Looking behind, first of all. The big event recently, of course, both nationally and locally, was the Eucharistic Congress. Parishioners who participated in the proceedings either in Dublin or here in the parish will, no doubt, retain a vivid memory of certain moments such as our own little Camino walk from Newcastle to Saggart, the lecture on the history of the parishes, and the various liturgical celebrations. The booklet that we brought out will also provide a lasting memory of the Congress as celebrated in our parish. Copies can be obtained by emailing donalmcmahon@eircom.net.
The schools are closed, the young people have been confirmed or have received their First Holy Communion. Another big event was the annual Cemetery Mass in the parish graveyards, always a very significant and moving occasion for everyone. The writer attended the Mass in Saggart graveyard on Sunday, July 1st. The people who worked so hard at cleaning up the graveyard over the course of the previous weeks deserve great praise.
The three-year term of office of the Parish Pastoral Council has concluded. New members will be most welcome on the new team to be formed in the autumn.
Which brings us to the theme of Looking Ahead. A parish is all about each person being made welcome as a valuable member of a community that comes together in a special way once a week. Each person has gifts that can build up that community and there are all sorts of ways in which these gifts can be offered. 'Something Beautiful for God' is an old phrase worth pausing over. Any act of kindness is one such beautiful thing, any contribution to the well-being of others. We do our best in this regard where we are, at home, at work, in the local community and parish. Let's go on doing that, then, and maybe think of doing more in new ways after the summer break.
