Tomorrow the congregation at Evensong in St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe, will be swelled by visitors from the dioceses of New Hampshire in the US and Quebec in Canada. The service will be conducted by the Dean of Killaloe, the Very Rev Nicholas Cummins, and the preacher will be the Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, the Right Rev Edward Darling.
A party of over 40 visitors from New Hampshire and Quebec, which are companion dioceses to Limerick and Killaloe, have been in Ireland since May 22nd and tomorrow's service will bring their visit to a close. Some will attend the Limerick and Killaloe Diocesan Synod today in Villiers School, Limerick and all will have enjoyed first-hand experience of aspects of the life of the Church of Ireland in the south-west.
Last year a party from Limerick and Killaloe visited New Hampshire and Quebec and individual visits have cemented this link.
Today Affirming Catholicism Ireland will hold a pilgrimage to Clonmacnoise. The day will begin with a celebration of the Eucharist in Clonmacnoise at noon and concludes with Evensong in St Brendan's Cathedral, Clonfert. Details of Affirming Catholicism Ireland may be had from the Rev Dr Norman Gamble, The Rectory, Church Road, Malahide, Co Dublin. The Friends of St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam, will have their annual service followed by an a.g.m. in the Synod Hall, while in Dublin the Leprosy Mission a.g.m. will be held.
Tomorrow, Trinity Sunday, Bishop Samuel Poyntz will conduct confirmations in Ballymoney and Dunseverick on behalf of the Bishop of Connor, the Right Rev James Moore, who is in hospital. The Bishop of Cork, the Right Rev Paul Colton, will visit St Luke's parish while in St Fin Barre's Cathedral the preacher at Sung Matins will be Dr Aine Hyland, professor of education in UCC. In St Canice's Church, Finglas, the Fingal Choral Festival will be held.
In Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, as part of the Cathedral Arts Programme, there will be an organ recital at 5 p.m. Australian-born Anne Page, who has gained an international reputation as an interpreter of the music of Messiaen, will play his Livre du Saint Sacrement. This is a rare chance to hear the composer's last and greatest organ work.
On Monday, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Dr Richard Clarke, will ordain the Rev Robert Whiteside in St Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare. The preacher will be the Bishop of Lancaster, the Right Rev Stephen Pedley. Since his ordination to the diaconate last year, Mr Whiteside, who is part of the church's auxiliary ministry, has been assisting in the parish of Clonsast.
The Amici Singers from Leeds will give a recital of sacred choral music in St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam, on Monday and will sing again on Tuesday in St Nicholas's Collegiate Church, Galway.
In St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, the cathedral organist and master of choristers, Mr John Dexter, will give a recital on Wednesday evening and on Friday the cathedral's bells will be rung to usher in the Liberties Festival.
The Church of Ireland press office has announced details of a millennium competition for church magazines, the closing date for which is March 1st, 2000. Entries will be considered in three categories - diocesan magazines, parish magazines, and parish or society newsheets (a newsheet is defined as an issue of four or fewer pages). Entry forms and further details of the competition are available from the Church of Ireland Press Office, Church of Ireland House, 61-67 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2QH.