Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
‘Open Church’ in Dublin & Glendalough
Churches in Dublin and Glendalough are encouraged to open their doors for Heritage Week 2023 as part of the United Dioceses’ ‘Open Church’ initiative. Heritage Week 2023 runs from August 12 to 20.
Every church in the dioceses will be invited to open their doors and welcome local people, pilgrims and visitors to discover the treasures that are often on their doorsteps. This is a way of inviting the public to explore the dioceses’ rich and fascinating architectural, and cultural history. Open Church is also an opportunity to reach and engage with people who might have lived in the area for years, have walked past every day and have never been inside. It seeks to give confidence to visitors, so that they can enter a church, and discover that it is both a surprising and an interesting place to visit.
In–person events during Heritage Week may consist of walking tours, lectures, film screenings, exhibitions, craft workshops or other interactive activities. Digital project formats may vary from online talks or exhibitions, to videos, podcasts, presentations or blogs. Events and digital projects can now be uploaded via the Heritage Week’s Organisers’ Portal on www.heritageweek.ie.
As part of Dublin and Glendalough’s Open Church initiative financial supports are available to support participating parishes in publicising their events; for example through promotional posters, leaflets and social media marketing. Funding for hospitality for visitors can also be provided. Advice on planning or promoting Open Church events for Heritage Week or information about financial supports, may be had from Caoimhe Leppard caoimhe.leppard@rcbcoi.org.
In Kildare, as part of the St Brigid’s cathedral Choral and Organ Festival, Thomas Charles Marshall (organ) and Bogdan Şofei (violin) will perform at 6.00pm this evening (Saturday) in the cathedral. Tickets are available from eventbrite.ie and on the door.
Societas Liturgica is holding an international conference at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, beginning on Monday. The membership of the society represents Christians of many traditions and more than two hundred delegates have registered. The local organisers are drawn from staff in the Pontifical University Maynooth, the Church of Ireland Theological Institute and Trinity College. There is a number of liturgies interwoven into the conference. Bishop Pat Storey will preach at one of these liturgies and the organ will be played by Dr Kerry Houston, Director of Chapel music at TCD.
The West Cork History Festival, of which the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross is a Patron, begins on Friday when Dr Colton will be a member of a panel of civil society and heritage leaders from both sides of the border which will discuss what we have learned from the Decade of Centenaries about our past and our future. Other panelists will include author, Glenn Patterson, Bob Collins, Danielle O’Donovan and Trevor Ringland.
A new round of the Certificate in Christian Theology and Practice (CCTP) course begins in January 2024 and is now open for application. The programme is jointly taught by the Church of Ireland Theological Institute and Trinity College Dublin and runs over the calendar year. It is open not only to those exploring ordination, trainee lay readers and Ordained Local Ministry candidates, but anyone interested in spiritual and theological formation. Those who are interested should contact their rector or relevant Diocesan Officer (diocesan director of ordinands or warden of readers) for details of the course or visit the website for more information at www.theologicalinstitute.ie and search the ‘Exploring Ministry’ tab.
Published in the Friday edition of The Irish Times