Fr. Aidan Kieran, the editor, is delighted to announce the launch of ‘Junction 4’ our new combined Newsletter. 

It serves our two parishes, Saggart and Newcastle. We hope you like it. It is another example of the growing co-operation between our two parishes. It means that people throughout the two parishes (and they are two BIG parishes!) will be able to keep up with events across the whole district. It also means it will be possible for parishioners to advertise events and issue news across the two parishes in just one publication. The deadline for items to be included in the newsletter is 1pm on Friday. See notice below about how to make sure notices can be included

Dawn Chorus - May 29th 29th May 2011, Dawn chorus with 10am Mass Choir and Active Retirement . 7am Rathcoole Park, celebrating Bealtaine Festival

Niall Mellon Township Trust Fundraising Event Michelle Lawless, Pairc Mhuire. Saggart, is holding a fundraiser on the 7th of June next in Harolds Cross race track to raise funds for the Niall Melllon project. She is going for a week with the project in November to build houses in South Africa. The tickets are €10 each which is your entry in to the night and if you would like to support and are not able to go to Harolds cross you are in a draw for €1,000 on the night. Michelle’s number is 087 7599270.

 Newcastle Cemetery Masses At this time, we can confirm the following dates and times for cemetery Masses:

Newcastle (Ballynakelly) Sunday 12th June               3.30pm

Colmanstown                      Tuesday 14th June              7.30pm

Brownstown                                         Saturday 25th June             2.00pm

St. Finian’s Churchyard   Sunday 3rd July   10.30am               

 First Communion and Confirmation Congratulations Congratulations to the children and young people in our parish communities who have recently celebrated First Communion and Confirmation. We hope you had a very special day as you took this important step on your faith journey. Congratulations also to your parents, for whom these days are also very significant. The sacraments were celebrated as follows:

St. Martin’s NS Brittas                        First Communion                Sunday 8 May     Saggart

St. Mary’s Saggart and St. Martin’s Confirmation       Tuesday 10 May Saggart

Holy Family NS Rathcoole                               Confirmation                       Wednesday 11 May           Rathcoole

Scoil Chrónáin Rath Cúil                   Cóineartú                              Déardaoin 12 Bealt.            Tamhlacht

Scoil Chrónáin Rath Cúil                   Céad Comaoineach            Sathairn 14 Bealt.               Rath Cúil

On Tuesday 17th May, the 6th Class boys and girls of St. Finian’s NS Newcastle will celebrate their Ceremony of Light in St. Finian’s Church, Newcastle. Good luck to you all. 

Congratulations

Our congratulations go to all the young people who are receiving First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation during the month of May.

Prayer for Young People

Lord, lead me along the path of your love and keep me faithful to the journey I make.
With the fire of your Spirit illumine the road I travel and help me up when I stumble and fall.
With your Word of truth make me a faithful pilgrim and help me to choose what is right and just and true.
From your heart of love give me the grace I need to love my fellow pilgrims and to share with them your peace.
With the power of your cross teach me to pour out myself in service of the poor, that my life might be filled with your love.
From the table of your Word and your Body and Blood, nourish me with food that gives life.
Lead my steps safely along your path and gather me in with all your sons and daughters, together with our Holy Father, and all who make their way to you and the life you promise.
Grant this and all good things through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

See http://www.usccb.org/laity/youth/wydprayers.shtml

Good Shepherd Sunday

Next Sunday 15th of May is Vocations Sunday.  Vocations Sunday provides us with an opportunityto recognise in a very special way our own unique calling as sons and daughtersof God.  On this day we recognise the sacredness and giftedness of everymember of our Catholic Family.  Vocations Sunday is a call toall of us to use the many gifts and talents that we have to build up the kingdom of God.  God dependson our uniqueness to build a unique Kingdom. As we recall our own baptismal calling as disciples of the Lord we also unite our prayers with the Church throughout the world in praying for vocations to the priesthood and religiouslife.  In his message for Vocations Sunday Pope Benedict calls us to keep alive the challenging and uplifting invitation of Christespecially to our young people to follow him and contemplate entering into Hisservice as priest, sister or religious brother. 

More information and resources for Vocations can be obtained at: http://vocations.dublindiocese.ie/news/index.html