Making Donations Online

On 28 October 2020, the Diocese published its Annual Report and Financial Statements for the calendar year 2019.  Covid struck while the report was being prepared and hence it includes sections on how the internet was now being used not only for the streaming of Mass but also for the raising of money. Read the full report here.  Pages 9 and 22 discuss the subject of online payment. 

"Since the COVID-19 pandemic, through the concerted efforts of the Financial Development Office, over 80 Parishes have online Donate facilities on their parish websites as well as on the main Diocesan website. It is planned to roll out this facility to all remaining parishes by the end of 2020. Online giving is being encouraged as it is expected the traditional collection baskets will not be utilised for some time. The Charity [i.e. the Diocese] is very grateful for the online donations that it has received to date. A sustained communications effort is under way to raise awareness among parishioners of this new way of donating." (Annual Report, p.9)

Online donation, then, is now being offered here too as a way for parishioners to contribute to their parish. Payment in the traditional way by bank transfer is, of course, still very welcome. For the parishes' bank-account details see 'Parish Finances' on the left of this home-page.

And further changes may lie ahead. On p. 22 we learn that trials are being made on a new way of electronic payment to possibly replace the traditional collection basket:

"Tap and Go payment machines are being piloted in a number of parishes with the expectation that these machines will be rolled out to all parishes over the coming months to enable credit and debit-card donations for all collections."

Fr Colin Bids Farewell

At 11 am Mass in Saggart on Sunday, 1st August, Fr Colin told the congregation of his being assigned to Swords parish, with his first Mass there taking place on Saturday, 28th August.  We thank him for his three years' faithful service to our parish at a time when, due to the Covid pandemic, such service was never more appreciated. We wish him many happy years' service in St Colmcille's. 

Fr Colin's Address    To my great surprise, Archbishop Farrell has asked me to leave the parishes of Saggart, Rathcoole, Brittas and Newcastle, to begin a new ministry as Co-Parish Priest in the parish of Swords. I began my ministry here less than 3 years ago on the 15th of September 2018 and I will say my first Mass in Swords on the 28th August.

We have been told that a priest will be sent to replace me, but we await confirmation of this. No doubt he will find the same warm welcome and prayerful spirit as I enjoyed when I came. This is a community of deep faith. The prayerful atmosphere in our liturgies has been an inspiration. It has been my privilege, responsibility and joy to share with you our regular times of prayer as well as some of the most powerful moments of joy and sorrow in your lives, and to live the huge challenge of an unexpected global pandemic here with you. Half of my time here has been in time of lockdown. I want to sincerely thank you for your gestures of support during this time and especially for your prayers. Due to the very short duration of my time with you, and of course the pandemic restrictions, I will not be having a going-away event of any kind, but I will be giving a donation to charities in Dublin, Haiti and India in thanksgiving for my time here.