Directory of Migrant Led Churches & Chaplaincies
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It is estimated that there are now over 360 migrant-led churches and chaplaincies on the island of Ireland, which the All-Ireland Churches Consultative Meeting on Racism (AICCMR) and EMBRACE Northern Ireland, have highlighted in a new Directory.
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L-R: Dr Livingstone Thompson; Fr Irenaeus du Plessis; Dr Scott Boldt; Mrs Yvonne Naylor; Dr Alan Bruce at the Belfast launch
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The directory was launched by Fr Irenaeus du Plessis, Antiochian Orthodox Church at Edgehill Theological College on Friday 5th December 2008.
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A second launch took place in Dublin on Sunday 7th December with the Minister for Integration, Mr Conor Lenihan TD.
The directory highlights the diversity migrants are contributing to Christianity in Ireland, particularly through the Churches or Chaplaincies which have been set-up or are being run by migrants.
The directory, which is the first of its kind, was funded by the Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist and Church of Ireland; the AICCMR, as a sub-committee of the Inter-Church Committee on Social Issues, partnered with EMBRACE Northern Ireland to present a North/South perspective on this new phenomenon. The directory, which is for the interest of migrants, visitors to Ireland, media, community groups, Christian Churches and service providers is available as an interactive online resource (
www.irishchurches.org).
Minister for Integration, Conor Lenihan said at the Dublin launch, “Churches have a tremendous network of social and activity groups and have always been at the centre of our community life. They help define our values and contribute enormously to our sense of identity. Therefore I believe that Churches and faith communities are in a unique position to be able to influence and support the integration process at all levels”.
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