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‘Encouraging creativity’ during Holy Week
The centre point of Holy Week in the Church of Ireland Theological Insititute this year was the Community Eucharist, which was celebrated in the context of a Passover meal on the Wednesday.
Holy Week was a shared experience this year for the staff and students at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute – thanks to the variations in the academic calendar in Trinity College Dublin.
The Seder meal was organised by Year I student Abigail Sines (Connor), and Canon Patrick Comerford, Lecturer in Anglicanism and Liturgy, presided at the Eucharist.
“This was a first for the Institute and was greatly appreciated,” said the Revd Paddy McGlinchey, whose his tutorial group organised the community’s worship for Holy Week.
On the morning of Maundy Thursday, two Year II students, Rod Smyth (Down and Dromore) and Caroline Farrar (Dublin and Glendalough) organised a service with foot washing, when the feet of staff members and students were washed by the Director of the Church of Ireland Theological |Institute, the Revd Dr Maurice Elliott.
Patrick Comerford also took part in the Chrism Eucharist in Christ Church Cathedral on Maundy Thursday. Later that day, the Revd Paddy McGlinchey presided at the Maundy Eucharist in the institute chapel.
Throughout Holy Week, the staff common room at the institute was decorated creatively in the style of a “24/7 Prayer Room” and served in new and novel ways throughout the week as a private oasis for prayer and reflection.
On one evening, a special ‘All–Age’ service was held in the style of a “pioneer church plant,” exploring the message of Easter and how it could be communicated to a largely un–churched audience.
Reflecting on his experiences of Holy Week, Paddy McGlinchey said: “Student participation in the leading of this week was especially encouraging, given the fantastic creativity which emerged as our community reflected on all that our risen Saviour had done for us.”