09.10.2017
Rector Appointed to Christ Church, Dun Laoghaire
The Revd Ása Björk Ólafsdóttir O’Hanlon has been appointed Rector of Christ Church, Dun Laoghaire in the Diocese of Dublin. She has been Vicar of the parish since January 2013.
Ása is Icelandic and has lived in Ireland since 2010. She has three adult children: Gabriel and Sebastian, who live in Reykjavick, and Messíana who lives in Dun Laoghaire with Ása and her husband Martin. Before coming to Dublin she was Rector in the Kells Union of Parishes and previously was District Pastor and assistant to the Dean of Kjalarnes district, Iceland.
During her time in Dun Laoghaire, Ása saw an opportunity to put the Gospel into practice with a venture called The Dining Room. Based in the Parochial Hall, the Dining Room catered for the people on the fringes of society in Dun Laoghaire and welcomed the hungry and the lonely three lunchtimes a week for a hot meal and a chat. It ran for two and a half years and today Crosscare has taken over the role.
Ása says she aims to listen carefully to the needs and interests of the people within her congregation as well as in the wider community and work faithfully in a “beautiful but sometimes secular world”. She enjoys the fellowship and cooperation of her neighbouring Church of Ireland clergy and also working ecumenically with Church and community leaders in the Dun Laoghaire area.
“Being the third of four sisters and two brothers, I am used to a large family and I look at Ministry as working within a large family where everyone has a role and we work and serve our Lord together. We may not always agree, but the general goal is the same,” Ása says.