Choosing a name for our Parish Partnership

From our Newsletter for Sunday 18th October

Throughout the diocese, parishes are being called to come together in new forms. Grouping, cluster, amalgamation of parishes are the way ahead for the diocese that is reduced in priests to service local areas. 

We are privileged that the parish of Saggart, Rathcoole, Brittas and the parish of Newcastle have been working together for many years. A shared Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Committee have been in place for a number of years showing a shared interest and cooperation between the ‘four districts’. We have been invited now by the diocese to discern a common name for our combined 'Parish Partnership', one that will have a resonance throughout the area.  

A number of matters are considered to be significant in relation to parish partnership patron names. Generally, a parish partnership name should: 1. have a unifying character, avoiding the name of any one parish/church in the partnership; 2. be appropriate to the partnership mission or connect with a tradition of faith in the area e.g. a local saint’s name or the name of a local monastery or well; 3. be discerned appropriately by people of all of the parishes in the partnership; 4. not be already in use by another parish partnership in the Archdiocese. 

One suggestion raised recently was “Mo Sacra” a saint from the 7th century who set up a monastery in what is currently Saggart cemetery. St Brigid’s Well in Rathcoole, St. Finian’s Well in Newcastle are other possible names. ‘Saggart’ was also a suggestion given. Have you any thoughts or suggestions on a name that could be used?

From the Lusk Parish newsletter for Sunday 18th October

We see here (or maybe better here!) that parishioners are being asked this weekend to rank in order of preference four names being proposed for the new "Parish Partnership" of Lusk, Rush and Skerries, i.e. to vote for their No.1! We get a real sense, then, of what the naming of a parish partnership is all about. It is, you will agree, a very important step and one that all parishioners should be informed about with a view to eventually stating their preference. This post (with more to follow) is meant to provide such information.