Latest News from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Seasonal Busy-ness for Cork Diocesan Youth Council

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

It has been a busy few weeks for the Cork Diocesan Youth Council – CDYC.

The Youth Advent Service was held in St. Fachtna’s Cathedral in Rosscarbery on the 1^st December. After Dean Peters welcomed everyone, he courageously stepped aside and left the young people and Hilda Connolly lead the service.

The readings were carried out by the teenagers and the prayers were organized by three of last years Leaders in Training group. They put together four prayer stations which represented the first four Advent candles – Love, Hope, Peace and Joy. The evening was closed with Dean Peters saying a few words and a cup of tea to finish it all off.

A visit to the Curragh

A week later, the Church of Ireland Youth Department – CIYD – held their annual Youth Service with a slight change of venue from Clontarf Parish Centre to the Curragh in Kildare. CDYC made the most of it and added a Christmas Shopping trip to Newbridge Shopping Centre on the way to the Curragh for the service, pizza and games.

The weekend ended with a sleep over in the rectory where the Rev. Fran Grasham and her husband, Steve (CIYD Southern Rep), welcomed the Cork group into their home for the night.

CDYC members

The group were spoiled with a lovely breakfast in the morning with plenty of bacon butties, porridge, cereal and toast laid out before heading back to Cork again.

Some CDYC shopping in Kildare

Posted in Advent, CDYC, Christmas, Church Services, Diocesan Youth Officer, Youth Work | Comments Off

Bishops of Cork ~ Joint Christmas Message 2019

Posted on December 19, 2019 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 – Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Joint Press Release

Thursday, 19th December 2019

Joint Christmas Message from the Bishops of Cork:

The Most Reverend Dr Fintan Gavin and

the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton

Christmas 2019

When we look around us in these days it is easy to know Christmas is approaching! The sights and sounds surround us all – lights, decorations, music and celebrations.

But at the first Christmas there were only a few people who knew what was happening. They, too, struggled to make sense of it even as they rejoiced at the news.

And some must have lived to regret that they didn’t know.

“Sorry, I’m full up. I’ve no room left. If you’re stuck, try the stable around the back.”

What must the inn-keeper have thought years later when people came around to look for the place where Jesus was born? They reminded him of the night he turned away the travel-weary tradesman and his pregnant wife from the north. He was so busy seeing after his pre-booked guests that he missed the greatest privilege imaginable — that the Son of God could have been born in a room in his house. It’s little wonder he remained anonymous — ashamed to admit it later.

Christians celebrate the birth of Christ because this was the moment God changed the course of human history. Our God chose to take on our humanity, to walk among us as a person in our world of love, pain, joy, hurt, tears, laughter, the noise, the silence and the messiness of ordinary life. Through his life he showed us how to love, how to forgive, how to share and how to listen. He told us that we are all equal and showed us how we should treat one another.

Christmas is not about a magical event, a Cinderella story without midnight. Rather its very centre speaks of humiliation, pain and forced fleeing. The Christmas story mirrors the struggles that are being experienced within our own world and within our own hearts. It is within our own personal tragedies and struggles — the death of loved ones, lost marriages, lost families, lost health, lost jobs, tiredness and frustration — that we meet Christ.

Hence, in truth, we can celebrate at Christ’s birth without denying or trivialising the reality of evil in our world and the real pain in our lives.

Christmas promises Emmanuel, God-is-with-us (Matt. 1:23). God’s presence in our lives redeems because knowing that God is with us is what empowers us to give up bitterness, to forgive and to move beyond cynicism towards hope. When God is with us then pain and happiness are not mutually exclusive and the agonies and riddles of life do not rule out deep meaning and deep joy.

We give thanks at this time with family, friends and all who are close to us for the many ways we encounter Christ during the year in our lives. These times include all the ups and downs of life when out of love for one another and in gratitude to God we both receive and reflect his light.

Our prayer is that this Christmas time will be a time of deepening our awareness of the presence of Christ who is active in our world – even where we least expect to find him; that we may find ways where we can meet Christ as we reach out to others with his compassion, hope, love, joy and peace.

+Fintan Gavin +Paul Colton
Bishop of Cork and Ross Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Bishop Paul Colton (left) and Bishop Fintan Gavin

Posted in Bishop, Bishops of Cork, Christmas, Cork, Diocese, Ecumenism | Comments Off

A Full Cathedral for the Annual Christmas Concert by St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir, Cork

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir in Cork held their annual Christmas Concert on Saturday 14th December. The event was sold out and had been for several weeks in advance.

Peter Stobart, Director of Music, conducts the choir at the Christmas Concert.

The audience was treated to a selection of old favourites and less well-known carols, all sung by the boys, girls and adults of the choir, a total of almost 50 voices. Silent night, in a 5 part arrangement by Director of Music Peter Stobart, was one of the more well known carols, whilst Adam lay y bounden by Howard Skempton and two carols by Richard Rodney Bennett added a 20th and 21st century flavour to the evening.

A full Cathedral for the annual Christmas Concert.

Solos were sung by boy choristers Dylan Stapleton (Away in a manger) and Louis McDonald (Once in royal David’s city) and tenor Andrew Boushell sang a verse of Harold Darke’s In the bleak mid-winter.

The audience, having had their fill of mulled wine and mince pies, were encouraged to join in with the Hark the herald angels sing to round off the evening.

Annual Christmas Concert by the choir of Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.

Posted in Cathedral, Cathedral Choir, Christmas, Church Music, Concert, Cork, Diocese, Youth Work | Comments Off

Ecumenical Carols by Candlelight in Ardmore, County Waterford in the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Ancient diocesan and county boundaries in Ireland create interest patterns of connection. The only part of the Church of Ireland United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross not in County Cork, is Ardmore, the seaside and fishing village in County Waterford, not far from Youghal in County Cork. Part of the neighbouring Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore includes a small part of County Cork.

Arriving at Saint Paul’s Church, Ardmore in daylight.

Ardmore is one of the oldest Christian settlements in Ireland; Saint Declan lived there some time between 350 and 450.

Cross at Saint Declan’s Well.

The Church of Ireland Church of Saint Paul is mainly open in the summer for visitors and tourists. A harvest thanksgiving is also held. The church is really full, however, standing room only and people out in the porch and on the stairs to the gallery, is for the ecumenical village Carol Service. The whole time resident population of the Village is c.430 and on Sunday, 15th December, it felt as if nearly every family must have been represented together with some visitors. One woman from Waterford city said that she came across the Service by accident some years ago and has made it a firm date in her calendar ever since.

Looking in from outside’ ‘the light shines in the darkness’

The Service of Lessons and Carols, with poetry and music also, was by candelight. The Rector, the Reverend Andrew Orr, welcomed everyone, including one of his predecessors, Canon Peter Rhys Thomas, and the Very Reverend Milo Guiry, P.P.

The rector, the Reverend Andrew Orr (right) with a former rector, Canon Peter Rhys Thomas.

Bishop Paul Colton together with Mrs Susan Colton also attended this year. The Church was seasonally decorated and the singing was led by the Ardmore Community Choir, and children from Saint Declan’s National School. A collection was taken in aid of the West Waterford Hospice. At the end of the Service Santa made a surprise visit with gifts, after which there were some warming drinks and mince pies.

Great anticipation after the Service as a surprise visitor is expected.

Posted in Bishop, Church Music, Church Services, Diocese, Ecumenism, People from the Diocese | Comments Off

Cork Harbour Tragedy Commemorated in Cobh

Posted on December 15, 2019 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Saturday 14th December, a large gathering assembled in Cobh to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Cork Harbour Tragedy. The tragedy occurred on the night of 12th December, 1942 when 5 men died in extreme weather conditions whilst carrying out their duties on behalf of the Port Control Authorities.

The memorial to the Cork Harbour Tragedy

The Rector of Cobh & Glanmire, the Rev’d Paul Arbuthnot represented the Church of Ireland at this commemoration. He was joined by the Administrator of Cobh Cathedral, Fr Tom McDermott, and Fr George Agger, a native of Cobh who was born on the the night of the tragedy. Fr Agger’s father was due to work with the men who perished, but was at home that night awaiting the birth of his son.

Some of the local dignitaries who attended the ceremony

There was also a large attendance of civic dignitaries at this event, including Minister David Stanton TD, Cllr Sinead Sheppard, and Cllr Cathal Rasmussen. Representatives of the Cobh ONE, Cork Port, An Garda Síochána, and the Irish Naval Service were also present.

The Rector, the Rev’d Paul Arbuthnot commented:

This commemoration reminds us of the fragility of human life and the power of nature. It also reminds us that we owe a debt of gratitude and thanks to all who risk their lives in sustaining the maritime economy and security of this country.

The Rector of Cobh & Glanmire Union of Parishes, The Revd Paul Arbuthnot (centre), with the Administrator of Cobh Cathedral, Fr Tom McDermott (left), and Fr George Agger (right)

Posted in Anniversaries, Commemoration, Community Involvement, East Cork, Memorial Service, Remembrance, Special Events | Comments Off