07.10.2025
Dublin Service Marks Start of New Law Term
The start of the new Michaelmas Law Term was marked in St Michan’s Church, Dublin, yesterday (Monday October 6). Representatives of the judiciary, departments of state, diplomats, lawyers, An Garda Siochana, the Defence Forces and the Prison Service gathered in the Parish Church of the Law Courts for the annual service over which Archbishop Michael Jackson presided.
As is tradition, the choir of the King’s Hospital School, under the direction of Ciaran Kelly, contributed their uplifting voices to the service and the parish organist Dr Ronan Conroy accompanied the hymns. The Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Very Revd William Morton and the Chaplain of the King’s Hospital, Canon Peter Campion, led the prayers.
Introducing the service, the Vicar Archdeacon David Pierpoint prayed for all who uphold the law of the land; for all who enter the courts that they may see justice being done; and for wisdom for those who care for the downcast in society. He also prayed that those present be beacons of truth and hope and for the safety of all who keep the peace at home and overseas.
The sermon was preached by the Rt Revd Dr Trevor Gribben, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. He focused on the reading from Jeremiah as a response to the rapidly changing and scary world.
“It is all too easy to feel depressed and down and that nothing can be done. For young people growing up today, the world is a scary place,” he commented. “Such is the world that God’s people were living in in the days of Jeremiah. They were exiled in Babylon in a strange land. People were frightened and the temptation could be just to close the door, knuckle down and get through it, to withdraw from society.”
However, Dr Gribben said, Jeremiah gives a clear calling, which he said was important as the start of the new law season was marked. Rather than looking back to the halcyon days and getting depressed by how things are today, we are called to be people who make a difference and work for the welfare of the place they live in, he said.
He added that Jeremiah also warns against adopting, and being led astray by, the new philosophies of the day. Dr Gribben said that we are called to love our neighbour – all our neighbours whether they be old or new – and encouraged people not to be led astray by social media warriors, by the loudest voice, by the media storm of the prophets of the age.
Finally, he said that Jeremiah told of God’s promise to give hope for the future. “If ever there was a need to focus on the hope of God, it is surely today,” he commented. “Jeremiah calls his people to respond through faith in a dark and fallen world. We must have hope in the future that Jesus has prepared for us.”
“At the start of a new term of the law year as this world moves on with fresh, shocking revelations, hear the call to work for the welfare of the place you are in, hear the warning not to be led astray, and hear the promise of God that ‘when you look to me, I promise to give you hope and a future that this world cannot take away’,” he concluded.