The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev John Neill, will call for a national programme to combat racism in a Christmas sermon to be delivered tomorrow at Christ Church Cathedral.
In his Christmas Day sermon, Dr Neill says: "The creeping racism in Irish society is one of the most evil aspects of our national life today. The widening gap between rich and poor is a symptom of a disintegration of the very idea of community.
"These are challenges to the very core values of this nation and indeed of our Christian heritage. We need a national programme to combat racism, and this is perhaps an area where there could be real co-operation between the State and the Churches."
The 11 a.m. Christmas Day service at Christ Church will be the main focus of Church of Ireland celebrations in its Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough.
Traditional Church of Ireland services take place at St Patrick's Cathedral, and other churches throughout Ireland, including St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, where, after carol service this evening, the Very Rev Dr Houston McKelvey, will make a presentation to the Third World group Christian Aid of money raised during his "Black Santa" charity sit-out this week.
The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Diarmud Martin, is principal celebrant at tonight's Midnight Mass at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral. He is joined by the Apostolic Nuncio His Excellency Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto and the priests of the Pro-Cathedral for the Mass, which will be televised on RTÉ.
Cardinal Desmond Connell will be principal celebrant at 11 a.m. Mass at Dublin's Pro-Cathedral tomorrow, while the Most Rev Eamonn Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, will celebrate a Mass on Christmas morning at Arbour Hill Prison.
Details of Catholic Church ceremonies throughout Ireland at: www.catholiccommunications.ie
