Saturday 21 December 2013

Christmas Mass Times


Christmas Mass Times
Saggart, Rathcoole, Brittas and Newcastle
Christmas Eve

Saggart:          5.00 & 9.00pm.               
Rathcoole:      6.00 & 10.00pm.

Brittas:            8.00pm                           
Newcastle:      5.30 & 8.00pm.


Christmas Day

Saggart:         9.00 & 11.30am.            
Rathcoole:    10.00am & 12 Noon

Brittas:          10.30am                          
Newcastle:    9.30 & 11.00am

Junction 4 - 22nd December 2013

Follow the link below to view Junction 4, the parish newsletter for 22nd December 2013.

Junction 4 - 22nd December 2013

Junction 4 December 15th 2013

Follow the link below to view Junction 4, the parish newsletter for December 15th 2013

Junction 4 - 15th December 2013

Wednesday 11 December 2013

                   In Your Local Shops Now!


Here is the cover of the book published to mark the bicentenary of St Finian's, Newcastle. A year in the making and compiled by a very active committee headed by Bridget Breen, it was launched in St Finian's Community Hall on Thursday 5th. It contains 254 pages about the church and the locality, covering a wide range of topics -- religious, historical, educational and cultural. Coffee-table-book in size and in richness of pictorial illustration it may be, but it will surely be pored over on all sorts of tables (hopefully not also 'poured' over by the over-engrossed reader!). Fr Pat Egan SDB deserves great credit for the high quality of the layout and printing. It costs 10 Euro, a very reasonable price for such a fine production.

 

Saggart residents will be interested in the article on the person who was responsible for the building of St Finian's, Fr Andrew Hart, P.P. of the 'United Parishes' from 1812 until his death in 1815. He is buried in St Mary's, below that fine effigy we all know so well. This book offers Saggart parishioners the opportunity to get to know the man they see, spiritually, every Sunday.


Another memorable occasion in the annals of our two parishes took place on Sunday, 1st December, when Rathcoole parishioners celebrated the 25th anniversary of the church of the Holy Family.

Celebrations all round, then, in the parishes at the end of the (liturgical) year.

See also the Newsletter 8.12.13

Tuesday 3 December 2013

               Newsletter, 1 December 2013

The Newsletter for the first Sunday of the new liturgical year (the first Sunday of Advent) can be read at 1.12.2013

On that day Rathcoole church celebrated the silver jubilee of its foundation. Bishop Eamonn Walsh said Mass at 12, and afterwards blessed the new church bell, set between two newly built pillars at the left of the entrance. But this, in fact, is not a 'new' bell at all, since originally it hung in the church in the Johnstown Kennedy estate, near Rathcoole. When the church was no longer in use, the bell was given into the care of Pat Corcoran, who thought it might be installed as a bell for the church of the Holy Family. This is what has now come to pass, thanks to members of the Parish Pastoral Council. And the name above the door looks lovely too!

This Thursday (see Newsletter) will see the final and culminating events marking the bicentenary of St Finian's, Newcastle: the unveiling in the church of a plaque donated by the Church of Ireland parishioners, the launch of a CD by St Finian's NS, and the launch of a book on the history of the church and its locality.

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Launch of Bicentenary Book,  5th December

Read the Newsletter for 24 November for information about the big evening to be held in St Finian's Hall, Newcastle, to launch the publication of a book on the history of St Finian's church. This occasion brings the sequence of events organised to celebrate what has been a truly memorable year to a fitting conclusion.  (Re Newsletter, please wait a few seconds for it to download. Use button at top-left on screen to return to this site.)

The Church of the Holy Family, Rathcoole, celebrated the 25th year of its history this year and a Mass to mark the occasion will take place on Sunday, 1st December (see the same Newsletter).

As for Saggart church, great things are in store for it too. We will deal with these in an upcoming post. 


Saturday 19 October 2013

                    Visiting Historic Sites in Newcastle
                              Sunday October 20th

The following sites will be open from 2 to 4 pm as part of the celebrations to mark the bicentenary of St Finian's. Starting from St Finian's, it is possible to visit some or all of the sites out as far as the furthest, Colmanstown Cemetery, to which a lift can be provided. A person from the Bicentenary Book Committee will provide a commentary at each site.

St Finian’s Catholic Church
1825 National School
St Finian’s Church of Ireland
St Finian’s Well
Site of Penal Mass House in Athgoe
Athgoe Castle
Colmanstown Cemetery

Parking is available at Woodlands Health Centre (Newcastle House) for St Finian’s Well. Parking along the avenue to Athgoe Castle, and parking in Nolan’s farmyard for Colmanstown Cemetery. There is limited parking in the Highdowhill  cul-de-sac for the site of the Mass house.

Saturday 24 August 2013

           Other Church Bicentenaries in 2013

Besides our own St Finian's, there are a number of other churches in Ireland celebrating their bicentenary this year. The Church of the Assumption, Booterstown, and St Manman's Church, Clonaslee, Co. Laois, are two examples. The first held its bicentenary Mass a week after we did, on the 23rd June, Archbishop Martin officiating on both occasions, while the second held its Mass, broadcast live on RTE television, on the 21st July. You will notice that St Manman's website carries bicentennial birthday greetings from us.  Other churches recorded as being built/ founded/dedicated in 2013 are : the former church of St Michael and St John, Essex Quay, Dublin (some of whose seats, in a nice coincidence, have ended up in our parish church of St Mary's, Saggart), St  Joseph's, Moneygall (of Obama fame), and St Mary's, Westport. Nearer home, Christ Church in Celbridge was built around 1813 also.

Tomorrow, Sunday 25th August, we welcome back our former parish priest, now Rector of the Irish College, Rome, Fr Ciaran O'Carroll, who is celebrating Mass in St Finian's. A church historian himself, he will, I'm sure, appreciate being with us tomorrow to celebrate our bicentenary.

As well as the video below taken (as is only too obvious) with hand-held camera after the bicentenary Mass in St Finian's, you can see some nice photos of the occasion in The Irish Catholic on the 20th June.

Monday 8 July 2013

St Finian's Bicentenary Mass

Sunday 16 June 2013 

 

    

    The text of Archbishop Martin's sermon for the Mass can be 

    read here.

Saturday 15 June 2013

St Finian's, Newcastle: Bicentenary Mass 

                         Sunday, 16 June 2013, 3 p.m.  

        Chief Celebrant: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin


On Monday, 5th July 1813, the foundation stone of the church of St Finian, Newcastle Lyons, was blessed and laid, an event that was reported in the Freeman's Journal on the 14th. A 'considerable concourse of the people', it said, was present to witness the blessing of the stone for the 'new chapel', carried out by the Rev. Andrew Hart, parish priest of the 'united parishes of Saggart, Rathcoole and Newcastle'. This was followed by the laying of the stone 'with the usual solemnity’ by Valentine Lawless, second Lord Cloncurry. 

A photo of this page will be brought up as part of the Offertory procession at tomorrow's Mass. After Mass, the blessing of a commemorative stone will take place. You are very welcome to attend and so be part of the concourse of the parishioners of today, all of two hundred years later.

You can see the date in Roman numerals at the bottom of the plaque high up above the front door of the church, under the vent, as seen in the photo below. 


The lettering is:   DEO    OPT    MAX /  sub invocatione /
SANCTI  FINIAN  / A. D.  MDCCCXIII. (To God, the Best and the Greatest, in the name of St Finian,  AD 1813)

Sunday 12 May 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for April 28th 2013 is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this edition of Junction 4.

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Junction 4 - Parish Newsletter - 5th May 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for May 5th 2013 is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this edition of Junction 4.

Junction 4 - May 5th 2013

Saturday 27 April 2013

Junction 4 - Parish Newsletter - Sunday 28th April 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for April 28th 2013 is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this edition of Junction 4.

Junction 4 - April 28th 2013

Saturday 20 April 2013

Junction 4 - Parish Newsletter - April 21st 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for April 21st 2013 (Vocations Sunday) is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this edition of Junction 4.

Junction 4 - April 21st 2013

Junction 4 - Parish Newsletter - April 14th 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for April 14th 2013 is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this edition of Junction 4.

Junction 4 - 14th April 2013

Thursday 11 April 2013

Junction 4 - Parish Newsletter - March 31st and April 7th 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for March 31st 2013 (Easter Sunday) and April 7th 2013 (Divine Mercy Sunday) is now available online. Please follow the links below to view these editions of Junction 4.

Junction 4 - 31st March 2013 (Easter Sunday)

Junction 4 - 7th April 2013 (Divine Mercy Sunday)

Thursday 28 March 2013

Holy Week Timetable 2013

Please find a link below to a list of the Holy Week Ceremonies in Saggart, Rathcoole, Brittas and Newcastle. Brittas and Newcastle are to be found on Page 2. Follow the link below to view the Holy Week Timetable.

Holy Week Timetable 2013 Saggart - Rathcoole - Brittas - Newcastle

Junction 4 - Parish Newsletter - 24th March 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for 24th March 2013 is now available online.

This newsletter includes the times of our Holy Week Ceremonies.

Please follow the link below to view this week's parish newsletter.

Junction 4 - 24th March 2013

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Junction 4 - 24th February 2013 - Parish Newsletter

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for 24th February 2013 is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this week's parish newsletter.

Junction 4 - 24th February 2013

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Junction 4 - 17th February 2013 - Parish Newsletter

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for 17th February 2013 is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this week's parish newsletter.

Junction 4 - 17th February 2013

Saturday 9 February 2013

Junction 4 - Parish Newsletter - 10th February 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for 10th February 2013 is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this week's parish newsletter.

Junction 4 - 10th February 2013

Saturday 2 February 2013

                       

                 MDCCCXIII  -  MMXIII

                             1813  -  2013                        

       Bicentenary of St Finian's, Newcastle

      and  25th of Holy Family, Rathcoole

 

Fr Andrew Hart






This is a big year for two of the churches in our United Parishes.

The figure on the left is well known to all who attend St Mary's, and we will come to a renewed appreciation of him this year. Fr Andrew Hart was appointed in 1812 Parish Priest in what was then called The United Parishes of Saggart, Rathcoole and Newcastle (a nice title, is it not?). He it was who laid the foundation stone for St Finian's in July 1813. Unfortunately, he probably didn't live to see the church completed, since he died at the very early age of 30 in 1815. So all eyes will be on St Finian's this year, and we in St Mary's will feel part of it too, thanks to this lovely monument to Fr Hart.

Meanwhile, the good people of Rathcoole will be celebrating the silver anniversary of their lovely modern church. Two big local events, then, well timed for this Year of Faith.

The second photo is of the front of St Finian's, showing the date in Roman numerals and the dedication (in Latin) to St Finian. Click on the photo to see the MDCCCXIII more clearly.
Above the Entrance to St Finian's

Saturday 12 January 2013

Junction 4 - Parish Newsletter - 13th January 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for 13th January 2013, the Feast of the Lord's Baptism, is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this week's parish newsletter.

Junction 4 - 13th January 2013

Saturday 5 January 2013

Junction 4 - Parish Newsletter - January 6th 2013

The Parish Newsletter, Junction 4, for 6th January 2013, the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, is now available online. Please follow the link below to view this week's parish newsletter.

Junction 4 - 6th January 2013