The Parish of Saint Catherine & Saint James with Saint Audoen
Canon Mark Gardner Tel: 01 454 2274 Mobile 087 266 0228
Email: markgardner@eircom.net
Diocesan Lay Reader: James Kilbey
Review Distribution: Margery Bell Tel: 01 4542067
Website: cja.dublin.anglican.org
Organist: Derek Moylan
Service times every Sunday
10.00 Eucharist, St Audoen, Cornmarket. (Parking in Francis Street is free on Sundays)
11.30 Eucharist (and Sunday School, in term time) St Catherine & St James, Donore Avenue
(Family Service and Church Coffee, usually Second Sundays)
Confirmation
On the feast of Pentecost, Sunday 9 June, there was a great gathering at Christ Church Cathedral in the afternoon. Two mothers with two daughters from Crumlin Parish were among about forty candidates. I was glad to see so many familiar faces, including Stanley Nwanolue who carried the Archbishop’s Cross, whose son David was baptised by me at Christ Church fifteen years ago, where he was confirmed more recently. A young couple married by me at Christ Church about that same time brought their son Brandon Taylor to be confirmed. From this Parish, Kevin Honer was confirmed, a year later than planned, because last year his mother suffered a catastrophic fall, which ultimately ended her life. and at the time of the ceremony the family were gathered at her bedside in St James’ hospital. They gathered again at the ceremony, missing their Grandfather Liam, who had attended the confirmation of the three older boys over the years, but who passed away during the last twelve months. Also confirmed, as an adult, was Rúaidhrí DeValera, supported by friends and his aunt Chloe, who sponsored him. Like his brother Christian, he has become a member of the Church of Ireland, and the Anglican heritage means a great deal to him.
St Columba
Sunday 9 June was also the feast of St Columba, and I chose the theme of Colm Cille for the Family Service, usually on the second Sunday of the month, at the Church of St Catherine & St James. A stained glass window signed by Kate O’Brien of An Túr Gloine is the most recent in the Church, showing him as a young man, with his mother Eithne, carpeted with flowers by an angel; a pet crane (not a heron as I thought); depicting various aspects of his life on the island of Iona. Young parents and their small children enjoyed the service and the refreshments that followed, supplied by kind volunteers. We look forward to three Baptisms on the second Sunday in July.
St Audoen’s Park
In the middle of June a memorial was dedicated in St Audoen’s Park to the children who died in 1916, unintended casualties of the Rising. Joe Duffy had initiated a commemoration of those children at City Quay Church, and subsequently gathered relatives and others to consult with them as to the best way to remember those who were killed, very often by stray gunfire. Bullets don’t stop travelling, he said, condemning violence of every sort, in any age. The parish offered the Church for a reception after the ceremony. The O’Brien family of All Saints Grangegorman were present, remembering their relative, John H McNamara, of 45 York Street, aged twelve. A little boy killed as he stood at the window of 54 South Circular Road, George Percy Salisbury, was only nine. Relatives of Eleanor Warbrook, aged 15, of 7 Fumbally Lane, were also there. Other members of the Warbrook family are commemorated on the First World War Memorial from the Church of St Nicholas without and St Luke, the Coombe, and they regularly attend the Remembrance Sunday service in Donore Avenue, where that commemorative brass is now. As well as members of Dublin City Council, who erected this monument, the new Lord Mayor and minister Katherine Zappone made speeches. Young people read out the names of all the children. So sad that two remain unidentified. Boys from St Audoen’s School Cook Street sang a song, and then helped to turn on the memorial fountain, and throw the water about! What a pity the sound system failed, and what was said was largely inaudible.
Fabric works
One phase of the necessary works have been carried out by the parish on the tower of St Audoen’s, while Dublin City Council has now completed two aspects of the works planned for St Audoen’s Park, as well as the new layout at Christ Church and the little park opposite, the Peace Park, alongside the ruins of the Church of St Nicholas within. This was a secular chantry which survived the Reformation and continued to exist as long at its endowment sustained it, though one of the poorest parishes within the city walls. The Church was at one time so ruinous that the congregation met in the Schoolhouse.
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