We welcome so many people into our centre across the year.

We couldn’t open the doors without volunteers, and we are so grateful to each person.

We are blessed with wonderful facilitators and workshop leaders who offer such diverse and creative events for all.

Its also very special that many community groups and organizations rent space in the centre for their planning, review or public events.   They offer us a great insight into the wider work of the community, and invite many into the centre for the first time.

This is what its all about – people. We are grateful.

A short video from Ben @ Alma Solutions – with aerial views of the centre

In Glasnevin, the beauty all around us helps us to be still and notice the beauty within. We are blessed with quiet and thriving grounds which can be walked by course participants, by a lovely biodiversity garden developed by the Holy Faith sisters, and by proximity to the Botanic Gardens and Glasnevin Cemetry. Here are some images from across the year

Each September, we open our gates on Culture Night and welcome a variety of experiences and events for people to enjoy. A walk of the ancient grounds might be followed by a lecture or choir, a story telling might lead into a chance to view the night sky from our balcony. All are welcome to join us as we celebrate our culture on this beautiful site in Glasnevin.

The Margaret Aylward Centre offers an annual program of events that aims to support faith and dialogue. You can see a sample of our previous programs in these short promotional videos used on social media over the years.

This day of dialogue and discussion was centered around an important and challenging issue, which has gained even greater significance as the Synodal process continues to unfold. The overarching objective was to envision a path beyond the current reality and to outline the “next steps” in the process of empowering women to assume positions of leadership and authority within the Church.

The event commenced with presentations from esteemed individuals such as Dr. Jessie Rogers, Baroness Nuala O’Loan, Dr. Tony Hanna, and Prof. Michael Conway. Following these presentations, a designated time was allotted for questions and comments from the attendees. As the afternoon unfolded, participants were provided with the opportunity to engage in discussions, share their ideas, and lend an ear to the perspectives of others. The aim was to collectively shape a vision of what could potentially be achieved, as well as to define the practical measures that can be taken to support this vision.

Beyond A Throwaway Culture:
Finding Good Eco-Questions for our Faith Communities – February 2020

“Human beings too are creatures of this world, enjoying a right to life and happiness and endowed with unique dignity. So we cannot fail to consider the effects on people’s lives of environmental deterioration, current models of development and the throwaway culture.”

“The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation.  … These days, they (the poorest people) are mentioned in international political and economic discussions, but one often has the impression that their problems are brought up as an afterthought, … when all is said and done, they frequently remain at the bottom of the pile. This is due partly to the fact that many professionals, opinion makers, communications media and centres of power, being located in affluent urban areas, are far removed from the poor, with little direct contact with their problems. … This lack of physical contact and encounter, encouraged at times by the disintegration of our cities, can lead to a numbing of conscience and to tendentious analyses which neglect parts of reality.

At times this attitude exists side by side with a “green” rhetoric.

Today, however, we have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”

From Laudato Si – Pope Francis letter to the world about Care for our Common Home.

Our question for this conference remains:

What is the role of a (faith) leader in reflecting on climate and social justice?

What are good questions for leaders to be asking of themselves

and of the world, on behalf of their (faith) communities?

A special conference, at the end of April 2018, invited participants to reflect on justice, empowerment and
empowerment through networking.  Brenda summed it up well when she expressed deep gratitude for Diarmuid’s input throughout the day, saying “You made it seem doable. You have given us a compass.

Margaret Aylward Centre for Faith Dialogue was opened and blessed in indifferent weather but bright spirits on St Brigid’s Day 1 February, 2014.  About eighty five guests filled the lower floor for the ceremony of prayer, reflection and blessing.

Diarmuid Martin, RC archbishop of Dublin officiated and the Rev. David Oxley represented Archbishop Jackson, the C of I Archbishop of Dublin.

Architect, Ralph Bingham of MOLA Architecture, enthralled the crowd with an explanation of his design concept for the building; a pavilion floating on the lawn. Archbishop Martin and Holy Faith Congregational Leader, Vivienne, struck a similar note in emphasizing the role of the Centre as a place of dialogue and interaction: dialogue between Christian denomination; different faiths but also the dialogue of ideas all needing the dialogue of hearts as both a pre-requisite and an outcome.

Many commented on how the architecture drew on the natural environment to express the Centre’s other role: a place of reflection and stillness for all.

This series is based on Fr Dermot Lane’s latest publication ‘Theology and Ecology in Dialogue’. The video is part of a book club at the Margaret Aylward Centre, Glasnevin in conjunction with Jane Mellett (Laudato Si and Trocaire); from August to October 2020.

This video series is a conversation rather than a conventional book club. Each week we will look at a particular theme, with some suggested reading from Donal’s latest book. If you can read these suggestions in advance, great. However, you can still enjoy the conversation if you cannot.

These fortnightly gatherings offered us a chance to reflect on topics that arose in the previous gathering. Not dependent on Donal’s book – the focus here was personal reflection and engagement. Some reading was available for chapters 3 and 4, contact info@macfd.ie for details.

Margaret Aylward Centre for Faith Dialogue was opened and blessed in indifferent weather but bright spirits on St Brigid’s Day 1 February, 2014.  About eighty five guests filled the lower floor for the ceremony of prayer, reflection and blessing.

Diarmuid Martin, RC archbishop of Dublin officiated and the Rev. David Oxley represented Archbishop Jackson, the C of I Archbishop of Dublin.

Architect, Ralph Bingham of MOLA Architecture, enthralled the crowd with an explanation of his design concept for the building; a pavilion floating on the lawn. Archbishop Martin and Holy Faith Congregational Leader, Vivienne, struck a similar note in emphasizing the role of the Centre as a place of dialogue and interaction: dialogue between Christian denomination; different faiths but also the dialogue of ideas all needing the dialogue of hearts as both a pre-requisite and an outcome.

Many commented on how the architecture drew on the natural environment to express the Centre’s other role: a place of reflection and stillness for all.