Bishop Paul Colton Leads IDAHOT Service in St Anne’s, Shandon Cork

On Sunday 13^th May a service was held to mark International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia. Bishop Paul Colton, assisted by the Reverend Sarah Marry, led a celebration of the Eucharist on the theme ‘Alliances for Solidarity’.

Choir Choral Con Fusion joined the service and added their voices in song to celebrate the many links and connections which foster solidarity and fellowship with the LGBT+ community in Cork. Those relationships were evident as different groups were represented at the service including the Chair of the LGBT Inter Agency Group Siobhàn O’Dowd, LGBT Community Garda Joan Meaney, representatives of the civic life of our city Cllr John Buttimer, Senator Jerry Buttimer, Pádraig Rice, Coordinator of the Cork Gay Project and many others.

Choral Con Fusion with the Bishop and the Reverend Sarah Marry

Stephen Spillane spoke on the theme ‘Alliances for Solidarity’ which runs through all the events for this year’s LGBT awareness week. Stephen is someone who has happily experienced solidarity and his relationships criss crossing many of the groups in attendance made him a suitable choice as speaker. He reminded the congregation that there are sadly many LGBT+ people who do not experience solidarity or have allies around them and indeed face many challenges in their places of work, worship or homes. So while there was much warmth and much to celebrate, the need for this day and this mark of solidarity sadly persists. St. Anne’s is proud to be the home for this while the need exists and continues to enjoy the friendships and fellowship the occasion affords with members of the LGBT+ community in the parish and across our city.

Stephen Spillane, Bishop Paul Colton, and the Reverend Sarah Marry.

The following day, Monday 14th May, the Reverend Sarah Marry, the Bishop, and Canon Dr Daniel Nuzum joined the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Tony Fitzgerald, at the launch of the annual Cork LGBT Awareness week in the City Hall, Cork.