an area with fridge, dishwasher, boiler and coffee machine. A new planar glass screen provides subtle separation from this area to the main part of the nave. Careful consideration has been made to install these items without damaging the historic elements. In the main part of the newly carpeted nave, the new sound, vision and lighting control desk is located just inside the glass screen.
This allows full control of all the systems, including the new video cameras which will assist all those on the gallery and to the sides to have a good view of proceedings and well as providing sound and vision to the Church Hall. The gallery has large plasma screens at high level. The new chairs are a rich red and clip together to form a continuous seat, or stacked depending on the type of service or event. The kneelers and chapter seats have been recovered in the new upholstery. New slim projection screens are placed on either side the Chancel, opening up a clear view of the magnificent East Window.
“With a new fire alarm, new emergency lighting, and upgraded doors the refurbished building will be a much safer and brighter place to have services and other events,” added Canon Wright.
During Sunday’s service, and Act of Commissioning was held for mission teams to serve in Lisburn and in Yei Diocese, South Sudan. Members of both teams were commissioned by the Dean of Connor, the Very Rev John Bond.
MU Samaritan’s Purse Appeal
Ladies from Colebrooke and Cooneen Mothers’ Union Branches (Clogher) wrapped and filled boxes for the Samaritan’s Purse appeal. Over 50 boxes were packed for transport to children overseas.
MEDIA REVIEW
Choir to sing for Pope in Rome
One of Ireland’s best-known choirs has been invited to sing at a Mass by the Pope. The Palestrina Choir of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin has accepted an invitation to take part in Epiphany celebrations in Rome.
Thirty-two boy choristers and 12 men will sing with the Sistine Chapel Choir in front of Pope Benedict in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday January 6.
As Taoiseach Enda Kenny met boys from the choir at Government Buildings, director Blanaid Murphy said they were delighted to accept the invitation to sing in Rome.
“Major discrepancies” in reporting of Savita’s death
A Newstalk 106 interview raises questions about how the situation was reported.
Kitty Holland, the reporter of the “Irish Times” who originally broke the story that went around the globe, now has admitted that she had not checked any of the facts. In an interview with the Irish radio programme “Newstalk 106″, Ms. Holland (who happens to be the daughter of a pro-abortion campaigner and a socialist politician) had to admit that her story “may be a little muddled”…
You can listen to the interview here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQmc-eeNXCU&feature=youtu.be