Enjoying a Summer Day Out

The above photo shows the church of St Finian's from a novel angle, i.e. the rear garden of the Glebe house next door.  It was taken during a lovely day out on Sunday 13th July, organised by the group ReNewcastle and the Catholic and Church of Ireland parishes of Newcastle. 'An Hour in the Old Glebe' gave long-time residents of Saggart, Rathcoole and maybe even of Newcastle itself a golden opportunity to visit a house they had for years passed by without ever seeing inside. Thanks to the owner, Mr Frank Kerins, and his wife and family, that dream was finally realised and, as a consequence, everyone's appreciation of the history of Newcastle wonderfully enriched. Among a host of interesting facts learned was this: building on the extension to the Glebe took place in 1813, at the very time, then, of a major building project going on down the road on the new Catholic church.

And on that very subject, a major project is taking place in Saggart right now, the building of the new St Mary's National School. A glance up the lane by the parochial house (or rather 'road' now, it is so busy) tells the passer-by just how rapidly the new school is taking shape, due to open in early September. Not much of a summer holiday, then, for those hard-working builders! This photo from the school website (here, with many thanks to Maria, the photographer) will gives us an idea of the work in progress: 

Finally, with apologies for the very late delivery, here are the Newsletters for June: 8,   15,   22   and the 29.

Fr Seamus McEntee, Ordained 3rd June 2014

Rathcoole Community Centre, Saturday 7 June 2014
Fr Seamus and Fr Enda

The United Parishes of Saggart and Newcastle are justly proud of local man, Seamus McEntee, who was ordained in the Pro-Cathedral on Tuesday, 3rd June, the only ordination for Dublin this year. The event made the news headlines of the following day, with a photo in the Irish Times and a report in the Irish Independent.  Parishioners might like to read Archbishop Martin's homily.

Fr Seamus will celebrate the Colmanstown cemetery Mass at 7.30 p.m., Monday 30th June, in St Finian's,  Newcastle. What a moving occasion that is likely to be, a man saying Mass for those lying in the graveyard near his home, a graveyard dating from medieval times.  [Note Correction here.]

The writer made it to the Mass of Thanksgiving in the Church of the Holy Family, Rathcoole, on Saturday 7th.  Here are some photos from the reception held afterwards in the Community Centre (and many thanks to the organizers, including members of the St Joseph's Young Priests' Society).
The photos can be seen here (youtube).
  
Finally, Newsletters for 8 June and 15 June

Cemetery Masses

Newcastle (Ballynakelly)         Sunday 8 June

Mass in cemetery at 2 p.m. followed by blessing of the graves

Brownstown                                   Saturday 14 June

Mass in cemetery at 2 p.m. followed by blessing of the graves

St Finian's                                        Sunday 29 June

Mass in St Finian's Church at 10.30 a.m. followed by blessing of the graves

St Mary's                                           Sunday 29 June

Mass in St Mary's Church at 11.30 a.m. followed by blessing of the graves at 12.30
Colmanstown                                Monday 30 June
Mass in St Finian's, Newcastle at 7.30 p.m. celebrated by Fr Seamus McEntee from Colmanstown, ordained 3 June 2014

Junction 4 Newsletters:    1 June,   25 May,  18 May,
                                                    11 May,   4 May