19.03.2024
St Ann’s, Dawson Street Hosts Iftar Meal With Eire Dialogue
On Friday evening last (March 15) the parishioners of St Ann’s, Dawson Street welcomed members of Eire Dialogue to an Iftar meal in the parish hall.
Iftar is the meal which breaks the fast for Muslims during Ramadan. Eire Dialogue is a group committed to facilitating friendships and understanding across the cultural divides which exist in Ireland.
The meal was well attended by members of the congregation of St Ann’s and by the local Muslim community. The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson was in attendance.
“This event brought together people with a shared concern for the wellbeing of the people of the world and for creation itself,” the Archbishop commented. “We shared food and conversation in a generous and convivial atmosphere and exchanged aspects of the things that matter to us deeply in our own Faith tradition.”
He added: “I thank Eire Dialogue for their hospitality. I also thank the Rector, Select Vestry and parishioners of St Ann’s for their welcome. Once more St Ann’s through its open heartedness shows itself to be the parish at the heart of the city of Dublin as it witnesses to the Christian faith in action”.
The Vicar of St Ann’s, the Revd Canon Paul Arbuthnot said: “The sharing of Iftar between our communities is a positive development. As a result of this event, new friendships have been forged across inter faith boundaries and a new and better understanding of each other has been developed. We hope that our friendships with Eire Dialogue and all who came to the Iftar can be developed and strengthened in the months and years to come”.
