Irish School of Ecumenics
The Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE) is an institute of Trinity College Dublin, dedicated to the study and promotion of peace and reconciliation in Ireland and throughout the world. The school is located in Dublin and Belfast, and consists of eight permanent full-time academic staff, visiting academic staff, postdoctoral fellows, and administrative staff. ISE has 82 M.Phil. students and 39 Ph.D. and M.Litt. research students.[1]
History
The Irish School of Ecumenics was co-founded in 1970 by Father
Father Hurley and the establishment of the Irish School of Ecumenics were strongly opposed by the then
Diocesan archival documents released in the 2000s revealed that Father Hurley and the school caused Archbishop McQuaid "anguish." Archbishop McQuaid, a deeply conservative Catholic, responded by banning Father Hurley from speaking within his "sphere of jurisdiction," meaning the Archbishop of Dublin. However, McQuaid reneged on the ban following the intervention by Fr Cecil McGarry, Dublin's Jesuit provincial (and previously Rector of Milltown), on Hurley's behalf.[3]
From 1972 the University of Hull (and supported by Prof. Anthony Hanson of its Dept. of Theology) validated some programmes e.g. MA in Ecumenical Theology, for the ISE,[5] this continued until 1982 when Trinity College Dublin accredited these qualifications (as the National University of Ireland had been prohibited from awarding theology degrees).
Archbishop McQuaid died in 1973. He was succeeded by Archbishop Dermot Ryan, who remained displeased by the activities of the School of Ecumenics and Father Hurley. Father Hurley stepped down as the director in 1980 saying, "towards the end of the school’s first decade it seemed best to remove myself from the scene."[3] The relationship between Irish School of Ecumenics and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin slowly began to improve.[3]
Hurley's directorship would be succeeded by the Irish Presbyterian theologian Robin Boyd, from 1980 to 1987, who was formerly a missionary to India and active in interfaith dialogue.[6]
From the 1980s, Brian Lennon SJ and later Declan Deane SJ, based in Portadown
Cardinal
In 2008 the ISE purchased the Columbanus Centre on the Antrim Road, which became the ISE Belfast base.[9]
In 2001 the ISE became formally integrated into Trinity College, in 2016, the ISE moved from the Jesuit Milltown Park to Trinity College Dublins Campus.[10]
Present
The Irish School of Ecumenics has eight full-time staff members. The Dublin location of the ISE is on the campus of Trinity College Dublin as a part of the new Loyola Institute. The Belfast location of ISE is in north Belfast in its own building. The Irish School of Ecumenics along with the Loyola Institute, which will have six full-time staff members, will compose a centre with common interests in the study of theology, peace, & reconciliation.
Notable people
- Directors[11]
- 1960–1980: Fr Michael Hurley SJ
- 1980–1987: Dr Robin Boyd
- 1987–1990: Dr John D'Arcy May[12]
- 1990–1994: Rev Alan Falconer
- 1994–1999: Sr Geraldine Smyth OP[13]
- 1999–2004: Bishop Kenneth Kearon
- 2005: John May
- 2006–2010: Prof Linda Hogan
References
- ^ "Irish School of Ecumenics". Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ The Irish Jesuits under Cecil McGarry SJ Jesuits in Ireland (jesuits.ie)
- ^ Irish Times. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ^ RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ^ Canterbury Cousins: The Eucharist in Contemporary Anglican Theology, by Owen F. Cummings, Paulist Press, 2007.
- ^ Rafferty, Oliver P. (23 April 2008). "The Irish School of Ecumenics (1970-2007): 'Floreat ut Pereat". Thinking Faith: The online journal of the Jesuits in Britain. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ Remembering Paddy Doyle SJ By Robin Boyd, Paddy Doyle and the ISE, Jesuits in Ireland.
- ^ Evening courses offered on theme of reconciliation Irish Times, September 17, 1996.
- ^ North Belfast christian centre being sold off By Alf McCreary and Gary Meneely, Belfast Telegraph, July 4, 2008.
- ^ Higher Education Review (Foreign Providers) of Irish School of Ecumenics (Trinity College Dublin) at Belfast, (UK) Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), May 2021.
- ^ "The Irish School of Ecumenics (1970-2007): 'Like wheat that springs up green'". Catholicireland.net. 30 November 1999. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "John D'Arcy May". Irish School of Ecumenics. Trinity College Dublin. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Geraldine Smyth". Irish School of Ecumenics. Trinity College Dublin. Retrieved 1 August 2021.