Diocesan News
Children at the Centre on St Patrick's Day (Diocese of Down and Dromore)
The theme is, “Pass it On” and the Festival Service in Down Cathedral will involve 140 children in drama, story-telling and singing. There will be performances by Waringstown Primary School Choir, who were the 2009 Songs of Praise Junior School Choir of the Year, and the Down Cathedral Junior Choir.
Mr Bob Hartman
Diocesan Communications Officer, Down & Dromore
With the focus on passing on the faith and heritage of St. Patrick to the next generation, Bob Hartman’s participation is especially apt as storytelling used to be the main way of passing on local values, traditions and history.
“I cannot tell you how delighted I am to be invited to the event,” says Bob. “When I was asked to write a book on Saints several years ago, I made sure that Patrick was included, because his was a story I'd been telling for years. So to be asked to speak at the place where the man himself is buried, on his special day, is a gift that I never imagined receiving.”
The annual St Patrick’s Day event gathers hundreds of visitors, from Ireland and abroad. It begins with a service of Holy Communion at Saul Church, followed by a pilgrimage to Down Cathedral and the Festival Service. After the service a wreath is laid at St Patrick’s grave by local ministers of all denominations and then lunch is served to invited guests in the Cathedral grounds.
View Down and Dromore’s 2009 celebrations on YouTube.
Contact Details
Annette McGrath
Church of Ireland House
61?67 Donegall Street
Belfast
BT1 2QH
(028) 9032 2268
07595 231958
(028) 9023 1902
[email protected]