Finding Faith 2022 Day Four
Thursday 19 May
For VOX magazine’s 10th annual Finding Faith Tour editor Ruth Garvey-Williams travels across Ireland hunting down stories of faith, life and reality. You can follow the journey each day here on the blog and through our social media pages with stories, videos and photos.
As I was spending most of the day in Dublin, I left the car at my hotel and took the Luas into the city centre. After days of travelling (by car) through rural Ireland the change to bustling inner city was stark. It certainly did not do me any harm to be walking and I wasn’t sorry to avoid the traffic!
Walking in Dublin is like entering a different world with is hurrying crowds and ethnic diversity. I’m grateful for an early breakfast with my daughter before my first appointment of the day.
Seeing several homeless women shivering in doorways, huddled under sleeping bags was a stark reminder of the inequalities that exist. And my first stop seems appropriate
The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice
A team of four people work at the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice including the Director and Social Theologian Kevin Hargaden who will be no stranger to VOX readers.
On this visit I meet Keith, another Presbyterian who feels this job has allowed him to marry his academic work (he holds Masters degrees in social research and human rights) with his Christian faith.
“Our overarching aim is to work towards creating a fair and equitable society for everyone,” Keith explains. Each team member is an advocate for one of the four main focus areas:
Prison Policy, Housing and homelessness, Economic Justice and Environmental Justice.
“As we struggle with the idea of seeing human dignity in everyone, we see our sin and our instinct to exclude and marginalise others. Faith works itself out through justice,” Keith shares.
A faith that doesn’t do justice is malnourished.
There is much food for thought (and for further VOX articles) in our conversation. The challenge to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God is very much in my mind as I walk to Phibsborough. At a recent gathering of Christian leaders from across Ireland, I met Fr. Paul O’Driscoll the parish priest for the Parish of the Travelling People. I was inspired by his loving concern for the difficulties faced by Irish Travellers and asked whether I could visit during this year’s tour.
The Parish of the Travelling People
It was a joy to meet Parish Administrator Pauline McDonnell and Fr. Paul who explained that this special parish was set up in 1980 as a response to the changing socio-economic experiences of Travelling people.
The traditional ways of living and supporting their families particularly in rural Ireland were shrinking and more and more Travellers were forced to move towards the towns and cities.
“Sometimes they were welcomed [into churches] and sometimes they were not and so the Archbishop set up the Parish of the Travelling People to care for Travellers’ pastoral needs,” Fr. Paul explained. Sadly not much has changed.
“Racism and discrimination are alive and well in Ireland in 2022. Traveller men on average have a 15 year shorter life span and Traveller women an 11 year shorter life. There is a phrase ‘the brighter the light, the darker the shadow’. I think I’m more aware of human vulnerability, working in this parish. That is the shadow side. But the brighter side, is that when people live their vulnerability, their faith seems to be stronger. I’ve seen evidence of that.”
it is lovely to take a tour of the building and see symbols of Irish Traveller Culture reflected in the artwork. I’m treated to a lovely cup of tea and a scone and feel so moved by the prayer of blessing Fr Paul prays for me as I leave to continue my journey. Pauline tells me I’m a kind of “traveller” this week!
From Phibsborough, I walk down the north circular road to Praise Tabernacle Church - an international Apostolic / Pentecostal church led by Pastor Gerard Chimbganga from Zimbabwe. I had the privilege of interviewing Pastor Gerard during the Black Lives Matter protests but we have never met in person, doing so feels like greeting an old friend.
We can’t just watch
Pastor Gerard's church if very much a house of prayer for all nations - 12 nationalities meet to worship together each Sunday. And with strong links with the Ukraine, they are well advanced in responding to the influx of refugees. “God has really impressed on us the need to use our building to serve the Ukrainians here in north inner city Dublin,” he said. “We can’t just watch!”
He sees the need for Christians to open their hearts and eyes to the needs of the local community and respond to the opportunities God places in front of us rather than locking ourselves away and doing our own thing. “Before the pandemic we had planned to have a big event with a gospel choir. We gave out flyers in the local community but on the night nobody came. But then we realised why - the wife of one of our neighbours had died so everybody had gathered at the wake. We realised that our choir was not important and we decided to go to the family and offer our condolences. Since that day, we have good relationship with that whole family.”
I’m so encouraged and inspired by my time with Pastor Gerard but now I need to head back out of the city and on to my final appointment of the day. By the time I get back to the car, I’ve walked over 17,000 steps (13km).
Ancient and Modern
It is almost strange to climb back into the car after a day of walking and tram rides. Thankfully, it is only a short drive to Kildare - my very first visit to this town in 10 years of Finding Faith Tours.
At St. Brigid’s Cathedral, I meet deacon Philip McKinley who shows me around and shares some of the story of this site. The verger rings the bell as we enter and then treats us to a lovely cup of tea in cathedral cups!!
Next year, Ireland will celebrate St Brigid’s Day as a new national bank holiday and this presents a wonderful opportunity for the Cathedral to welcome new visitors and for Christian churches of all denominations to explore the legacy in St Brigid as a way to help connect people with the Gospel message.
As we explore this ancient site, Philip and I discuss how sometimes we need to look back in order to look forward, how we are shaped by our history and heritage. We wonder how we can create the balance between preserving our history and inviting people into a living faith in contemporary Ireland.
With a shared interest in faith and history, Philip and I chatted away until the dying light reminded us that my blog was waiting. Tomorrow is another day… but for now my pillow awaits!