Bishop of Cork to Commission Six New Lay Workers

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Six new lay church workers – Lay Pastoral Assistants – have completed their three year

St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork – six new Lay Pastoral Assistants will be commissioned by the Bishop at Evensong at 7 p.m. on Sunday 21st October 2012.

course of training at Saint Luke’s Home Education Centre and will be commissioned by Bishop Paul Colton tomorrow, Sunday, 21st October at Evensong in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork at 7 p.m.

Bishop Colton said

God calls all of us who are baptised to worship him and to serve both him and his people. It is vital that those who respond to this call are supported by the Church in their work and given the training and skills which they, and the people they will be working among, deserve.  For us in this Diocese, the training of these lay workers has been undertaken at Saint Luke’s Home Education Centre under the oversight and tutelage of the Director of Education, Bruce Pierce.

This is the second group of Lay Pastoral Assistants to train and to be commissioned in Cork, Cloyne and Ross.  The first group were commissioned in 2009 after their three years of training. This is a form of training and ministry that has been pioneered in Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

The journey to becoming an LPA began with an interview process.  In year one of training (one evening a week) the focus was on the theory of pastoral care.  In years two and three the students were in placements in parishes or an institutional setting (eg hospital or nursing home).  The time in placements was spent reflecting on the experience of ministry.  It was principally about integrating the various theories with the experiences of ministry they were having. The course also focussed on how our own story shapes our ministry.  Special attention is given to the losses so many encounter (illness, grief, stillbirth and suicide) as well as the diversity of religious and spiritual responses in these and other caring situations.  Throughout the course mentors have supported the students.

The Lay Pastoral Assistants being commissioned on Sunday are:  Sidney Bradfield, Pat Culleton, Marjorie Garland, Sylvia Helen, Jennifer Kingston and Agnes Wilson. Two others journeyed with them in the training: Oke Odjegba who has emigrated to Texas, and Lisa Cotter who has deferred her commissioning until the next occasion.

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London-based Priest and Journalist Giles Fraser to Speak at Cork Clergy Conference

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Occupy: One Year On. The lessons learnt is the theme chosen by Giles Fraser for his talks at the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Clergy Conference which will take place in Ballylickey, Co Cork starting today (17th October) and lasting until Friday.  Giles Fraser famously resigned as a Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral, London at this time last year following the decision of the Cathedral Chapter to evict the Occupy protestors by force from the cathedral precincts.

Giles Fraser is a priest and journalist, currently serving as Priest-in-Charge of St Mary, Newington near the Elephant and Castle.  Before that he was the Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral and director of the St Paul’s Institute, responsible for the cathedral’s engagement with the City of London and the relationship between ethics and modern finance.

The Reverend Dr Giles Fraser (left) and right, St Paul’s Cathedral, London at the time of ‘Occupy London’

He was the founder of Inclusive Church that lobbies for full inclusion of lesbian and gay people at all levels of the church. He has been nominated as the 2012 Stonewall “Hero of the Year”.

His academic training is in philosophy, gaining a PhD in the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, and going on to be a lecturer in Philosophy at Wadham College, Oxford. His general interest is in ethics and aesthetics and currently is a regular lecturer on moral leadership to soldiers at the Defence Academy at Shrivenham. His publications include Redeeming Nietzsche, Christianity and Violence and Christianity with Attitude.

He has written widely as a journalist in such diverse publications as The Socialist Worker and the Daily Mail, and currently writes the Loose Canon column for the Guardian. He also is a regular broadcaster on Radio 4’s Thought for the Day and Saturday Review.

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St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Conservation Project Antiques Valuation Roadshow

Posted on October 15, 2012 by

Antiques Valuation Roadshow

Acclaimed antiques expert, George Stacpoole (as seen on RTÉ The Dealers) and President of The Irish Antique Dealers Association leads a group of experts coming to Cork on Sunday 21st October as part of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Conservation Project Fundraising Drive. The Antiques Roadshow will run from 12.15 pm to 4.30 pm in the River Lee Hotel, Western Road, Cork with Mr Stacpoole and other experts shedding some light on people’s most treasured and unusual possessions. Experts, including Dublin based James Weldon (silver and jewellery), Chris Southgate (collectables), Professor Alan Fletcher (oriental objects) and Michael Sheppard of Sheppard’s Irish Art Auction House will be available to value items of all types and sizes. The fee is €10.00 for a valuation up to a maximum of 5 items. All proceeds go to the St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Conservation Fund which is currently focussed on rebuilding the organ. Parking and refreshments are available on site.

St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral Conservation Project is partnering with Sheppard’s Irish Art Auction House to hold an Antiques Auction to which will support the St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Conservation Project. The auction will be held in March 2013. Full details will be available on http://www.cathedral.cork.anglican.org

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Service of Celebration by the Indian Orthodox community in St Michael’s Church

Posted on October 15, 2012 by

Recently the Indian Orthodox community had a special service of celebration when they were visited by their diocesan bishop Dr Mathews Mar Thimothios. The service took place in St. Michael’s Church in Blackrock where the congregation meets on a fortnightly basis for much of the year. Members of the Indian Orthodox community travelled from across Munster and beyond to attend.


On his arrival the bishop was greeted by the parish clergy and a number of parishioners. Included in the group is the curate Revd. Sarah Marry and parishioners Jim Queally, Wendy Gilbert and David Kerr.

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Annual Service of Remembrance for CUMH Sunday 14th October

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The Annual Service of Remembrance for Cork University Maternity Hospital takes place on Sunday 14 October at 4pm at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Western Road, Cork. The service takes place on the eve of the International Day of Pregnancy and Infant Loss and at the end of the service a candle will be lit to observe this important day. For further information please contact Daniel Nuzum (021) 4920500

The death of a baby is a devastating experience for parents, families, grandparents and friends. This ecumenical service, now in its fourth year, is an opportunity for bereaved parents to gather with hospital staff to remember their baby. During a gentle service of music, reading and prayer there will be an opportunity to pray, reflect, remember, light a candle and to inscribe in a book of remembrance. All who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or the death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death are invited to join with hospital staff at the service and at refreshments afterwards. It is also an opportunity for those who have been bereaved for a long time to remember their baby.

This Service of Remembrance is an important part of the overall Pregnancy Loss Services provided at CUMH. According to Dr Keelin O’Donoghue, Consultant Obstetrician and lead clinician of the Pregnancy Loss services at CUMH

Pregnancy loss has considerable impact on parents, physically, emotionally and spiritually, altering their health and social well-being, and also carries implications for the woman’s long-term health and future pregnancies. Our annual Service of Remembrance is an important and supportive experience for parents and families on their journey of bereavement.

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