24.10.2016
Busy Programme Planned for Jerusalem Link Visit to Dublin and Glendalough
In December the Jerusalem Link will enter an exciting new phase. The Archbishop of Jerusalem and his chaplain, Canon David Longe, will visit Dublin and Glendalough for the first time officially since the signing of the Epiphany Agreement in January.
Apart from devising an interesting and varied programme for the visitors, the Council for Mission is also creating the opportunity for members of the dioceses and beyond to learn more about our partner diocese in the Land of the Holy One and the Christians who live there, who call themselves ‘the living stones’.
There will be many opportunities to meet Archbishop Suheil and Canon Longe during their visit. Apart from many visits to schools and other organisations, people can join them for Evening Prayer in St Doulaghs, Malahide at 4.00 pm on Friday December 2. There will be an Ecumenical Service with Dublin Council of Churches in Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday December 3 at 5.00 pm. This will be followed by a cultural evening in St Ann’s, Dawson Street featuring Armenian and Irish Music and Middle Eastern food.
On Sunday December 4 at 11.00 am you are welcome to join Archbishop Michael Jackson and Archbishop Dawani for Holy Communion in Nun’s Cross Church, Killiskey. That afternoon both Archbishops will attend the 150th anniversary celebration of the opening of Kenure Church and Archbishop Jackson will preach.
On Monday December 5 there will be a very interesting seminar in the Church of St John the Baptist in Clontarf at 7.30 pm. Entitled “Christians in the Middle East – their plight and the challenges for the West”, the seminar will feature panellists including Archbishop Suheil, Fr Canon Kieran O’Mahony, Georgina Copty (a Palestinian Christian living in Ireland) and Linda Chambers (a member of the Council for Mission), among others. Those attending will gain a better appreciation of life in the Holy Land and will be helped in considering the impact of conflict there on the West. The seminar will be preceded by launch of Pilgrimage. a course suitable for pilgrimage and Bible study groups.
On Tuesday December 6 all are invited to join Morning Prayer in Hollywood at 10.00 am followed by a visit to parts of the Come&C Camino.
The Council for Mission is actively looking at arranging a pilgrimage group from the United Dioceses to the Holy Land in November 2017. Not only will the group visit the holy sites but also link up with Christians there and learn of their daily lives and struggles.
On Sunday January 10 2016 the Epiphany Agreement was signed in St George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem by the Archbishop of Dublin and the Archbishop of Jerusalem. The agreement officially established a link between the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the Diocese of Jerusalem.
The Epiphany Agreement commits to developing a link relationship of equal partners between the two dioceses which is sustainable, practical, effective, mutually supportive and mutually enriching.
Photo caption: Diocesan Council for Mission members, Geoffrey McMaster, the Revd Norman McCausland and Derek Neilson, promoting the Jerusalem Link at Synod earlier this month.