St. Brigid’s Parish, Killester
Parish Newsletter
February 2015
Dear Friends,
On Sunday the 1st of February, the feast of St. Brigid, Archbishop Martin will celebrate Mass
in our Church at 3 pm for all the Religious Priests, Sisters and Brothers of our Diocese. The Mass
is celebrating Pope Francis’ “Year of Consecrated Life”, which began on 1st Sunday of Advent
(30th Nov. 2014) and will end on The feast of the Presentation of Our Lord (2nd Feb. 2016). After
the Mass the Religious will visit the Pastoral Resource Centre for light refreshments. It goes
without saying that they are all most welcome. It is a token way of saying “Thank you” for all they
have done for us over the years through their Prayer, educational work, nursing etc. We are all
so indebted to them.
This month sees the beginning of Lent, with Ash Wednesday falling on the 18th of February,
a time of preparation and renewal for Easter. It is a graced opportunity for looking at the direction
of our lives and provides us all with an opportunity to re-focus on our Christian response to the
Lord and to each other. In olden days Christians saw this period as a time for fasting as a way of
preparing for the reception of the Holy Spirit and also a way of being able to help the poor with
money that would otherwise be spent on food. Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday to the Mass of
the Last Supper on Holy Thursday i.e. 44 days if Sundays be included and 38 if they are not.
You will find some suggestions from our bishops as to how we might fast during Lent (see page
2).
The debate concerning the possibility of Same - sex “marriage” being included in our Constitution is warming up. I have included a few facts you might find helpful and informative as an
aid to deciding how you might vote. Acknowledging real objective differences is not being discriminatory . It is simply stating the obvious. Redefining marriage has, I believe, serious consequences that could easily be overlooked, seeing that marriage is the single most important institution in any society.
Fr. Alex
Same-Sex “Marriage” – A Human Right?
In July 2014 the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Finland was
NOT in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights for Not allowing same-sex marriage. The
Court pointed out that the Convention actually emphasised the concept of marriage as being between
one man and one woman. It stated that there is no European consensus on the matter.
Only 11 of the member States out of 27 in the E.U allows same-sex marriage and only the same 11
of the 47 States of the Council of Europe. Only 20 of the 192 States of the U.N permit it.
In America, there have been 34 referendums on this topic and 2 in Europe. In 32 of these, those
who believe marriage is between a man and a woman have won, including the 2 European ones.
Were same-sex marriage to be introduced in Ireland by changing the definition of marriage as understood in our Constitution, further legislation would ensue, impinging on freedom of opinion and religious views. Our schools could no longer teach an understanding of marriage as being solely between a
man and a woman. That would be deemed discriminatory! Already in England and Northern Ireland,
Catholic adoption agencies have had to close down because they refused to give children for adoption to
same-sex pairs.
The issue is about what marriage is in itself. It is not about homosexuality or about equality. Only
the sexual union of a man and woman can give rise to a child. Only this relationship is procreative by its
nature, even if some men and women cannot have children. What is being proposed is that the word
marriage, which has never ever been used to describe a single sex relationship, be invested now with a
radically new meaning and imported into the basic structure of Irish society. To suggest that challenging
this is unreasonable, and that it is hurtful to gay people even to name it, does not address the question at
its heart.
Quotable quotes from Pope Francis
“The family is threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of
marriage by relativism, and by a lack of openness to life. These realities are increasingly under attack from
powerful forces which threaten to disfigure God’s plan of creation” (Manila, January 2015)
In response to a specific question on the birth rate in the Philippines Pope Francis replied:
“The key word is the one the Church always uses all the time and even I use it: it is responsible parenthood. God gives you methods to be responsible. Some think that, excuse me if I use that word, that in order to be good Catholics we have to be like rabbits. No! Responsible Parenthood! But let us also look at
the generosity of that father and mother that see a treasure in every child” (18th January 2015)
Did you know?
Currently there are 259 Dublin Diocesan Priests in active ministry and there are 199 Parishes.
In 10 years time they will be only 163 priests in active ministry! The breakdown reads as follows:
Age Profile
No. of Priests
Age Profile
No. of Priests
80+
4
55-59
31
75-79
14
50-54
43
70-74
44
45-49
20
65-69
44
40-44
13
60-64
44
35-39
2
Food for thought and action?
Cinderella and the Season of Lent
We all know the story of Cinderella. We have seen the Panto over the years. It tells the story of
a lovely young girl who suffers at the hands of a cruel stepmother and her daughters the “ugly sisters”.
Poor Cinderella, after a long and hard day’s work would curl up near the fireplace among the cinders
in an effort to keep warm. After, she would get up covered in cinders – hence the nickname Cinderella. But she was to be transformed and loved and live happily ever-after thanks to a glass slipper and
a handsome prince. Who would have thought that in this story we have a theology of Lent ?
We too begin Lent with ashes being placed on our foreheads. It is as though something deep
inside us knows that there are things in our life which are not quite right and we publicly acknowledge
this. We want to turn away from them. The words “Dust you are and unto dust you shall return” is a
solemn reminder that all things pass and some of our past we must not only let go of, but repent for.
We are in a penitential mode aiming to make a fresh start. Ashes, Dust, and Cinders have always
symbolised repentance and sorrow. In the New Testament people sat in “sackcloth and ashes” (Mt
11:26) as a symbol of mourning and repentance. They can also symbolise worthless ideas, plans and
dreams that come to nothing - to ashes or dust. Marked with the ashes we, like Cinderella, look forward to a brighter better future and through our Lenten efforts become more prepared to share in the
new life of Easter’s Paschal Mystery (i.e. Christ’s Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Glorification and
Coming of the Holy Spirit). As with Cinderella we too arise from the ashes like the phoenix to a beautiful new life of love where we will be happy ever after.
Forms of Friday penance
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The following are suggested as ways of fulfilling Friday penance:
Abstaining from meat or some other food;
Abstaining from alcoholic drink or smoking;
Making a special effort at involvement in family prayer;
Making a special effort to participate in Mass on Fridays;
Visiting the blessed Sacrament;
Making the Stations of the Cross;
Fasting from all food for a longer period than usual and perhaps giving what is saved to the needy;
Helping the poor, sick, old or lonely.
(from Bishops’ Conference, 2011)
Recently Deceased - please pray for the souls of:
Susan Thomas, Craigford Avenue
Terence Lennon, Brookwood Glen
Norah Jones, Killester Park
Rosaleen Howard, Craigford Drive
Baptisms—We are happy to welcome into our Catholic Community:
Aiveen Dumitrescou, Middle Third
Conor and Rachel Ardiff, Ardbeg Park
Grace, George and Isobel Wolff, Furry Park
Eucharistic Adoration
The theme for Thursday nights’ Adoration in February (7 to 8 pm) will be:
Prayers for couples whose marriages are in difficulties
Pastoral Centre News
The month of February begins on a high note with a new version of the
highly successful “Downturn Abbey”. It was very favourably received last
year and are all looking forward to it.
The Centre is in full swing. We were very happy to welcome back Fr. Dermot Leycock
and the Pastoral Council of Newtownpark Parish who hope to erect a somewhat similar Pastoral Resource Centre in the near future.
The Coffee Dock is open 7 days a week from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm. Volunteers to assist
are always welcome.
Our annual Pancake Tuesday takes place on 17th February. Please be sure to drop in..
We all look forward to seeing you.
Karol
St. Brigid’s Parish Shop
There is now in the Parish shop a large range of First Holy Communion and Confirmation
cards together with a wide range of rosary beads, prayer books, rosettes and other items
associated with these sacraments.
Also there is a selection of St. Patrick’s Day cards and rosettes,
Easter cards, Mass Bouquets and signed Mass cards.
We have also put in place at our Shrines, Prayer and Novena booklets for the different devotional
prayers and ceremonies taking place in the Church.
So why don’t you call into the shop and see for yourself the items for sale before you go anywhere
else. The shop is located at the car park side of the Church.
All proceeds go to Parish funds
Parish contact details:
Monsignor Alex Stenson, P.P. 126 Furry Park Road
01-833 3793
Fr. Brian Durnin, C.C.
12 Brookwod Grove
086-853 8628
Parish Office
01-833 2974
Parish email:
[email protected]
Parish Website: www.killester.dublindiocese.ie
Resource Centre Ph. 01-853 4030
email: [email protected]
This Newsletter can be viewed on the Parish Website.
Maths Classes
George Humphrey
St. Brigid’s Resource Centre
Every Wednesday Evening
17:00
18:15
19:30
20:45
-
18:00
19:15
20:45
22:00
STAFFORDS
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Funeral Directors
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“Ballet for Babies” – 31/2 – 5-yr. olds on
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Enquiries to Ann Coffey Tighe
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John Quill F.A.O.I. Ophthalmic Optician
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Phone 831 2558
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Mandy Stephenson BA (Honours)
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Scoil Rince Cill Easra
Adult Ceili Classes every Thurs
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Children’s Dancing Classes
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