Statement of the Spring 2017 General Meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference
In a statement from the conference held in Maynooth last week that included many serious issues, the JOY BELLS AGAINST RACISM initiative to begin in Waterford Cathedral next Sunday at 11 a.m. was included.
- “Joy of Bells” initiative, 19 March – expressing solidarity with migrants and refugees
In support of the “Joy of Bells” initiative by Maria Jansson, the Church of Ireland Dean of Waterford Cathedral, and former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, which will express solidarity and respect for migrants and refugees, bishops encouraged parishes to ring church bells on Sunday 19 March (at 11.00 a.m. if possible) so that, in ringing, they proclaim our Christian witness and proclamation of faith, trust, love, reconciliation and joy and that every migrant is welcome!
Pope Francis addressed the issue of welcoming migrants in his 2017 message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Pope Francis said,
“I ask everyone to help those who, for various reasons, are forced to live far from their homeland and are separated from their families … Migration affects all continents and is growing into a tragic situation of global proportions. Not only does this concern those looking for dignified work or better living conditions, but also men and women, the elderly and children, who are forced to leave their homes in the hope of finding safety, peace and security.”
Pope Francis invites us to respond to migration by offering a dignified welcome and by acknowledging that every person is precious; that persons are more important than things and that our worth is measured by the way we treat the life and dignity of human beings, particularly when they are vulnerable like migrants. Bishops urged that the long delays for asylum seekers living in our direct provision system be addressed as it mitigates against social integration and cohesion. Bishops asked parishes to continue to extend Christian hospitality to migrants and refugees who have settled here in recent times.”
SUPPORTING THIS BELL PEAK ( 11.03.17)
- Dr. Rowan Williams: Former Archbishop of Canterbury
- H.E. Mr. Istvan S. Palffy, Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland
- City of Sanctuary UK and Ireland
- Irish Council of Churches
- St. Paul’s within the Walls Episcopal Church, Rome
- All Saints’ Anglican Church, Rome
- Limerick Diocese C of I
- St Chad’s Anglican Church, Fullarton, South Australia
- St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore, Co. Waterford
- St Patrick’s Methodist Church, Waterford
- St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen
- Irish College, Rome
- Cardinal Tobin, Newark Diocese, US
- Cardinal Nichols, Westminster
- Caravita Oratory, Rome
- Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford
- Notre Dame University, US
- Monsignor Thynne, Mulhuddard Parish , Dublin
- Balaghadereen Parish, Co. Roscommon
- St Mary’s University, London
- St. Hohn’s Cathedral Cashel, Co. Tipperary
- St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny
- St Patrick’s Parish Dalkey Co. Dublin
- Poor Clare Monastery, Ennis, Co. Clare
- Church of Ireland Parish Rostrevor
- St. Nicholas Collegiate Church, Galway
- Blessington, Co. Wicklow
- The Redemptorist Order
- All Angels Episcopal Church, Miami Beach, Florida
- The Grann, Passionist Church, Enniskillen
- St Agnes Catholic Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- St Coleman’s Cathedral, Cobh
- Ardcarne Parish, Coothall, Drumboylan, Crossna Co. Roscommon
- Carrigaline Union of Parishes Cork.
- St Cornelius Catholic Church, Pai Si Tong, Nongkhai, Thailand
- Church of Ireland Theological Institute
- St. Mark’s Episcopalian Church, Newpart, Vermont, US
- Christ Church, C if I Clifden, Connemara, Co. Galway,
- St Mary, Catholic Church Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim
- C of I Bray and Shankill, Co Wicklow
- All Saints Anglican , Mumbles, Wales
- Anglican Church Ramsey Isle of Man
- St Peter’s C of I Bandon, Co. Cork
- Chief Rabbi Lent will read poetry with the Jewish community in the Synagogue in Dublin at 11am, March 19th on racism and xenophobia
- St Mary’s Church, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
- St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, Australia
- BSP Bible Study & Prayer Group, Lilongwe, Malawi
- St Peter & St Paul Anglican Church, Springs, South Africa
- Kwasa Centre Children’s Project, Springs, South Africa
- House Churches Alliance, Middle East
- Praise & Prayer Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
- Archbishop of Dublin Archbishop Michael Jackson
- Archbishop of Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
- Archbishop of Armagh Archbishop Eamon Martin
- Archbishop of Armagh Archbishop Richard Clark
- The Rt Revd Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory
- The Rt Revd John Mc Dowell, Bishop of Clougher
- St Bartholomew’s Church, Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
- Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
- St Brigid’s Church Cabinteely Dublin 18
- Church of St Andrew, Westland Row, Dublin.
- Tibetan Bells Monkstown Quaker Meeting House, Carrickbrennan Road, Monkstown Co Dublin.
- St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
- Killea Chapel, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford
- St Anne’s Church, Shandon, Cork
Also:
STATEMENT FROM ARCHBISHOP MICHAEL JACKSON
“The ringing of bells from Waterford Cathedral and worldwide is a source of great joy for all of us.
The voice of justice and mercy resound through belfries across the world and challenge all who hear to listen and to act and to serve.”
The Most Rev’d Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin