Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Interfaith Harmony Week
In observance of Interfaith Harmony Week, the Church of Ireland Interfaith Working Group is organising an online Scriptural Reasoning session.
The event will take place online via Zoom on Tuesday, 3rd February, from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. The event is free of charge and pre–booking is required in order to receive the login details. Book online at:https://bit.ly/3Z4I2QJ
Scriptural Reasoning is a tool for interfaith dialogue in which people of different faiths come together to read and reflect on their scriptures. It is not about seeking agreement but rather exploring the texts and their possible interpretations across faith boundaries, with a view to deepening participants’ understanding of the sacred texts of other faiths as well as their own.
The topic for this session will be ‘Fasting’, a timely choice with the Christian season of Lent and the Islamic month of Ramadan both commencing later in February. There will be readings and short reflections on texts from three traditions, followed by discussion in small groups, which will make up the majority of the time for the session.
The presenters will be Stephen Bonnlander, Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation; Mahsun Aydogan, Director of Outreach for Éire Dialogue; and the Revd Abigail Sines, Convenor of the Church of Ireland Interfaith Working Group.
Please note that the free tickets for this event are categorised according to faith tradition, as this helps in planning for discussion groups, to ensure a diverse mix of participants from different faiths are allocated to each small group.
Individuals of all faiths, and none, are most welcome to participate in the event.
If you would like to know more about World Interfaith Harmony Week, please visit: www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com
Tomorrow (Saturday), The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross will host a Confirmation Morning for confirmands at Bandon Grammar School
On Sunday afternoon, the Archbishop of Dublin will attend the National Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
On Thursday evening at 7.30pm in St Patrick’s cathedral, Trim, the Bishop of Meath & Kildare will institute the Revd Abigail Sines to the incumbency of Trim & Athboy. She will subsequently be installed as Dean of Clonmacnoise.
The 2025 Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s, Dawson Street, has raised over €67,000. This was the 25th year of the annual appeal in Dublin and the funds raised will be distributed to local charities at a special service in St Ann’s on February 22.
The primary focus of Black Santa’s fundraising efforts was charities that support people in homelessness in the city. These include: St Vincent de Paul, Simon, The Samaritans, Salvation Army, Protestant Aid, Alice Leahy Trust, Capuchin Day Centre, Barnardos and Focus Ireland. Other charities to benefit are Laura Lynn Foundation and the Solas Project, along with other local charities.
Over the last quarter of a century the Dublin appeal has raised over €987,000. Published in the Friday edition of The Irish Times