Cork Three Faiths Forum elects new chair persons

Posted on November 6, 2023 by mediaccr

At a recent meeting of the Cork Three Faiths Forum the Rev. Tony Murphy stepped down as their chair, having completed two years in the role. Clair Lalor and Fahmeda Naheed were elected as new co-Chairs.

The Cork Three Faiths Forum Group was established in 2016 with the objective to bring together representatives of the three Abrahamic faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Forum seeks to create a space where people of faith can dialogue openly and respectfully, come to a better understanding of each other’s faith and work together to enhance tolerance, cooperation and friendship in society.

In 2023 the events organised by the Cork Three Faiths Forum included a Spiritual Reasoning Seminar on Interfaith Perspectives on Creativity, a celebration of Earth Day involving Cork’s Social and Health Education Project (SHEP), and an Interfaith Art Exhibition Connecting Through Art as part of Cork Culture Night.

Back l.-r.: Amanullah de Sondy, Stephen Gregory,  Sr. Kathleen McGarvey, Charles Payne, Sr. Jo McCarthy, Fr. Seán O Sullivan, and Amna Walayat. Front l.-r.: Clair Lalor, Rev. Tony Murhy, and Fahmeda Naheed.
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Harvest Service for Diocesan Schools held at Ross Cathedral

Posted on October 21, 2023 by mediaccr

Seven National Schools from West Cork gathered in St Fachtna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery on Tuesday 17th October to celebrate the start of the school year and to give thanks for the harvest. Also present at the service were children from Ross Union of Parishes that attend other schools.

The service opened with a procession of school banners around the cathedral. The Dean of Ross, the Very Rev’d Cliff Jeffers led the service and drew a comparison with harvest from the parable of the ten lepers giving thanks for being healed in the Gospel of St Luke. It also provided an opportunity to wrap bandages around ten volunteer lepers drawn from the schools.

The Gospel was read by pupils from Kilgarriffe NS, Clonakilty,  a thanksgiving was led by pupils from Abbeystrewry NS, Skibbereen, and the prayers were read by pupils from The Model School in Dunmanway. The schools had been practising the hymns, including Bless the lord, O my soul and We plough the fields and scatter. At the end of the service everyone was given a conker by the Dean of Ross to take home and plant in a pot or garden.

Dean Jeffers said:

We were delighted to welcome pupils from the Church of Ireland National Schools in West Cork to Ross Cathedral for a children’s harvest service.  As we reflected on the healing of the ten lepers, we took the opportunity to thank God for all that he has given us.

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Visit of the Archbishop of York to Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on October 18, 2023 by mediaccr

From Wednesday, 11th October until Friday 13th October, the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev. Stephen Cottrell visited Cork, principally, to speak at the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Clergy Away Days at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery.

Every year, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton invites all the clergy of the Diocese to spend time together to reflect on ministry and to engage with a guest speaker. Archbishop Cottrell’s talks throughout the two-day event centred around the theme of ‘How to lead in a world without maps: four images that may help.’

The clergy of Cork, Cloyne and Ross together with their Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton, and the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev. Stephen Cottrell

Before heading to West Cork on Wednesday, Archbishop Cottrell visited St Anne’s Church, Shandon and climbed up the tower, one of Cork’s most significant and well known landmarks, to ring the famous Shandon Bells. He opted to play the tune of ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ on the bells.

On Friday, before returning to the UK, the Archbishop attended a lunch for lay ministers in the Diocese, which was hosted by the Bishop and Mrs Susan Colton at their home.

The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton, and the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev. and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell.

Children from two schools involved in the Diocesan Church Music Scheme – Saint Luke’s National School, Mahony’s Avenue, and St Michael’s National School, Blackrock under the direction of Peter Stobart – came in especially to sing for the Archbishop before he spoke to the group of lay ministers that had gathered at the cathedral. Afterwards, Archbishop Cottrell, Bishop Colton, and Dean Dunne lit candles at the newly commissioned Holy Icon of Saint Fin Barre.

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A Service for Diocesan Schools was held at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral

Posted on October 12, 2023 by mediaccr

Seven National Schools from Cork City and its environs gathered in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral on Tuesday 10th October 2023 to celebrate the start of the school year and to give thanks for the harvest. This was the first of three services organised by the Diocesan Church Music Scheme to gather together all Diocesan Schools at the beginning of this academic year.

The Dean of Cork, the Very Rev. Nigel Dunne opened the service by showing a video of the cathedral bells and then encouraged all of the schools to ring their own bells by way of a greeting. The lesson from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians was read by pupils from Bandonbridge NS, a thanksgiving was led by pupils from St Michael’s NS, Blackrock, and the prayers were read by pupils from St Mary’s NS, Carrigaline. Director of Music, Peter Stobart conducted Templebreedy NS, who sang Maurice Greene’s anthem Thou visitest the earth. 

All of the schools had been practising the hymns and the service concluded to the rousing sounds of We plough the fields and scatter. 

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A successful Come and Sing

Posted on October 10, 2023 by mediaccr

There was a Diocesan Come and Sing Choral Evensong on Saturday 7th October in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork. Over forty people took part, travelling from across the Diocese (some from Ballydehob and Bantry) as well as from other parts of the country (Limerick and Athlone). Several different choirs were represented, including the choirs of St Luke’s Church, Douglas, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline and St Peter’s Church, Bandon, as well as the East Cork Choral Society. The event was led by Cathedral  Director of Music, Peter Stobart with Matthew Breen, Assistant Director of Music, at the organ. 

The music included Bairstow’s anthem Save us, O Lord and the canticles were Walmisley in D minor. These had two soprano parts, giving the singers an additional challenge. Peter Stobart said:

I was delighted to see so many enthusiastic singers attending the event. The risk is always that the voice parts will be imbalanced but we were lucky to have a solid turnout from all voice types. I think part of the attraction is that the singers make new friends on the day and a cup of tea between the rehearsal and service helps this along! 

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