Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland notes from the Irish Times
Theological Lectures in Trinity
The School of Hebrew, Biblical and Theological Studies in Trinity College, Dublin, has begun a lecture series on the theme "Theology at the Turn of the Millennium. Unanswered Questions and Prospects". This series of eight lectures will examine the achievements and shortcomings of twentieth century theology and address the new issues that face humanity as the new millennium approaches.
The series was opened last week with a lecture from Professor Sean Freyne, Trinity College, Dublin, on "Millennium, Jubilee and Jesus" and this week's speaker will be Professor Gregory Baum, University of Montreal, whose topic will be "Does religion still Alienate?".
In the following weeks there will be contributions on ethical matters from Dr Denis Carroll, Trinity College, Dr Linda Hogan, University of Leeds, and Dr Vincent McNamara, Kimmage Mission Institute, while Professor James Mackey, University of Edinburgh, Dr Donald Bruce, Church of Scotland, and Dr Gabriel Daly, Trinity College, will consider aspects of science and theology.
The lectures will take place on Thursday evenings and further details may be had from the Secretary of the School of Hebrew, Biblical and Theological Studies, Trinity College, Dublin (tel.: 01-6081297.
Tomorrow (Sunday) RTE will broadcast Morning Service from Gorey, Co. Wexford, where the rector is the Revd Charles Mullen. The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, will dedicate gifts at the Harvest Thanksgiving at Woodchapel while the Bishop of Cork, the Rt. Revd Paul Colton, will visit Doneraile and Mallow. The first Choral Eucharist of Michaelmas term will be held in the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, where the preacher will be the Chaplain, Dr Alan McCormack.
In St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, the Annual Founder's Thanksgiving Service of the Dublin Battalion of the Boys' Brigade will be held at 3.15 p.m. The preacher will be the Rector of Carlow, Canon Gary Dowd, and the collection will go to the Brigade International Extension Fund.
On Monday the Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, the Rt. Revd Edward Darling, will preside at the annual Clergy Conference in Dingle. The conference continue until Wednesday.
The third in the current series of lunchtime lectures in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on the theme "The Future of the Church" will be given on Tuesday at 1.15 p.m. The speaker will be the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Dr Richard Clarke, on the topic "The Future of the Church of Ireland". In Church House, Armagh, the Armagh Diocesan Synod will be held.
On Wednesday the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Dr James Mehaffey, will preside at the Diocesan Synod in the Synod Hall, Derry, while in Dublin there will be a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Representative Church Body.
The third in the series of lunchtime talks in the "I Believe." series will be held in St Thomas' Church, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin, on Thursday at 1.10 p.m. when the speaker will be the broadcaster, Mr Gerry Ryan. Admission is free and a soup and cheese lunch will be available. Voluntary contributions will be accepted for the Simon Community and the Samaritans.
Canon Patrick Towers, Rector of Nenagh, has been appointed as Rector of Galway and Oughterard in succession to the Very Revd Dr Robert MacCarthy who is now Dean of St Patrick's, Dublin. Canon Towers received his theological education in King's College, London, and after a period in Japan returned to England where he was successively Vicar of Winterbournes (Salisbury) and Chaplain of Oundle School Peterborough. He came to Ireland in 1982 as Rector of Rathkeale and has been in Nenagh for ten years. His institution will take place on 13 January 2000.