14.09.2017
World Meeting of Families Icon in Christ Church Cathedral September 20–25
The World Meeting of Families (WMOF) is scheduled to take place in Dublin in August 2018. Organised by the Roman Catholic Church and held every three years, this major international event brings together families from across the world to celebrate, pray and reflect upon the central importance of the family as the cornerstone of our lives, of society and of the Church. The theme of WMOF2018 is “The Joy of Love”. The Church of Ireland United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough is pleased to have the opportunity to be involved in this event.
A specially commissioned WMOF2018 icon of the Holy Family was unveiled on the 21 August 2017 during the launch of the one–year programme of preparation in Knock, Co Mayo. The icon was written by the Redemptoristine Contemplative Community in Drumcondra as part of their ongoing prayer for families. The icon is meant to encourage both reflection and prayer as part of the journey of preparations to World Meeting of Families 2018.
The WMOF2018 icon will be travelling to each diocese in Ireland. Christ Church Cathedral is delighted to host it from September 20 to 25. It will complement the icon exhibition which has been running there from June and will continue until the end of September.
Icons are one way of encountering the living God. They have been described as “prayers in paintings”, as “windows to heaven” and “theology in colour”. They are not meant to stand alone as autonomous works of art but are intended to be experienced as part of a concrete, religious practice. Do take the time to come and contemplate the WMOF2018 icon in Christ Church Cathedral.