IRISH NEWS BULLETIN

Photo above – The church at Saul. St Patrick’s Day services at Saul went ahead yesterday. Due to the small size of the church and the current corona virus, the service of Holy Communion at Saul took place largely in the open–air.

For the Church of Ireland, St Patrick’s Day first and foremost celebrates St Patrick’s mission in bringing the Gospel to this island. The subsequent growth of the Church in Ireland sustained a continued witness for Jesus in Europe. Through the early Middle Ages. Irish missionaries shared the Gospel from Ireland to Britain and across the continent.

The Church of Ireland traces its history back to St Patrick’s arrival (around 432 AD) and the early Celtic Church.

Church of Ireland suspends services

The Church of Ireland has informed its clergy that all services and parish activities in Northern Ireland are suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus epidemic.

The move follows a similar announcement by the Church of England Archbishops of Canterbury and York — Justin Welby and John Sentamu — advising in an open letter that the organisation will cease all public worship.

In the statement, the Church of Ireland advised that “all Sunday and midweek services should be suspended”.

It said that the numbers of people attending funerals and weddings should also be kept “as low as possible”, with the suggestion that funeral services should be held in private “with no public announcement of the funeral arrangements”.

While some meetings will still take place among senior leaders “the select vestry”, the advice given by the Church of Ireland states that those who display any symptoms of the virus — such as a high temperature or a new continuous cough — should not attend, and instead should self-isolate.

Those in vulnerable groups have also been advised by the church not to attend any such meetings.

In an effort to keep church schedules as normal as possible, the statement also advises that “creative” electronic means of communication and worship should be encouraged.

Similar advice was being issued yesterday by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Ireland.

Orange Order activities cease

Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson has written to Orangemen “directing that all activities should cease with immediate effect in response to the latest developments surrounding the spread of COVID-19 – including parades, services and lodge meetings.

The Protestant organisation described the action as “unprecedented but necessary” as cases in Northern Ireland rose to 62 on Tuesday from 52 the day before.

“I appreciate that our culture and traditions are very much a way of life for the Orange family,” Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson said in a message to members.

“However in the light of the current situation we must all prioritise the safety of not only our members, but of the entire community.”

Mr. Stevenson said the decision was in response to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s call on Monday to shut down social life across the United Kingdom to battle against the virus.

Upcoming worship on RTE

RTE have set out their coverage of religious services and events over the next few weeks.

Christian worship will continue to air on RTÉ TV, Radio and Online at 11am every Sunday and, of course, RTÉ will mark the major liturgies of Holy Week and Easter on all platforms.
You can also log onto churchservices.tv, which offers live daily video streams from over 150 churches across Ireland and the UK, so you can connect with worship in a church near you.

RTE hope in the coming days, to offer religious content for members of the Muslim community who are unable to attend Friday’s noon Jummah prayers. On Sunday April 5 , at 17.35, RTÉ One will be marking Passover, or Pesach, with the Irish Jewish community and, on April 11, at the same time, RTÉ One will celebrate Vaisakhi with Ireland’s Sikhs, though their colourful public festive gatherings have been curtailed.

On Radio 1, A Living Word continues to offer a short daily spiritual reflection from a range of religious positions, every weekday morning at 06.15.

 Clogher link with new bishop of Kitui

Clogher diocese has a strong link with the most recent bishop appointed by Pope Francis. Fr Joseph Mwongela, yesterday appointed by the Pope as Bishop of Kitui, a Diocese with which church people in Clogher have a special connection. Fr Joseph ministered in Tullycorbet and Pettigo parishes over several years.

God in creation