15.06.2021
Refugee Week 2021 at Christ Church Cathedral
As part of Christ Church’s ‘Cathedral of Sanctuary’ status, they continue to look for opportunities to both welcome those who have come seeking sanctuary, and also to raise awareness around the wider situation of refugees and asylum–seekers in Ireland and around the world.
The theme for Refugee Week 2021 is ‘We cannot walk alone’ and the cathedral has a number of events planned, a mixture of in–person and online.
Homing Pigeons: Birds with Wishes Exhibition
14–20 June
Good wishes arrive on the wings of fanciful works of art, created by school children in Aleppo, Syria. Organised in collaboration with Places of ARcture, with support from Ecclesiastical.
Public Opening Hours:
Wednesday, 16th – Saturday, 19th: 10.00 – 16.00 (normal cathedral admission applies)
Friday, 18th: 18.00 – 20.00, special evening opening, Free of charge!
School and community groups are invited to book in to the exhibition free of charge: Advance booking essential. Email welcome@christchurch.ie.
‘What’s the Story? Lives in Direct Provision’
Thursday, 17 June, 19.30, Online via Zoom
They’ve taken ‘What’s the Story?’ online this year but the goal is the same: to offer a space for the sharing of stories, making space for connection across our community, by listening to the lived experiences of who have been through the direct provision system. Join this event to hear poetry and reflections around the themes of family, home and time, and a piano composition by Cherinet Ayele to compose the evening. Register via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/whats-the-story-lives-in-direct-provision-tickets-154268056911
‘We cannot walk alone’ Make your mark!
Friday, 18 June and Saturday, 19 June, 11.00 – 17.00
Call in to the cathedral grounds and take part in the creation of a chalk mural (weather permitting)! Visitors are invited to add chalk footprints around the cathedral’s labyrinth plaza to symbolise the message ‘We cannot walk alone’.
Community Market
Friday, 18 June and Saturday, 19 June, 11.00 – 17.00
Come and check out the colourful outdoor market at Christ Church for the weekend. Ellie Kisyombe of Our Table will have her fantastic hot sauces for sale. Njabuliso Moyo of Busy Finger Diaries will have be selling her one of a kind handbags and clothing items. And from the workshop of local charity the Mendicity Institution there will be fabulous handcrafted wooden flower boxes and other items, a great way to support Mendicity’s work in the local community.
Sanctuary Sunday
Sunday, 20 June, 15.30
Christ Church Cathedral will mark World Refugee Day during its afternoon service of choral evensong with guest preacher, Pastor Ebenezer Segatu. (Congregation limited to 46 persons, due to social distancing, doors open at 15.00.) If you can’t join in person you are welcome to join online via webcam.