The choir, the bells, the congregations - all made this old building ring out with the joy of the sound of Christmas: 600 at the Carol Service, over 700 between the midnight and Christmas morning eucharists. And on BBC television the lovely Donegal singer Enya sang Silent Night in Irish - recorded in the cathedral just before Christmas.
The Revd Gillian Wharton is to be commissioned by the archbishop as the first youth officer in the history of these dioceses. She has already been welcomed by Lucan and Leixlip parishes where she will serve as a part-time assistant curate. On Sunday 5 January at 7 p.m. she will be welcomed to the diocesan end of her post by her commissioning in the diocesan cathedral. The service will be a eucharist at which the preacher will be The Revd Peter Campion, recently appointed dean's vicar in Saint Patrick's Cathedral. All are welcome. Secure parking at night rates in the Werburgh Street multi-storey park is available.
On this important feast of Our Lord on Monday 6 January there will be a said eucharist at 12.45 p.m. and a fully choral sung eucharist at 6 p.m. Do try to attend if you can.
On Friday 17 January at 6 p.m. the choir of Saint Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, New Zealand, as a part of their Irish tour, will sing Evensong. Please do support this service if you possibly can.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be marked by events in many churches from 18-25 January. The opening service of the week, on Sunday 19 January at 3.30 p.m., and for the first time in a number of years, will be held in Christ Church Cathedral. The preacher will be Archbishop Desmond Connell. Despite his frequent visits to Christ Church for services on many occasions - most recently for the consecration of Bishop Clarke - this will be his first occasion as preacher. We look forward warmly to his visit. The senior clergy of all the other churches in the city have also been invited to robe and be present for the occasion.
Other events in the week include a TCD Chaplains' department lecture to be given by Professor Enda McDonagh of Maynooth on Tuesday 21 January at 8 p.m. in the Thomas Davis Lecture Theatre; on Friday at 8 p.m. the usual Irish Language service in Christ Church Cathedral, when the preacher will be The Revd Gary Hastings, rector of Westport; and, on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. Orthodox Vespers, led by Fr Ireneu Craciun, in the Greek Church of the Annunciation at Arbour Hill.
The archbishop has appointed The Revd Virginia Kennerley as a canon representing Glendalough diocese to replace Canon Raymond Smith who has recently retired. The service of installation will take place at Evensong on Sunday 26 January at 3.30 p.m. Mrs Kennerley, a graduate of Oxford University, will be the first woman canon of an Irish cathedral and so will be making history by her appointment. She will indeed be welcome among us and will undertake her first residence on Sunday 1 June.
This beautiful processional service, which tells through Old Testament prophecy and New Testament narrative the story of how the infant Christ was presented in the temple, will be held in the cathedral on Sunday 2 February at 8 p.m. The dramatic use of light and of carefully choreographed movement makes this service one of the highlights of the year.
Harry Carroll is the master of many such events for us over the years. The Friends Committee has again asked him to prepare one for Tuesday 18 February in the Concert Hall of the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook. A table for four will be £12 (including supper) and there is ample free parking for cars in the grounds of the hospital. Make a note in your diary now.
General Eric Lambert served the British Army in several continents and in almost too many of its departments to enumerate. Up to the early years of this decade he regularly helped with the collection in the cathedral at Sunday Evensong. More recently, when ill health befell him, he was still frequent in attendance, being brought by his niece Lowragh. "The General", as he was affectionately known, was buried from Tullow parish church, Carrickmines, by Canon Kenneth Kearon, assisted by the dean, on Friday 22 November. Obituaries have appeared in almost all the major Irish and British papers. May he rest in the peace of Christ.
The Archbishop's Course in Church Music still continues to flourish and certificates were presented at Evensong on Sunday 24 November to the following: First Year Zoe Lipson, Nora Morris, Isobel Mulligan, Henry Kennedy, Simon Lowther; Second Year Margery Bell, Sandra Maxwell, Stephen Bond, Claire Kingston, Ruth McCullagh; Third Year John Lindsay.The Advent Carols were their usual exquisite offering - a paean of praise - on the first Sunday in Advent. The director of music, the assistant organist, organ scholar and the choir are to be congratulated on this annual presentation of drama in worship.
