The Rector of Douglas Union with Frankfield, the Ven. Adrian Wilkinson, writes:
Not to be deterred by the very necessary health restrictions which forbid congregational singing in church buildings, the parishioners of Douglas Union with Frankfield moved outside for their Carol Service this year.
Working in conjunction with the staff of St Luke’s National School, the service was held in the playground between the school and the parish hall on Sunday, 19th December at 4pm. About 250 people, some bringing deck chairs and rugs for their knees, gathered to sing familiar carols while wearing masks in a safe and socially distanced setting.
On arrival they were greeted by Christmas carols played by the St Nicholas Brass Band, who based themselves in the school general purpose hall where the doors were wide open into the playground. The parish choir, under their director Veronica Tadman, led the congregational singing. The choir also performed the Swedish carol ‘Jul, Jul stralande jul,’ which was sung in memory of a much loved former choir member Barbro McCutcheon, who was originally from Sweden and died earlier this year. The 6th class pupils from St Luke’s School, under their teacher Elaine Guinane, were also involved and they performed the ‘Carol of the Bells’ on handbells and sang ‘Ring Bells of Bethlehem’. St Nicholas Brass Band played one carol, Silent Night and at the end of the service entertained those who stayed for some seasonal Christmas music as dusk descended. A retiring collection of over €1,000 was taken for a number of charities.
St Luke’s School ChoirSt Luke’s Parish Choir
The Archdeacon Wilkinson commented afterwards:
It was wonderful to see so many parishioners and others gathered together for a service in one place. We are used to packed churches and large indoor services at Christmas in this parish, but Covid has put a temporary halt to all that. This outdoor service allowed people from our four different churches, as well as our ecumenical friends, to meet up and sing and pray together. It was also good to see three generations of some families sit together. While we hope to be indoors for parish and school carol services next year, the service this year is one to remember.
Mallow Union of Parishes raised over €1,000 at their Carol services this year. Their Rector Meurig William writes:
The popular – but often unfair – perception is that the Church is always asking for money as a way of looking after our own and meeting our own internal needs. But throughout the world, including in our own Church of Ireland, the vast majority of parishes support local, national and international projects and this is a regular part of mission and outreach.
This year, even with around 50% capacity at our three carol services, the parishes of Mallow Union (Castletownroche, Doneraile and Mallow) were delighted to donate the collections from these services to three projects:
The Bishop of Cork’s Pastoral Care Fund (initiated in 2021) supports community welfare, religious and racial harmony, the advancement of education and the relief of economic hardship.
The work of the Cork Simon Community has, for many years, been at the sharp end of responding to homelessness, as well as supporting personal development.
The Irish Community Air Ambulance, based at Rathcool, Co Cork, provides a vital lifesaving service. During the past year it has responded to 83 cardiac arrests, 46 farming accidents and 147 trauma calls (including serious road accidents), as well as falls from great heights and equestrian incidents.
The Rev. Meurig Williams thanked parishioners and all the visitors joining these services for their generosity. “We raised just over €1,000 between our three churches which means we are able to make a donation to each of the nominated projects”, he said. “At this time of year, we proclaim how the incarnate Christ brings light into the darkness of the world, and I hope these donations can be a practical expression of our determination to celebrate this truth touching the lives of men and women beyond our churches.”
A representative of Irish Community Air Ambulance receiving a cheque from the Rev. Meurig Williams at the carol service in St James’s Church, Mallow.
On Wednesday, 15th December, representing the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, the Dean of Cloyne, the Very Reverend Susan Green joined Bishop Fintan Gavin on Patrick Street in Cork for the annual ecumenical blessing of S.H.A.R.E. Crib.
S.H,A.R.E., which stands for Students Harness Aid for the Relief of the Elderly, was founded 51 years ago by students of the Presentation Brothers School in Cork but has now expanded to involve 22 schools in the metropolitan Cork area.
At the heart of the S.H.A.R.E. Christmas campaign, which runs this year until Christmas Eve, is each student’s 24 hour fast as well as, of course, the famous life size crib on Patrick Street. This student-led charity now has 140 supported independent living units in seven different locations. In addition there is a dementia outreach programme. One hundred and twenty-five daycare clients are also catered for.
With the students at the blessing of the S.H.A.R.E. Crib were (l-r) Dean Susan Green, Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Tony Fitzgerald, and Bishop Fintan Gavin. Photo: Gerard McCarthy
This year’s Christmas services from across the diocese can now be found on the Diocesan Website as well as in below article with information about live-streaming and booking where required.
Abbeystrewry (Skibbereen)
Friday 24th December ~ Christmas Eve
04.00pm Crib Service, Abbeystrewry Church (for families)
11.30pm Eucharist, Abbeystrewry Church
Saturday 25th December ~ Christmas Day
9.00am Eucharist, St Barrahane’s
10.15am Eucharist, St Mary’s Caheragh
11.30am Eucharist, Abbeystrewry Church (live streamed)
Sunday 26th December ~ The Sunday after Christmas ~ St Stephen’s Day
11.30am Eucharist, Abbeystrewry Church (group service, live streamed)
Sunday 2nd January ~ The Second Sunday of Christmas
9.00am Eucharist, St Barrahane’s
10.15am Eucharist, St Mary’s Caheragh
11.30am Eucharist, Abbeystrewry Church (live streamed)
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir has recorded a selection of Christmas Carols which are to be played around Cork City in the run up to Christmas Day itself. The Cathedral is aware that many people will be missing out on their usual Christmas services and carol singing because of the ongoing restrictions, so for the second year running the singing will be brought to them. A lorry with a large LED screen has already started touring the city centre, and stopping at hospitals and nursing homes to ensure that those in need can hear the singing. This initiative is partly due to the stalwart efforts of the St Fin Barre’s Quarter Development Group and the generous support of Cork City Council through their Reimagine GLOW Christmas programme.
Director of Music Peter Stobart said:
This is the second year that we have recorded carols, because there was such appreciative feedback last year. The sound of a choir singing carols is a central part of Christmas for almost everyone, and we feel that this is a small way that we can make a difference at this time of year.
Carols in front of the Mercy Hospital with staff members. Photo: Eoin MurphyPatients of CUH listening to the carols. Photo: Eoin Murphy
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