Happy Christmas

The photo above shows Saggart Church as seen from near the carpark in Citywest hotel. In our churches we are about to celebrate the very joyous occasion that is Christmas every year.  But last year and this one, we in Saggart couldn't and cannot but think also of all the Ukrainian refugees spending Christmas in our local hotel. They have been torn from their families, wives from husbands, children from their fathers, far away from their homes and living togther as best they can in one room. Not so long ago, before Covid and the war, this hotel was for us all here in Saggart somewhere to relax, celebrate, have a good time. In February 2020 it was buzzing with excitement as an election count centre. The following month, Covid struck and the hotel soon became a vaccination centre. Then in February 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine and the wave of refugees that followed spread as far as Ireland, with the Citywest Hotel becoming a refugee-reception centre and, later, a 'transit hub'.  All had changed utterly, yes indeed, and an unspeakable terror had been born. Whenever I bump into the elderly man I first met at the St Patrick's Day parade last year accompanied by his ever-so-brave wife pushing his wheelchair, I find I am simply lost for words. All I can do is say 'Hello' in Ukrainian, one of the very few words I know, as cheerily as I can. Thoughts like these cannot but stay with us through this festive season as will also the horror taking place at the moment in the land of Jesus's birth, another sad event threatening to drown out the joyous singing of the angels.

We wish each other, then, a Christmas as happy as can be in these circumstances. And there is  definitely something happy-making in this piece of news: we can convey a Christmas greeting to our Ukrainian guests at the same time as we do to each other, since we both, Ukrainian Orthodox and Irish Catholics, now celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.  And so:

Happy Christmas,   Nollaig Shona,
З Різдвом Христовим [z rizdvom khrystovym]

Mass Times for Christmas

Carol Service 17th December

Carol Service

Hosted by The Saggart Church Choir

On Sunday 17^th December, 2023 at 7:30pm

In The Church of The Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Saggart, Co. Dublin

Come along and help us celebrate the story of the Nativity in word and song. 

Our short service is approximately 45 minutes long and admission is free.  Great for all the family with lots of familiar carols to sing along with.  Enter into the festive spirit and wear your favourite Christmas jumper if you like.  Looking forward to seeing you!!

Remembering Parishioners Who Died This Year

Those who died in our parish over the past year (Oct. 2022 to Nov. 2023) were remembered at Mass in our three churches during this month. 

May He support us all day long, 
till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, 
and the busy world is hushed, 
and the fever of life is over,              
and our work is done.

Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, 
and a holy rest,
and peace at the last.   (St John Henry Newman)

The names of those who, we pray, have found 'safe lodging', 'holy rest' and 'peace at the last' are here.

General Assembly of Synod of Bishops, Rome, 4 October 2023

Further reading here and here.

Irish representatives at the Synod   Brendan Leahy (Bishop of Limerick), Alan McGuckian (Bishop of Raphoe) (below l. and r. respectively), Rev Professor Eamon Conway (priest of the Archdiocese of Tuam, serving as ‘Expert and Facilitator’), and Sister Patricia Murray IBVM (Executive Secretary of the International Union of Superiors General).

"As they left Ireland, Bishops Leahy and McGuckian reiterated that the Synodal Process is about conversion and, in light of Pope Francis’ comment that 'without prayer there will be no Synod', invited people of faith to pray to God over the coming weeks at daily and weekend Masses, at home, and in religious communities, for Pope Francis and for all members of the Synodal Assembly." (https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2023/09/27/irish-bishops-ask-for-prayers-ahead-of-attending-the-synod-on-synodality-in-rome/)

Oct. 5th: First meeting of Synod in Paul VI Hall   

Photo taken from Vatican News website

"The Holy Spirit," he said, "guides us by the hand and consoles us."  Read more of the Pope's address here.

And here you can read the "Instrumentum Laboris" for the Synod, presenting the programme for the entire month's proceedings.  

On Saturday 28th October the Synod came to a close with the publication of the Synthesis Report. You can read it here.

Finally, in a "Motu Proprio" published on the feast of All Saints (Nov. 1st), the Pope gave his views on how theology should be practised today. Pick out something for yourself from it here. This is what I picked: "Theology should prophesy the hope of an ultimate fulfilment [as cure] for the open wounds of humanity and creation" [Section 13]. 

A Catholic Cathedral for Dublin?

On the 22nd June Archbishop Farrell addressed a letter to the parishioners of St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough Street, stating "I believe that the archdiocese should have a formally designated cathedral and, on the other side of the Liffey, a significant church of basilica rank, which, between them, will develop the presence and outreach of the Church in our city". For the full text of this most significant letter, see here. You might like to 'drop in' to the Pro-Cathedral itself here.

On the same day Archbishop Farrell addressed the parishioners of St Andrew's, Westland Row on the same subject and in the same terms: see here.

Seán Keane 12.7.1946 - 7.5.2023

 

Sunday 24th April 2016: Commemoration of 1916, St Finian's Churchyard, Newcastle   Photo: Bridget Breen
 

Funeral Mass, St Mary's Saggart,  Thursday 18th May,       11. a.m.  (See 'Mass Live' on menu bar above.)

Ceol na bhFlaitheas go gcloise sé.  

Holy Week Ceremonies

 The timetable for the ceremonies can be found on the new parish website, www.srbnparishes.ie.  Just scroll down the page that this link opens on.  (Clicking on any of the place names on the signpost will not show this timetable.) 

For Ministers of the Word and of the Eucharist, Current and Future

World Day of Peace in a World at War

Pope Francis wrote a message for the 56th World Day of Peace, Sunday 1 January 2023.  It makes for interesting reading at a moment when the world is in such great turmoil. Pick out the parts that say something to you.  Here is what this writer picked out:

2.  Covid-19 plunged us into a dark night. It destabilized our daily lives, upset our plans and routines, and disrupted the apparent tranquillity of even the most affluent societies. It generated disorientation and suffering and caused the death of great numbers of our brothers and sisters.

Amid a whirlwind of unexpected challenges and facing a situation confusing even from a scientific standpoint, the world’s healthcare workers mobilized to relieve immense suffering and to seek possible remedies. At the same time, political authorities had to take measures to organize and manage efforts to respond to the emergency.

In addition to its physical aspects, Covid-19 led to a general malaise in many individuals and families; the long periods of isolation and the various restrictions on freedom contributed to this malaise, with significant long-term effects.