07.01.2021
New Ecumenical Canon Installed at Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral welcomed a new member to its Chapter on the Feast of the Epiphany (Wednesday December 6). Tom Layden SJ was installed as Ecumenical Canon of the cathedral by Dean Dermot Dunne during a said Eucharist yesterday evening.
The service was broadcast online with no congregation in the cathedral. The preacher was Archbishop Michael Jackson.
Fr Tom Layden is a former Provincial of the Jesuit Order in Ireland and is involved in ecumenism and church unity. He has been appointed to the canonary in succession to Fr David Tuohy SJ.
In his sermon Archbishop Jackson said it was a great pleasure to witness Tom’s installation. “Tom is a Jesuit who brings the gifts of scholarship, humanity, administration, liturgy, ecumenism and reconciliation. He is no stranger to the Anglican tradition having completed his doctoral research in Canada in an Anglican university. He is committed to Ireland South and North in his living, his preaching and contributing at every level. We welcome Tom on this Feast of the Epiphany,” he said.
Dean Dermot Dunne also welcomed the appointment: “I was happy with the appointment of Fr Tom Layden SJ as the second Ecumenical Canon on the cathedral chapter. Tom is a worthy successor to Fr David Tuohy who sadly passed away last year. Tom brings to this role a life of great experience and deep thought. A true ecumenist, Tom will engage with the cathedral in a life giving and supporting way bringing a different perspective to the life of faith and what we share through our common baptism,” he said.
Turning to the Gosepl reading [St Matthew 2: 1–12] the Archbishop spoke about ‘lessons in being wise’ which could be learned from the visit of the Three Wise from the East to the infant Jesus.
At a time when we are all reentering severe lockown to flatten our now virtical curve, he suggested that there were lessons to be learned from the Wise Men in caution, selfcare and common sense.