15.10.2015
Celebrate the Differences but Don’t Forget the Wonder When we Work and Witness Together – Diocesan Schools Service Hears
About 600 primary and junior school pupils from all over Dublin and Glendalough filled Christ Church Cathedral this morning (October 15) for the annual diocesan schools’ service. The service, which was full of joy, great singing and some drumming, had has its theme ‘We, though many, are one body in Christ’.
Archbishop Michael Jackson presided in the presence of Dean Dermot Dunne. The service was led by Canon Niall Sloane, who with a subcommittee of the Diocesan Board of Education, organised the morning.
Drawing on the theme of the service, the preacher, Canon Roy Byrne, spoke of all the things that make up Christ Church Cathedral. The children supplied him with some of the information including the organ, the Archbishop’s throne or cathedra and the stained glass.
Canon Byrne added some historic and slightly creepy elements of his own – items which have been found in the dusty crevices and cupboards of the hidden passageways, underground storage rooms and vast attics of the cathedral.
These included a ‘widow’s mite’ or coin which was minted 2100 years ago. This coin was referred to in St Mark’s Gospel. He then revealed a historic metal plate which had been attached to the top of a coffin of a long dead archbishop who was buried in the crypt. His final and most ghoulish exhibit was a broken sword which was found 200 years ago beside a soldier who had died in the crypt having been locked in after a funeral.
“Together we shared many things which come together to point to one building and what it symbolises and means. People organs, legends, stories, singing, meetings, choirs, archbishops, historical bric–a–brac are all part and parcel of what makes this a living, breathing place of worship where we are pointed towards the power and majesty of God. Many members, many parts, many stories but one God and Father of us all,” Canon Byrne said.
He pointed out that a wide range of people had gathered for the service: parents, teachers, clergy, cathedral staff, singers, lesson readers, money collectors, greeters, north Dublin schools, Glendalough schools, schools from Fingal, schools from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, organists, officials from the Department of Education, members of the Board of Education and a host of other members of our school communities, without whom the whole body of our schools simply wouldn’t function.
“Not all these members have the same purpose, but together, utilising our gifts and our talents, weaving this great tapestry together, we form something wonderful and great. Remember and celebrate the differences and the individual talents but never forget the wonder that comes about when we work and witness together,” he concluded.
Pupils from many schools took part in the service. The greeters were from St Andrew’s NS, Malahide; St Maelruain’s NS, Tallaght; and Zion NS. The collectors were from Rathgar NS; St Andrew’s NS; Jonathan Swift NS; and Chapelizod No 2 NS. The Confession was led by pupils from Glasnevin NS while the Collect was said by a pupil from Whitechurch NS. The readings were given by pupils from Alexandra College Junior School and Holmpatrick NS. A wonderful drumming interlude was provided by pupils from Primrose Hill NS, Sprindale NS and St John’s NS (Clondalkin).
A Glebe NS pupil led the Creed and the Litany of prayers and thanksgiving was led by pupils from Glenageary Killiney National School, Kill O the Grange NS, Athy Model School, Rathmichael NS and Carysfort School, Arklow.
Photo captions:
Top – Canon Roy Byrne and his volunteers during his sermon.
Bottom – Pupils from St George’s NS in Balbriggan try out Archbishop Michael Jackson’s Crozier.