St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Launches Christmas Carols for Cork City

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in association with St Fin Barre’s Quarter is delighted to announce its unique and innovative presentation of Christmas Carols for Cork City which was launched today (Thursday 17th December)


Recorded at the Cathedral by a reduced choir due to Covid-19 restrictions, the uplifting and traditional Christmas Carols are being presented at strategic locations in Cork City over five days from Thursday 17th December to Monday 21st December.

Using the latest mobile LED screen technology and sound projection St Fin Barre’s Cathedral has been turned “inside out”. Some of the music from the traditional carol services, a highlight of Christmas in Cork and sadly cancelled this year, are instead being brought to the people on the streets and at some institutions in the city.

The official launch took place at the Cathedral this morning with Deputy Lord Mayor, Des Cahill representing the City Council, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UCC and CUH, Conor Deasy representing the HSE, Fr Sean Crowley (Chaplain to the Defence Forces) and Thomas McHugh representing Cork Chamber of Commerce.


Robbie Carroll (Assistant Director of Music) (L) and Peter Stobart (Director of Music) (R) with some Cathedral Choristers at the Launch of Carols for the City

The Christmas Carols first called to City Hall and Anglesey Street Fire Station & Garda Station, where a large cohort of Cork City Fire Brigade staff and Gardai joined the Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr. Des Cahill and Ann Doherty, Chief Executive of Cork City Council for the first public viewing of the carols.

. Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Des Cahill (L) leads a large cohort of City Council officials, Fire Service personnel and Gardaí in welcoming the Carols for the City mobile unit to Anglesea Street Fire Station and Cork City Hall


Over the following days the performance will be brought to some of the city’s hospitals and nursing homes so that the Christmas cheer from the Cathedral is shared with front line workers and patients.

Leading this initiative, the Dean of Cork, Very Rev. Nigel Dunne said:

we were devastated to have to cancel the hugely popular carol services especially in this our 150th anniversary year. However thanks to some very creative thinking by St Fin Barre’s Quarter Committee and the generous support of the City Council we can now bring some of our wonderful music, sung by a greatly reduced and socially distanced choir, onto the streets of the city. While it is not the same as gathering as a community in the Cathedral I hope it will bring some Christmas cheer to the streets of our city and our front line workers in these difficult times.


Chair of St Fin Barre’s Quarter Development Committee, Eoin Murphy welcomed the programme saying:

The Cathedral is at the heart of the historic St Fin Barre’s Quarter and this initiative shows what a significant contribution it makes to Cork City especially at Christmas time. For me the Carol Service has always symbolised the start of Christmas and I am thrilled that the tradition continues albeit in a different way


This innovative programme is sponsored by Cork City Council through the Reimagine GLOW Programme.

Posted in Cathedral, Cathedral Choir, Church in Society, Church Music, Cork, Corona Virus, COVID-19, Dean of Cork, Diocese | Comments Off on St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Launches Christmas Carols for Cork City

Joint Christmas Message from the Bishops of Cork

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross

Church of Ireland United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Joint Christmas Message from the Bishops of Cork:

The Most Reverend Dr Fintan Gavin

and

The Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton

Christmas 2020

When we wished you a Happy Christmas this time last year and all of us were looking forward to that season and the New Year that would follow, we could never have imagined what this year would bring, and that our planning for this Christmas would be so different.

Our thoughts and prayers, together with our practical ministry, have been focussed almost entirely since last March on the human toll that the CoronaVirus has taken. Most especially we think of those who have died, those who have been bereaved, those who have journeyed through, not only Covid-19, but other illnesses during this time of the pandemic, people living in nursing homes or with additional needs, and everyone who has been caring for you in those life-changing situations.  ‘Everyone is in a heap’ said someone recently, and that is true. The disruption in our homes, in our commercial and business life, in the economy has been immense, and all of it is worked out in the lives of individuals stretched to the limit.  

Meanwhile, none of the other big issues of the day has gone away: climate change, homelessness, direct provision, poverty, injustice, inequality, and the search for peace where there is conflict.

Yet, the message of the Christian Gospel proclaimed every day and most dramatically at Christmas time, remains the same.  Our prayer is that it will give you hope and courage again this year in these far from normal times.  In his Gospel, Saint Matthew tells us that the baby born in the manger would be named ‘Emmanuel, which means God is with us.’  This is at the heart of the Christian message, that God, the God of love, of grace, of healing, of salvation, is indeed with us.

Saint John described Jesus in a way that we can understand: as light in darkness.  Speaking about Jesus Christ he said ‘in him was life, and the life of the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.’  As you light candles, switch on the decoration lights on trees or at home, as you see the lights decorating our villages, towns and city, we invite you to remember this promise and Good News.  Our prayer is that Jesus, the light in the darkness, will give you joy, hope and assurance as we celebrate Christmas 2020 and set out towards 2021.

Archive Photo of Bishop Paul Colton and Bishop Fintan Gavin taken in 2019
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Christmas Message for Schools (and everyone) from Bishop Paul Colton

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Bishop Paul Colton has put together a Christmas Message for Schools but, he says:

I hope there is a message of encouragement for everyone of all ages in it this Christmas.

The message was recorded in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork using the remarkable stained glass to retell the story of the first Christmas. The Cathedral is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its consecration this year,

Bishop Colton’s Christmas Message for Schools

may be viewed by clicking

HERE

The Visitation and the Nativity
– photograph by David Lawrence © reproduced by permission of the Representative Church Body
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Online Broadcast of the Institution of the Reverend Robert Ferris as Incumbent of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The Bishop of Cork, Dr Paul Colton, has announced that he intends to institute the Reverend Robert Ferris to the incumbency of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes on Thursday 17th December in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork at 7 p.m.

Given current Level 3 restrictions, it is not possible, to open attendance at the Service to all who would otherwise wish to attend. However, the Service will be broadcast via the Cathedral’s webcam which may be found at either

the Cathedral Website by clicking HERE

or

the Cathedral page on Church Services TV by clicking HERE

Bishop Colton explains:

I hope that many will join us online to worship and to pray for the Reverend Robert Ferris as he is instituted as Incumbent of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes.

What is clear, sadly, is that a visit to the principal parish church in the new Rector’s parish with a grand liturgy of celebration and inauguration will not, I am afraid, be permitted or possible given the current Level 3 restrictions. 

I very much regret this.

For now, and for the foreseeable future until the pandemic is over, all Services of Institution of this kind in the Diocese will be conducted in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral. Depending on the regulations in place at a given time, the churchwardens of the parishes will, I hope, be permitted to be present to represent the parish.

It is important that as many people as possible from the parish and the Diocese (or further afield) might be able to tune in to see the proceedings online.  With that in mind, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork has a fully flexible, professionally installed system put in place earlier this year, which means that these Institution Services can, for now, be broadcast online and recorded.

You will be most welcome to join us online.

The Reverend Robert Ferris

Posted in Announcements, Cathedral, Church Services, Churches in Cork, Corona Virus, COVID-19, Institutions and Commissionings, Liturgy, Parish News, Worship | Comments Off on Online Broadcast of the Institution of the Reverend Robert Ferris as Incumbent of Carrigrohane Union of Parishes

‘My Lighthouse Project’ in Advent for Cork Diocesan Youth Council

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Since the CoronaVirus Pandemic started, Cork Diocesan Youth Officer, Hilda Connolly, has been determined that it would not put a stop to youth work in the Diocese. Together with the Cork Diocesan Youth Council (CDYC) new ways have been found of keeping the young people in touch with other and exploring new activities within the different restrictions imposed by the Government.

As part of CDYC’s preparation for the Advent Youth Service this year, the young people decided that they wanted to include their favourite song in the service…with a slight twist.

A night was picked to get everyone together on Zoom and the discussion was had on how best to record this project. The Rev. Cliff Jeffers was the ‘manager’ and organised the group to perfection!

The overall results are brilliant, with the teens doing the actions throughout the song.

It is known throughout the country that the Cork, Cloyne and Ross young people have taken ownership of this song. At any event organised by CDYC, or further afield by the Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD), the Cork group are sure to be heard singing this song at the top of their voices at some stage throughout the day…or night!

The most memorable moment was on the annual Cape Clear trip, the group boarded the ferry to take a trip out to see the Fastnet Lighthouse. Despite the fact that the CDYC group were not the only people taking the trip to the famous lighthouse, the group, very respectfully, played the song and sang along as the ferry approached the Fastnet. They entertained the whole ferry.

This song means a lot to this group of young people and in our present situation it is very apt. Our young people have had a difficult few months and sometimes they too need a light to guide them through.

It was a very fitting choice to end the Advent Youth Service with as the theme on the night was “Hope’.

And as the lyrics go ‘Your great love will lead me through, You are the peace in my troubled sea.’

Have a look at them here and join in!

Posted in Advent, CDYC, Church Music, Worship, Youth Work, ZOOM | Comments Off on ‘My Lighthouse Project’ in Advent for Cork Diocesan Youth Council