An international symposium on science and religion, hosted by University College, Cork and St Fin Barre's Cathedral begins next Friday and continues on Saturday. "Religion in a Scientific World" has been facilitated by the Templeton Foundation in association with the Ian Ramsey Centre, Oxford, and will be the first of its kind in Ireland.
Among the speakers will be Archbishop Joseph Zyeinsky (Catholic University of Lublin, Poland), Prof Philip Hefner (Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago), Prof Malcolm Jeeves (St Andrew's University), and Dr David Wilkinson (St John's College, Durham).
The symposium aims to promote discussion of the relationship between science and religion in contemporary Ireland. Participation is free but those who intend to be present should contact the Dean of Cork, Dr Michael Jackson (021-964742) or Ms Claire Butler, UCC (021-902465).
At the same time, in Mount St Joseph Abbey, the Roscrea Autumn Conference will be held on the theme of "The Cathedrals of Ireland".
Among the speakers, in a packed programme which runs from Friday to Sunday, will be Prof Roger Stalley (TCD), Dr Raymond Gillespie (NUI Maynooth) and Dr Alan Fletcher (UCD), all of whom are contributing to the forthcoming history of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
Tomorrow RTE will televise a Harvest Eucharist from the church of St John the Evangelist, Coolbanagher, where the rector is the Rev Olive Donohue.
The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, will preach at the Diocesan Renewal Service in Sheffield Cathedral; while in the Chapel of Trinity College Dublin, the preacher at the Sung Eucharist will be the theologian, Dr Margaret Daly Denton. In Christ Church Cathedral, the services will be sung by the Wesley College Choir, while in St Patrick's Cathedral the half-term choir will be Close Chorale.
On Monday the Archbishop of Armagh will be in London for a meeting in Lambeth Palace of the Primates of the Porvoo Churches.
The final lecture in the lunchtime series in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, will be given at 1.15 p.m. on Tuesday by the Dean of Christ Church, the Very Rev John Paterson, who will speak about "The Future of the Church".
In Wexford on Wednesday, the Ferns Diocesan Synod will be held and on Thursday the Cashel and Ossory Synod will take place in Kilkenny. In Dublin on Thursday, the preacher at the opening of the academic year service in the Chapel of Trinity College will be the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt Rev Harold Miller.
At lunchtime in St Thomas's church, Cathal Brugha Street, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, will be the speaker in the "I Believe . . ." series; while in the evening, in Trinity College, Dr Denis Carroll will give the "Theology at the Turn of the Millennium" lecture on the topic, "Towards a Communal Ethic for Ireland 2000".
As part of the Christ Church History Project, the Cathedral Choir has recorded Sing O Ye Heavens; Historic Anthems from Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, which will be released in November. The recording is accompanied by an extensive introduction which has been written by Dr Barra Boydell (NUI Maynooth).
The CD is available at a special pre-release price of £9.99 until November 10th, after which it will be £14.99. Order forms may be had from Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin 8 (01677 8099).