NEWS BRIEFS

Killough outreach gets grant boost

Down & Dromore diocese’s outreach work in Killough Village has been awarded a grant from The Church of Ireland Orphans’ and Children’s Society (Antrim and Down).

A sum of £12,000 has been granted for the first year and will be used to further resource outreach in the coastal village just outside Downpatrick.

The work is run by Colin and Sarah Irwin who, in September 2015, began to explore the needs of the community as part of the Church Planting initiative. They identified a lack of provision for children and young people and in November that year started a Wednesday night Kids Club for primary school children. On that first night 13 kids came along and four years later, around 40 children attend regularly.

In September 2018 they went on to launch a Youth Club to cater for the children who had outgrown Kids Club. Youth Club is for Years 8 and 9 and currently around 15 young people come along.

Over the years, Colin and Sarah, who are both teachers, have also been running different activities in the village for the whole family including; Messy Church, lads club, holiday clubs, carol services, Streetreach and several family fun days.

They say: “We have been so blessed by God and what He is doing in this village and how he has been using us and our small team of volunteers. The outreach grant is a real boost and will help us do more for the community. Our prayer for Killough is that His Kingdom comes, and more adults, young people and children will have a living faith in Jesus!”

Irish missionary will not leave Hong Kong

An Irish priest, Fr Michael Cuddigan SSC of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Central, Hong Kong, has said he would be prepared to die rather than leave the Faithful in Hong Kong despite the Covid-19 (coronavirus) scare, leading to all Church services in Hong Kong being cancelled.

Big Sing in Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork

On Saturday 8th February 2020 Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedra, Cork hosted a ‘Big Sing’ organised by Cork International Choral Festival. Over forty singers tackled the ever popular ‘Gloria’ by Vivaldi accompanied by Robbie Carroll on the Cathedral organ and conducted by Peter Stobart who is both the Cathedral’s Director of Music and Artistic Director of the Choral Festival.

The solos were sung by Saoirse Daly (soprano) and Denise Brueckl (alto) who are both Lay Vicars in the Cathedral Choir, and the famous duet ‘Laudamus te’ was sung by two younger choristers Killian and Rory Nuzum.

The Cathedral will be holding another Come and Sing event on Saturday 28th March from 2pm when the work will be Stainer’s Crucifixion. Please email Peter Stobart to register your interest: [[] directorofmusicsfb@gmail.com ]

Fast track for new Dublin archbishop?

The Pope may have to fast-track a replacement for Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in Dublin or face the prospect of the country’s largest diocese not having a bishop for up to a year, The Irish Catholic understands.

Once Upon a Time in Christ Church, Dublin

Please join in the latest series of Christ Church’s ‘Once Upon a Time…’ visual art story-telling tours on Saturday 7th March 2pm-4.30pm.

Led by Jean Ryan, this fascinating walking tour will link Christ Church with the Hugh Lane Gallery through various decorative patterns and symbols. The tour will start at the cathedral and then proceed up to the gallery by foot. Good walking shoes recommended!

To join us please email [ ruth.kenny@christchurch.ie ]to book your place.
Free with cathedral admission price. Limited to 15 places.

Thanks from 4 Corners Festival organisers

Fr Martin Magill and Rev Steve Stockman, Co-Chairs of 4 Corners Festival Organizing Committee and co-founders of our festival.

Fr Martin Magill and Rev Steve Stockman trite – “We would like to thank you for your incredible support at this year’s Festival events. We were overwhelmed by the attendances, day after day. Ten days is a lengthy Festival and we are aware that many of you showed stamina by being at multiple events from beginning to end. We hope that you enjoyed (though enjoyed might not have been the right word at times) the Festival programme as much as we did putting it together.

“As we reflect on the Festival there are far too many highlights to pick one or even two out. We hope that like ourselves you are taking time to unpack all that was said and sung and recited. There were many “depth charges” that will ripple on in our minds and hearts and souls for some time.

“The Festival, thanks to all of you, has grown enormously over its 8 years. That has brought with it financial implications. It has been vital for us to take on administrative staff. We also want to be able to give a generous honorarium to attract speakers and artists.

“We are dependent on your donations in our Tesseracts and even more dependent on grants. When a funder turns us down, as one did for this year’s Festival, that is difficult.

“We therefore wondered if some of you would shift your generous Tesseract donations and give us a monthly contribution to help us with our year round costs. This would not only make next year’s Festival easier for us but also allow us to think ahead and plan for the next few years.

“We believe that the 4 Corners Festival has become a strong contributor to tearing down our traditional barriers, bringing people together and allowing us to listen to one another and be inspired to make our mark as individuals and a community on bringing Belfast together.

“We invite you to join us as Friends Of The Festival” See –

[[] https://donorbox.org/become-a-friend-of-the-4-corners-festival ]

God in creation