The School of Hebrew, Biblical and Theological Studies in Trinity College Dublin has begun a lecture series on the theme "Theology at the Turn of the Millennium. Unanswered Questions and Prospects." This series of eight lectures will examine the achievements and shortcomings of 20th-century theology and address the issues that face humanity as the new millennium approaches.
The series was opened last week with a lecture from Prof Sean Freyne, on "Millennium, Jubilee and Jesus", and this week's speaker will be Prof Gregory Baum, University of Montreal, whose topic is "Does religion still Alienate?"
In the following weeks there will be contributions on ethical matters from Dr Denis Carroll, Trinity College, Dr Linda Hogan, University of Leeds, and Dr Vincent McNamara, Kimmage Mission Institute, while Prof James Mackey, University of Edinburgh, Dr Donald Bruce, Church of Scotland, and Dr Gabriel Daly, Trinity College, will consider aspects of science and theology.
The lectures take place on Thursday evenings and further details may be had from the secretary of the School of Hebrew, Biblical and Theological Studies, TCD at 608-1297.
Tomorrow RTE will broadcast Morning Service from Gorey, Co Wexford, where the rector is the Rev Charles Mullen. The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, will dedicate gifts at the Harvest Thanksgiving in Woodchapel, while the Bishop of Cork, the Right Rev Paul Colton, visits Doneraile and Mallow. The first Choral Eucharist of Michaelmas term will be held in the Chapel of Trinity College Dublin, where the preacher will be the chaplain, Dr Alan McCormack.
In St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, the Annual Founder's Thanksgiving Service of the Dublin Battalion of the Boys' Brigade will be held at 3.15 p.m. The preacher will be the Rector of Carlow, Canon Gary Dowd, and the collection goes to the Brigade International Extension Fund.
On Monday the Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, the Right Rev Edward Darling, will preside at the annual Clergy Conference in Dingle. The conference continues until Wednesday.
The third in the current series of lunchtime lectures in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on "The Future of the Church", will be given on Tuesday at 1.15 p.m. The speaker will be the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Dr Richard Clarke, on the topic "The Future of the Church of Ireland". In Church House, Armagh, the Armagh Diocesan Synod will be held. On Wednesday the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Dr James Mehaffey, will preside at the Diocesan Synod in the Synod Hall, Derry, while in Dublin there will be a meeting of the executive committee of the Representative Church Body.
The third in the series of lunchtime talks in the "I Believe . . ." series will be held in St Thomas's Church, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin, on Thursday at 1.10 p.m. when the speaker will be the broadcaster, Mr Gerry Ryan. Admission is free and a soup and cheese lunch will be available. Voluntary contributions will be accepted for the Simon Community and the Samaritans.
Canon Patrick Towers, Rector of Nenagh, has been appointed as Rector of Galway and Oughterard in succession to the Very Rev Dr Robert MacCarthy, who is now Dean of St Patrick's, Dublin. Canon Towers received his theological education in King's College, London, and after a period in Japan returned to England where he was successively Vicar of Winterbournes (Salisbury) and chaplain of Oundle School. He came to Ireland in 1982 as Rector of Rathkeale and has been in Nenagh for 10 years. His institution will take place next January.