08 April 2019

Interfaith consultation with the Jewish community

Canon Patrick Comerford, Rabbi Zalman Lent and Bishop Kenneth Kearon at the interfaith consultation in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute (Photograph: Georgina Copty)

Bishop Kenneth Kearon recently chaired an interfaith consultation in Dublin on Church of Ireland relations with the Jewish Community in Ireland, attended also by Canon Patrick Comerford. The one-day programme on 5 March included an afternoon seminar with Rabbi Zalman Lent, with an open discussion of the rise of antisemitism across Europe.

The consultation began with a visit to the area in Portobello, Dublin, popularly known as ‘Little Jerusalem.’ This included a guided tour of the Irish Jewish Museum on Walworth Road and the former synagogue in the building, with a question-and-answer session with members of the Jewish community.

Rabbi Zalman Shimon Lent spoke at the afternoon meeting in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute about the present state of the Jewish community in Ireland. He also shared his experiences of growing up in Manchester, and he answered question about the rise of antisemitism in Europe and events in the Middle East.

The participants were drawn from dioceses throughout the Church of Ireland, north and south. The consultation was organised by the Church of Ireland Interfaith Working Group, which is chaired by Bishop Kenneth. A similar one-day event is planned for September, with meetings with the Islamic community in Ireland.

This news report is published in the current edition of ‘Newslink’ (April 2019), the magazine of the Church of Ireland United Dioceses of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert

Praying through Lent with
USPG (34): 8 April 2019

‘Jesus accepts his Cross’ … Station II in the Stations of the Cross in the Chapel of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co Kildare (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2019)

Patrick Comerford

During Lent this year, I am using the USPG Prayer Diary, Pray with the World Church, for my morning prayers and reflections.

USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) is the Anglican mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential, and champion justice. It was founded in 1701.

This week [7-13 April], the USPG prayer diary focusses on the theme of ‘Hope.’ This theme was introduced yesterday [7 April 2019] with ‘Tagori’s Story,’ an article based upon a report from the ‘Let My People Go’ programme, which is run by the Church of North India Synodical Board of Social Services (CNISBSS) to support marginalised Dalit and tribal people.

Monday 8 April:

Pray for marginalised peoples who lack access to steady work and fair pay, that their plight may be recognised, and their concerns addressed by those who hold power.

The Collect:

Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
Grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross,
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lenten Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Yesterday’s reflection

Continued tomorrow