Fr. Brian D'Arcy
Pic: John McVitty
An initiative to offer people an alternative to the hype of the so-called ‘Black Friday’ shopping frenzy is gaining momentum with well-known priest Fr Brian D’Arcy throwing his weight behind it and a Cork parish adjacent to a shopping centre coming on board.
The brainchild of spirituality publisher Columba Press, Bright Friday will see musicians, poets and mindfulness practitioners hold a day of calm and reflection in opposition to the increasing dominance of ‘Black Friday’, November 24.
Fr Brian D’Arcy will now join mindfulness practitioners such as Sr Stan Kennedy and Daniel O’Leary as well as monks from Glenstal Abbey and a growing number of musicians and poets who have already signed up to attend the free event in University Church, St Stephen’s Green, in the heart of Dublin city on a day which retailers hope will kick-off the busy Christmas spending spree.
Meanwhile, Cork-based Fr Michael O’Leary, whose parish is adjacent to Wilton shopping centre is planning to run the same initiative in his church on the day.
In the United States, ‘Black Friday’ is traditionally the day after the Thanksgiving holiday when many retailers offer incentives to shoppers. Despite the fact that Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Ireland, ‘Black Friday’ is now a ubiquitous day on the Irish shopping calendar.
Columba Press is asking for more musicians and mindfulness teachers to join the event or if unable to do so, to consider having a ‘Bright Friday’ in your own local community.
For more details contact garry@columba.ie.