Christmas 2020. For Mass online click "Mass Live" above.

                             St Finian's, Newcastle (photo Bridget Breen)

           Christmas Mass Times here. 

For Mass Times in St Finian's click on notice below and for Mass Live from there click HERE.

From contemplating a centuries-old Greek icon of the Nativity to helping our struggling neighbours in Dublin today: thanks to parishioners who helped Br Kevin's Centre for the Homeless. See Br Kevin's expression of thanks here.

Return to Public Mass (with Level 3 restrictions). For Mass online click "Mass Live" above.

Archbishop Éamon Martin offers us a reflection on Advent entitled Sharing Hope. 

 

Advent of the Heart : A Moment of Prayer with Mary

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saggart, Tuesday 1, 8, 15, 22 December, 11.30 am, with a meditation on Advent by Fr. Alfred Delp S.J. and a scriptural decade of the Rosary.

Contributions will be welcome at each event for Brother Kevin’s Penny Dinners, Church St. Confession will be available afterwards on each occasion.

For An End to the Coronavirus Pandemic : A Novena of Prayer

Church of the Holy Family, Rathcoole, Tuesday 8th to Wednesday 16th December, 5.15 pm, with the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget of Sweden.

Reopening of Churches

From Tuesday, 1st December, the country will  move from Level 5 to Level 3 of the government's Plan for Living with Covid 19.  Please read Archbishop Martin's Notice (pp.1-2), documents entitled Religious Services Guidance (p.3) and Religious Service Restrictions (p.4), as well as an appeal to contribute online this year to the annual Crosscare collection (p.5), all to be found here. A further letter-notice (2nd December) from the Archbishop can be read here.  The photo below (by Ronan McDermott (click to enlarge) shows 12 Mass in Rathcoole church on the first Sunday after reopening (6th December)

                  

Annual Mass for the Faithful Departed (Online this year)

            Designed by Ronan McDermott

 

  May our parish dead rest in peace 

in spe resurrectionis 

(in the hope of the Resurrection)

Saggart, Rathcoole, Brittas

Newcastle 

Where We Stand Now

Irish Times, 6 October 2020

"Services move online" -- so says the notice above (click to enlarge).  There are two ways to access the services: (1) follow the 3 steps in the diagram below or (2) go to www.churchservices.tv (here), and enter 'Saggart' in search box Find a Church on menu bar at the top of the page.

For some inspiring reading during these trying times have a look at Pope Francis's third encyclical published on Saturday 3rd October, Fratelli Tutti  (text here). For background reading see here.

Suspension of Public Masses : Notice from Archbishop Martin

FURTHER NOTICE CONCERNING THE PASTORAL SITUATION IN COUNTY DUBLIN UNDER CHANGED CORONAVIRUS NORMS

18 September 2020 – Evening

Confirmation has been received that, in the light of the very worrying increase in infection in the Dublin area, the entire County Dublin will be placed on Level 3 of the Government’s COVID-19 Resilience and National Recovery Plan, beginning at midnight tonight and for at least a three-week period.

The norms apply to all places of worship within County Dublin, including those of religious houses that are generally open to the public. They do not apply to the Churches of the Archdiocese of Dublin in Counties Wicklow, Wexford, Kildare and Laois.

 

Places of worship will have to remain closed from midnight tonight, except for private prayer, weddings and funerals. Attendance at wedding liturgies and funerals will be limited to 25.

Religious services can be transmitted online with no public presence. As was the case in the past, parishes should make known as soon as possible the times of the transmission of Masses online. Where an individual parish does not have the ability to transmit online, details of neighbouring parishes can be supplied. The Masses from the Pro-Cathedral are accessible on www.dublindiocese.ie and www.procathedral.ie

While online transmissions can play a vital role in reaching out to the sick and where it is not possible to hold public liturgies, we have to remember that no broadcast can replace personal participation with our brothers and sisters in the Eucharistic assembly that has the church building as its home. We must pray intensely that we will be able to return to public worship at the earliest possible date.

Confirmation and First Communion services (including those planned for tomorrow, Saturday) will therefore not be possible during this period and will have to be postponed. Permissions already granted to priests to celebrate Confirmations remain valid for a rescheduled date. Any celebration of these Sacraments - such as in schools or other places - constitutes public worship and is covered by this restriction and should not take place. I understand the concerns that this may bring to many families.

I am aware of the fact that these measures will be painful for many. The decisions are made to respond in the best possible way to an unforeseen and complex situation. The Holy See’s Congregation for Divine Worship in a recent letter, approved by Pope Francis, noted that restrictions should be limited in time and that as soon as circumstances permit it is urgent to return to the normality of Christian life. It also stressed unambiguously the gratitude of the Congregation to Bishops who “in listening to and collaborating with civil authorities and experts . . . have been prompt to make difficult and painful decisions even to the point of suspending the participation of the faithful in the celebration of the Eucharist for a long period”.

Today, we find ourselves sadly in that situation once again and we are called to make painful sacrifice for the common good. The Holy See’s Letter stresses that “Aware that God never abandons the humanity He has created, and that even in the hardest trials can bear fruits of grace, we [should accept] our distance from the Lord’s altar as a time of Eucharistic fasting, useful for us to rediscover its vital importance, beauty and immeasurable preciousness”.

I appeal to all to enter into this difficult period with that spirit. We must pray that we can soon return to the Eucharist “with a purified heart, with a renewed amazement, with an increased desire to meet the Lord, to be with him, to receive him and to bring him to our brothers and sisters with a life full of faith, love and hope.”

 

As you are aware the annual collection for Crosscare was planned to take place over this weekend. Please encourage people not to overlook this important collection. Donations can be made online at www.crosscare.ie

  + Diarmuid Martin

Paul Ferris's Ordination to Diaconate

The three deacons with Archbishop Martin

PHOTOS of Ordination ceremony, Saturday 29th August 2020.

Text of SERMON, Sunday 30th August.

Diaconate Ordinations Tomorrow by Live Streaming, 11 am

This may help viewers to follow the ceremony:  Liturgy for Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate (Saggart)

OR

with grateful acknowledgement to Brackenstown Parish, this booklet for the ordinations held in St Cronan's, Friday 28th August:

Liturgy for Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate (Brackenstown)

From Paul Ferris on His Diaconate Ordination

Forthcoming Ordinations of Paul Ferris, Frank Browne, John Graham, Michael O’ Connor, Victor Garvin, Declan Colgan and Declan Barry to the Permanent Diaconate.                    

Students receive the order of acolyte

This week Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will ordain seven candidates as Permanent Deacons.    I am delighted and blessed to be one of this number.  Due to the uncertain climate and the Covid 19 restrictions that we find ourselves in today, the Archbishop will ordain the seven candidates over three days in three different churches.  On Thursday 27^th August at 7.00 pm, he will ordain Michael O’ Connor and Victor Gavin in Aughrim Street Church.  On Friday 28^th August at 7.30 pm, he will ordain Declan Colgan and Declan Barry in the Church of St. Cronan, Brackenstown.  Finally, on Saturday 29^th August, he will ordain Frank Browne, John Graham, and myself in Saggart Church at 11.00 am. 

It would be lovely and uplifting to have a packed Church during these ordinations but, unfortunately, due to the Covid 19 restrictions, this is not possible.  In Saggart we are only permitted 100 people in the church, and so it is with great regret that attendance to the ordination is strictly reserved for family members and guests only.  However, people will be able to view all the ordinations live through each Church webcam. 

I would love to take this opportunity to invite everyone to join us on the webcam on our special day. I would particularly like to thank the priests and you the parishioners of the parish for all your help, prayers, and words of encouragement throughout my Diaconate journey. Please continue to keep us in your prayers throughout this coming week.

God bless you all.

Paul Ferris. 

Note:  See 'Ordination of Parishioner Paul Ferris' on left-hand side-bar giving background information on the Permanent Diaconate in Ireland.