The Parish of Saint Catherine & Saint James with Saint Audoen
Canon Mark Gardner (Editor) Tel: 01 454 2274 Mobile 087 266 0228
The Revd Martha Waller (Curate-Assistant) Tel: 01 868 1655
Email: markgardner300@gmail.com
Review Distribution: Doris Brooks Tel: 01 453 0887
Website: cja.dublin.anglican.org
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)
First Wednesday of the Month
10.30 Service of Wholeness and Healing, with Laying-on of Hands and Anointing.
Diary dates
Wednesday 10 February, 10.30, the Service for Ash Wednesday from the Book of Common Prayer 2004.
Sunday 14 February 11.30 Family Service with the children of the Sunday School and Church Coffee. A fire drill and an emergency evacuation exercise will follow.
Sunday School
The parish owes a great debt of gratitude to and expresses its appreciation for the volunteers who have taken responsibility for the continuation of the work of the Sunday School. Few in number, they maintain this invaluable ministry during School term, and prepare the children for participation in the Family Service among their other activities which have recently included a Fun Day in Stillorgan at a popular eatery in the Shopping Centre and then to Stillorgan Bowl, where Bowling was enjoyed by the older children, and Play Zoo for the little ones.
Holy Baptism
On Saturday 2 January for the first time the Church of South India and the Church of Ireland joined together in the celebration of the sacrament of Holy Baptism at St Catherine & St James’ Church. The Rector and the Revd Dr Jacob Thomas (a Bible lecturer in Belfast) both officiated at the Christening of Andrea Eliza Joshy, born 3 July 2013, daughter of Joshy Philip Zacharia and Siljamol Adattu Kurian, both of them nurses. The family home is in Raheny. Andrea’s Godfather is Joby Philip Thomas and her Godmother Jyothee Susan Philip. The Church of South India is particularly associated with the ministry of Mar Thoma, St Thomas, and also apparently St Philip.
Looking back
If memory serves me, the last Sunday in January was the fiftieth anniversary of the devastating fire which destroyed the organ and the interior of All Saints’ Grangegorman. The fire was thought to have been caused by an electrical fault. The same cannot be said for the destruction of Nelson’s Pillar, also in 1966, the year marked as the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916 Rising. While the Church was being reroofed and brought back in to use, services were held in the Schoolhouse next door. Lack of funds and a rather different outlook then, meant that much stained glass was thrown away, and interior decoration removed, and there was no money for an organ. While the Church was out of commission one of the Miller family, in accordance with the rules which applied then, was married in St Mobhi’s Glasnevin as the next available Parish Church. The late Reba Miller was recently laid to rest at Rathfarnham Parish Church where the singing was supported by members of the Guinness Choir, led for many years by Victor Leeson, organist at All Saints. One of the first people to be married after the Church was reopened was Rosemary Medcalfe, who robustly refused to be ‘married to a piano!’ and imported an electronic instrument which didn’t last. An organ from St Philip’s Milltown, which stood for many years on the north gallery of St Mary’s Mary Street, is now in the north aisle of All Saints.
Churches can burn!
Writing close to the week of prayer for Christian unity, I am struck by an ecumenical offer to be found at the tail end of this story, from a Belfast newspaper. ‘A cat has been hailed a hero after saving a church from complete ruin after alerting its owner to a blaze. Rector Adrian McLaughlin only became aware of the blaze, which spread to the roof at St Colman’s Church of Ireland in Dunmurry, after hearing his cat Tilly crying around 1am on Monday. Rev McLaughlin was treated in hospital for smoke inhalation. His wife Christine said that the church’s organ had been completely destroyed in the fire, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. “He got in at the fire, which was behind the organ pipes, and attempted to tackle it with a garden hose as he waited on the fire brigade.” A total of eight fire crews from several different stations worked for four hours to get the blaze under control. One fireman was taken to hospital after a piece of masonry fell on him. John Williams, parish reader in St Colman’s, said that the church, a listed building which was opened in 1908, will be out of use for a minimum of 12 months. He said: “The roof will have to be replaced, some of the stonework has come away and the church will not be available for use for at least a year.” Mr Williams added: “We have a church hall in nearby Kingsway and will move into that, although other churches have offered us use of their church.”
New life in Thomas Street
There’s much to look forward to in this coming year. The focus of the Business Area Improvement Initiative remains on improving the quality of our streets and creating a more welcoming and attractive environment for people who live and work in The Liberties and for visitors and shoppers to the area.
Businesses and property owners are key to this improvement, and continued investment in premises and buildings is encouraged this year. Whether it’s freshening up a shopfront, adding some planting or greening, undertaking maintenance or improving shop interiors – we hope you’ll feel increasingly inspired to join the rejuvenation of The Liberties. You’ll find information on making the best of your building and shopfront and details of financial supports for small businesses on our website www.libertiesdublin.ie.
