Press Releases20 Feb 26

Lent 2026

Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Service in Dublin City University

The beginning of Lent was marked in the beautiful chapel at Dublin City University’s All Hallows campus with an ecumenical Ash Wednesday service (on 18th February). Archbishop Michael Jackson presided and preached, and the service was co–ordinated in partnership with the Church of Ireland Centre for Education and DCU Chaplaincy. DCU’s Church of Ireland Chaplain (and Diocesan Reader) Eric Hughes provided the music, proclaimed the Gospel and led the prayers. There was an opportunity during the service to receive ashes.

In his sermon, the Archbishop talked about ‘giving up’ things for Lent in terms of a decluttering of motivations rather than being self–righteous.

“And Lent starts today. Such ‘giving up’ has more to do with decluttering our motivations than it has to do with being self–righteous for the sake of it or for the sake of ourselves,” he said. “As we lessen our load, not only can we travel lighter, but we can take on board more of the concerns and the urgencies of others without feeling the same pressures, the same dead weight.”

Archbishop Jackson continued: “We see this in two very striking ways in the broad sweep of Readings for today. Isaiah [58: 1–12] hammers home that justice has to do with strong actions following on from strong words: we are to loose, to undo, to let go free, to break; and it is in the cause of sharing, inviting, clothing those without clothes, not neglecting members of you kindred whom you have come to despise – they remain your kin as you remain theirs.

“St Matthew [6: 1–6, 16–21] hammers home what it is to give alms, to pray and to fast. These are indeed personal acts of public significance but they are not opportunities to draw attention to oneself. All of these dig deep into our motivation.”

Pancakes & Prayer fundraising to provide food and water in South Sudan

The Pancakes & Prayer Lent Campaign is back for 2026.  Last year, the Bishops’ Appeal for World Aid and Development and the Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD) partnered with the Fields of Life charity and with youth groups across Ireland, prayed and raised an incredible £8,300 (equivalent to €9,500).

The Church of Ireland’s young people supported 3,926 young people in South Sudan, so that they can enjoy a daily meal at school and be able to say: “I am fed”.

This year, CIYD and Bishops’ Appeal would love to reach up to 7,300 more young people across 15 schools in South Sudan who don’t yet have food or clean water at school.  Together, those supporting the appeal can help them to not only say “I am fed” but also “I am watered”.  Visit the Bishops’ Appeal website to find out more: https://bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org

‘Seeds of Hope’ Lent Project in Connor Diocese

This Lent, Connor Diocese is partnering with SAMS, the South American Mission Society, to support the Church in Northern Argentina.  Resources are available to help resource parishes and individuals who answer the call to sow ‘Seeds of Hope’ this Lent.

The project is initiated by Connor Council for Mission with the support of Bishop George Davison.  The Spring issue of the diocesan magazine Connor Connections carries a report of a recent visit to Northern Argentina by the Revd Peter Jones, rector in Mossley and Chair of SAMS, which helps bring to life the reality for people living in this part of Argentina.

Introducing the project, Bishop Davison stated: “This Lent, I warmly invite you to walk alongside the Church in Northern Argentina, among the remote communities of the Chaco and in the city of Salta. The Chaco is a land of rich biodiversity and diverse indigenous peoples, yet it faces deep social and environmental challenges.

“In Salta, St Paul’s is a small church with a big heart, offering hope in a complex and marginalised neighbourhood. As we journey together, may God inspire us and guide us to serve with compassion and joy.”  Find out more about how to give support to this initiative on the diocesan website at https://connor.anglican.org/about-us/mission

Special services and Bible studies at Belfast Cathedral

This holy season is an invitation to examine ourselves, to remember our frailties, and return to the Lord.  On Sundays, Belfast Cathedral worships at 11am (Choral Eucharist) and 3.30pm (Choral Evensong).

You are welcome join the Cathedral congregation in worship to pray on weekdays as we keep Lent together:

Daily Eucharist at 1pm – Set aside time to meet with God. These services are simple, short, and include time for silent prayer. On Fridays, the Healing Service meets instead.

Study John’s Gospel – Following the 1pm Eucharist on Thursdays, meet to study through John’s Gospel with the aid of David Ford’s devotional, ‘Meeting God in John’. All are welcome and no booking is required.

Choral Compline – Ancient prayers, sung in haunting plainsong. Compline will be sung on Thursdays and Fridays in Lent (at 5.30pm).

Down and Dromore video series on Revival

Bishop David McClay’s series invites viewers to join him for 40 daily Lent devotionals exploring Revival and the early chapters of Acts.

Videos are being shared around 6am each morning on the diocesan website – www.downanddromore.org - and social media channels.  An introduction from Bishop McClay is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmwicVlaCZo

Peregrinations with Bishop Burrows in Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe

Bishop Michael Burrows will tour churches in his dioceses during Lent, bringing communities together in support of the work of Embrace Farm – helping farm families in crisis, bereavement or trauma – and the Bishops’ Appeal, including relief work in the Middle East and its general funds to help to respond to other crisis situations.

A video interview with Bishop Burrows, introducing this year’s initiative, is available on the diocesan YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q14t02FcpQs

Fundraising walk through Derry and Raphoe

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Revd Andrew Forster, was in north–west Donegal yesterday morning (Thursday, 19th February) – the second day of Lent – for the first in a series of seven walks he’s undertaking in his different rural deaneries to raise funds for the diocese’s linked Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania.

The Bishop was accompanied by the local Rural Dean, Canon David Skuce, who resorted to ‘Plan B’ after the first leg of their schedule – a ferry journey to Tory Island – was cancelled on account of a grim weather forecast.

Their new itinerary began in Dunfanaghy with a talk in Holy Trinity Parish Hall by local historian and Columban authority Sean Canning. From there, Bishop Andrew, along with parishioners and friends of the Dunfanaghy Group, visited the ruins of the old Ray Parish Church, near Falcarragh – home to one of Ireland’s oldest and largest Celtic high crosses – before continuing to the ruins of the late medieval Tullaghobegley Church, a few miles away.

The group then headed for Ards Forest Park, in Ballymore Parish, where they carried on, on foot, along the park’s walking trails. The day ended with a service in St Finian’s and St Mark’s Church in Kilmacrennan.

Bishop Andrew will be completing a further six walks, varying in distance from 10 to 15 miles. On each, he plans to connect with local churches, stopping to pray enroute for the people and clergy of Kondoa and for the success of Derry and Raphoe’s partnership with the Tanzanian diocese. Local parishioners will be welcome to join him on each journey.

Arrangements are being made in local churches allowing people to contribute to ongoing mission and ministry in the Diocese of Kondoa. Its Bishop, the Rt Revd Given Gaula, signed a five–year partnership agreement with Bishop Andrew in October 2024 involving a shared commitment to prayer, mission, and support in their dioceses. Bishop Given will be visiting Ireland during this season of Lent.

People can support this initiative by clicking the following link: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/derryraphoe-diocese

Further information on how Lent is being marked in the Church of Ireland can be found on diocesan websites listed at www.churchofireland.org/contact