NEWS BRIEFS

Historic Service in Irish In Christ Church this Sunday

Since its establishment in 1030, the language used in the services in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, would have been either Latin or English. On 27th October at 11.00am for the first time in its history, the principal Sunday service will be Irish. Leaflets will be bilingual so that our visitors will know what’s going on.

The Rev Trevor Sergeant will be preaching, and Canon Gary Hastings is the celebrant. The choir for the service will be Cór Chúil Aodha, from the West Cork Gaeltacht. They were founded by the famous composer Seán Ó Riada in 1963, and their director and organist is Peadar Ó Riada, his son. This male voice choir sings both traditional and liturgical music and has a very important place in the musical traditions of this country.

34 qualify in Christian Leadership in Education

For two years running the Department of Theology & Religious Studies at MICLimerick and MICThurles has graduated the largest number of Arts postgraduates. This year 34 Catholic teachers received qualifications in Christian Leadership in Education.

Church Army blogger

“I think we can understand something of the evangelist’s message by looking at the message of the angels in the New Testament. What is their message?” Read Annie’s stunning blog Who is an Evangelist? here – [churcharmy.org/Articles/55612]… #WeAreChurchArmy #Blog

Lourdes pilgrims attract thieves with ‘devil-may-care’ attitude

PIilgrims in Lourdes are increasingly falling victim to pickpockets as organised gangs of thieves target the holy site in southern France, where the atmosphere of religious devotion lulls visitors into a false sense of security.

“Many people think when they arrive in Lourdes nothing can happen and they leave their handbags open wider than they would in Paris,” said Philippe Subercaze, a city councillor in charge of security. “They think the Virgin will protect them.”

Pickpocketing thefts have more than doubled from 117 in the first nine months of last year to 274 so far this year, according to Philippe Aurignac, the local prosecutor. Most occur in the centre of the town, near the shrine where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared before a peasant girl in a grotto in 1858.

“The pickpockets are highly organised professionals,” Mr Subercaze said. “They arrive in waves and change all the time. As soon as one is identified or arrested, they are replaced.”

Lourdes is one of the world’s most revered sites for Catholics, attracting more than 770,000 pilgrims last year. Officials have installed about 50 CCTV cameras since last year.

Lots to read in the autumn Connor Connections

The autumn issue of the diocesan magazine Connor Connections is now available free to every parishioner in the diocese, the editor writes.

In this issue, the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, talks about his difficult decision to retire on the grounds of health in his message to the diocese. A Service of Thanksgiving to mark Bishop Alan’s retirement (on December 31) will be held in St Patrick’s, Ballymena, on December 19.

We meet Matthew Owens, the new Director of Music at Belfast Cathedral, and hear about his plans for the future, and the Rev Aaron McAlister looks back on a visit to Kitwe, Uganda, during the summer.

Staff and students from The Hub Chaplaincy at Queen’s University Belfast, were also in Uganda over the summer, and team leader James Turner reflects on their experiences.

You may have read about the Rev Derek Kerr’s Winnie the Pooh fundraiser in Drummaul Parish Church in June – we find out what inspired this unusual ‘hobby’ and meet some of the young people who are supported by the charities to benefit from the exhibition.

News items include St Patrick’s Parish, Coleraine’s, impressive Seven Sevens mountain challenge, and the official opening of the new Inver Hall at St Cedma’s, Larne. Crosslinks mission partners Gerald and Louise Mwangi, currently on home leave, talk about their work in Nairobi, Kenya, and we look back at an exciting summer for Connor’s young people.

Men in court for Christ Church Derry break-in

Two Derry men have been returned for trial to the local Crown Court on charges linked to a break in at the Church of Ireland in Infirmary Road in the city. Harry Duffy (25), of Elmwood Terrace, and James Anthony Kennedy (24), of Glenside Park, at a preliminary enquiry at the city’s Magistrate’s Court. Duffy is charged with entering the church as a trespasser and stealing a crystal decanter, robes and a surplice on 12 September, 2017. He also faces two charges of criminal damage to a boiler room, a stained glass window, an organ, a monitor and flowers on the same date. Kennedy faces a charge of criminal damage to the same items and and one of burglary of the church on the same date. It was accepted there was a case to answer and there were no contrary submissions. Both men said they did not wish to call any witnesses or make any statement at this stage. They were returned for trial to Derry Crown Court on 26 November and released on bail.