As the late Bishop of Kilmore, Dr Gilbert Wilson, was fond of saying, "The strong must help the weak". Through the medium of the Bishops' Appeal, the church seeks to make a contribution to the needs of weaker societies, not just at Christmas, which we are told is "the season for giving", but throughout the year.
Through CMS Ireland, the latest allocation of Bishops' Appeal funds have been made available to assist with food for 350 families in Nairobi, and for youth training Gahini in Rwanda. CMSI is also the conduit for the relief of poverty in the Diocese of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The work of the human rights agency, ITEKA in Burundi, has been supported, as has the Asra Hawarait School in Ethiopia which provides education and an orphanage, child and family aid programmes, a kindergarten and a feeding centre.
The Leonel Valdiva Co-Operative in Nicaragua has suffered setbacks due to Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and flooding in 1999 and assistance has been provided for developing cattle farming.
Today, the Bishop of Tuam, Dr Richard Henderson, will lead a Connemara Quiet Day in Christ Church, Clifden, from 10.30 a.m. In Dublin at 8 p.m., the final address in the "Hopes for the New Millennium" series in St Patrick's Cathedral, will be delivered by Ms Mary Robinson, UN Commissioner for Human Rights and all are welcome.
Tomorrow RTE will broadcast a service of Morning Prayer from Kilcummin Church, Oughterard, where the rector is the Provost of Tuam, the Very Revd Patrick Towers. In St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, the annual Dr Webster Sermon will be preached by the Rev Patrick Comerford of The Irish Times. The sermon commemorates Dr George Webster, Rector of St Nicholas Church, Cove Street, 1858-1890. A prominent figure in Cork, much of his considerable energy was focused on St Nicholas' Church where he reordered the interior, erected a new spire, and installed a peal of bells. No tickets are needed for a festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, at 3.15 p.m., while at 7 p.m. in St Bartholmew's Church, Ballsbridge, there will be a Concert of Carols and Festive Readings featuring the St Bartholomew's Choir and actor/ director Alan Stanford.
On Monday evening there will be a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, recorded for Lyric FM. Almost 200 seats are available on the night. The cathedral's annual charity carol service will take place on Thursday at lunchtime, with the proceeds to Focus Ireland. In Cork, St Fin Barre's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will be held on Friday evening and again on Christmas Eve.