Pew Sheet – 18th January 2026
The Rector writes ‘I know that I have often mentioned the wonderful American Franciscan Priest Fr Richard Rohr in my sermons. He set up a group called CAC – ‘Centre for Action and Contemplation’ nearly 40 years ago.
CAC introduces Christian contemplative wisdom and practices that support transformation and inspire loving action. I really love this. Not just Contemplation, not just Action, but the two of them together. I have written more about the group inside this Pewsheet and I would heartily recommend signing up for the daily or weekly summary free emails. As an example, this morning (14th) I was reading on the email about the interconnectedness of all creation, the writer today was Cherokee theologian and CAC guest faculty member Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley who was talking about how creation’s goodness includes diversity, balance, and harmony: ’ and when God is finished with creation there is a pause on the seventh day. Not a pause as if to look back and second-guess, but an intentional pause to celebrate the way it is. The Aboriginal Rainbow Elders in Australia say the Creator sang on the seventh day.’ Wasn’t that amazing! God singing on the final day of Creation!
As I said, I find the daily musings from CAC to be both nurturing and motivating and indeed comforting in this troubled crazy world. Have a look at the website CAC.ORG or just give me a shout and I can send on the email connection to you.’
At the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC), we believe that transformation begins with learning to see and love the world as it is. Through everyday Christian contemplative wisdom and practices, we support those seeking healing—within themselves and in the world around them.
Founded by Richard Rohr in 1987, our work is rooted in a long tradition of Christian contemplation but
presented in ways that meet people where they are today. Whether through teachings, practices, or
community engagement, our goal is to help people live out this wisdom in practical ways—so that they
become instruments of love, peacemaking, and
positive change in the world.
“There is a deep relationship between the
inner revolution of prayer and the transformation of social structures and social consciousness.
Our hope lies in the fact that meditation is going to change the society that we live in, just as it has changed us.”
—RICHARD ROHR, CAC FOUNDER
For more details, check out the website
Music Notes 18-01-2026
Hymns at St Mary’s
125 Hail to the Lord’s anointes
295 Come gracious Spirit
80 Great is thy faithfulness
712 Tell out my soul
Samuel Sebastian Wesley, composer of our psalm tone today, was grandson of the famous hymn writer Charles Wesley, and like his father Samuel he was both an an organist and a composer. He was appointed organist at Winchester Cathedral in 1849. He brought brilliance and chaos in almost equal measure to every post he held, and Winchester was no exception.
A musician of extraordinary talent, he was also famously unpredictable, often exasperating the very cathedral authorities who relied on him.
His sharp tongue, fierce opinions, and refusal to tolerate low musical standards made him both admired and feared. Wesley’s pamphlet railing against the poor state of cathedral music—written while recovering from a fishing?related injury—captures his fiery temperament perfectly.
Another legacy of his at Winchester Cathedral was a change he made to the organ loft stairs in 1851 which allowed him to arrive late for services without the congregation seeing him – he often got so absorbed in fly-fishing that he became unaware of time passing!
He was a man who cared deeply about music, but not always about diplomacy, and his uncompromising personality left a trail of both musical excellence and clerical frustration behind him.
As I mentioned last week, I am offering free introductory lessons in organ playing for the next six months. All are welcome – any stage of life, musical knowledge, or just plain curiosity!
I have loved my time studying organ with teachers here in Cork and with teachers of the Royal College of Organists in London and really want to share the joy of playing this wonderful instrument.
087 228 5965
January
Wednesday 21st
Mothers’ Union 3pm. Speaker: Jonathan Fleury on his Visit to Australia. Refreshments as always.
All welcome
Saturday 24th
Whist Night in Canon McCrea Hall 8pm
February
Sunday 1st
3:30pm Confirmation Service St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Saturday 7th
7:30pm Heavenly Cocktail Evening Parish Hall
Monday 23rd
7:30 to 8pm Vestry Register Open Parish Hall
Saturday 7th February
Heavenly Cocktail Evening with the Rector Fundraiser in the Parish Hall.
Tickets are €25 and places are limited, please contact Brenda Haubold
087-6976552 to book a place.
DIOCESAN MAGAZINE:
If anyone would like to subscribe to the diocesan magazine please let Rowland Newenham know.
Subscription for 2026 is €35, or €30 for an online emailed pdf copy.
You may hand your subscription to the churchwardens,
you may post your subscription to
Rowland Newenham, Cooleens, Church Road,
Carrigaline P43 FR88,
you may pay by Revolut @rowlandnewenham,
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Random Notes DXV
Close to the village of Eyrecourt in the east of county Galway stand the fragmentary ruins of Eyrecourt Castle, the once great seat of the family of Eyre, built in the 1660’s, and dismantled in 1927. An extremely important and early house, and a rare survivor of its period, its loss to the architectural heritage of Ireland is considerable.
The wonderfully lavish staircase was purchased at the time of the dismantling of the house by the well known collector of architectural items, William Randolph Hearst, but by him was never used, and today languishes, a long way from home, in the Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan. The ninety-eight beautifully carved consoles that supported the eaves at the front and both sides of the house have over the years fallen off, and subsequently been removed by people interested in such things; a number were used in the library of Prehen near Derry, the remainder are scattered.
Illustrated herewith are a few views of the house, both in its heyday and more recently, (c.1950, 1982, and 2014), together with an envelope addressed to the house in 1892. and an escutcheon removed from the remnants of the inside of the hall door on Monday, 16th April, 1979.
K.L.R.
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