Ordination of Parishioner Paul Ferris

The ordination of seven deacons that was due to take place on the 3rd June and was unfortunately, like so much else, postponed is, we are now glad to say, going to take place on the 27th August in Aughrim Street parish (two ordinations), on the 28th in Brackenstown (two) and on Saturday the 29th at 11.00 in Saggart (three). The three ordinations in Saggart are those of  Francis Browne, Paul Ferris and John Graham, one of whom (Paul) is a parishioner. The numbers attending will, of course, be in accordance with Covid guidelines (i.e. under 100 for Saggart) but the ceremony will be streamed live to all.

An important occasion like this featuring 'one of our own' makes us feel involved in a way we may not have experienced before in the case of ordinations of any kind. 'Diaconate' we knew as the last stage (or order) before priestly ordination. This is known as the 'transitional diaconate'. In Ireland and elsewhere,with the growing shortage of vocations to the priesthood, attention was turned to reviving the diaconate of biblical times open to married men -- the 'permanent diaconate'. The result was the publication of The Permanent Diaconate: National Directory and Norms for Ireland in 2006. Applications were invited to follow the course of training beginning in 2008 and the first ordination of deacons, eight in number, took place four years later on the 4th June 2012 (the day after the feast day of St Kevin) in the Pro-Cathedral. Joseph Adams told the story of that day two years later in the Irish Times.  It makes for lovely reading and brings the whole subject very much alive. Eight more were ordained in 2016 (see here) and four in 2018 in the Pro-Cathedral on the feast day of St Kevin, one of them being Don Devaney who has served us since so well in this parish (see an account of the day here and an account here of all the ordinations, both presbyteral (priestly) and diaconal for that year).

All of which brings us to the ordinations coming up on Saturday. Besides having a connection with one of the ordinands, Paul, it happens that we have a connection too with the Director of the Permanent Diaconate, our own Fr John --a double connection, then, with the big day! Under the guidance of John, Paul has followed the four-year programme of studies both academic and pastoral that have prepared him for ordination on Saturday.

Finally, some small help for anyone tuning in on Saturday, i.e. a slide sequence of pages from the booklet provided for the Diaconate Ordination (Transitional) ceremony of 2012, the year of the inaugural ceremony for the Parmanent Diaconate in Ireland. Archbishop Martin presided at both ceremonies, in the Pro-Cathedral for the latter and in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, for the former. Since the ceremony, except for a commitment to celibacy in one, is exactly the same for both, the Maynooth booklet should, hopefully, further even more the connection we already have with Saturday's big event  -- taking place not in the Pro-Cathedral or Maynooth College but in our very own parish church.

Parishioner Awarded Benemerenti Medal Posthumously

Bill McEntee of Rathcoole was awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Francis for his outstanding services to the Church.  Alas, the award came through too late for him to receive it in person. He died on Thursday 13th and so the honour was presented to him posthumously at his funeral in St Mary's on the afternoon of Saturday 15th (details here).

The Medal was instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 to honour those who had served Christian society in a particularly meritorious way (see more details here). Fr John Gilligan has spoken of Bill’s long and faithful service to Rathcoole church, referring in particular to his looking after its finances, his putting up the crib for Christmas every year and, over the course of many years, his taking care of opening and locking the church itself.

A transcription and translation of the parchment accompanying the medal may be seen here.
 

The News on Re-opening

Holy Family, Rathcoole, Sun. 19 July 2020
Checklist by Ronan McDermott

Resumption of Public Masses

Mass happily resumed in our churches from Monday 29th on, as well as on certain weekday evenings. (See Mass Times on menu-bar.) Since there are still restrictions on numbers of people attending, volunteers were at the door for Sunday Mass to give guidance on procedures. The photo shows the check-in system in operation now for Saggart and Rathcoole. Newcastle is continuing with entry by token. These volunteers consist of people who help out in various capacities already in the two parishes and are now very kindly answering the call for a further effort. They hold weekly Zoom meetings to review and adapt the procedures.

Provision of Sacraments

General Situation   
Parishes across the country are starting to grapple with the logistics of “clearing the sacramental backlog”, as they plan to organise Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and Wedding ceremonies that were indefinitely postponed when the lockdown was declared in March (News. catholicireland.net, 18 July 2020 : full report here ). With regard to the Dublin diocese, it will not be possible to hold the traditional large First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies for each parish or school. “A series of separate ceremonies will have to be planned. The final decision on how to administer the sacraments is being left to parishes.” 

Our Parishes

Baptisms have been held over the past few Sundays and are continuing to be held. As regards First Holy Communion, parents should contact their school about the date for the ceremony. Groups will be small and schools are being asked to select who goes and on what day and time.

Dates Fixed So Far :  
Pupils from Citywest Educate Together NS and Citywest and Saggart Community NS will receive their First Holy Communion in St Mary’s on Saturday 25th July (11 a.m.) and Saturday 8th August (11 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.), while on Friday 18th September, for pupils of Holy Family NS, three ceremonies will take place at 9.30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12.30 p.m.

Pupils from St Mary's NS will receive their First Holy Communion in Saggart Church at 11 a.m. on three successive Saturdays in October, the 3rd, 10th and 17th, while pupils from St Martin's NS Brittas will receive theirs in Saggart on Saturday 31st, also at 11 a.m.

So to those receiving Holy Communion this coming Saturday, as well as those doing so on the other days to come, we say

               
               Have a Lovely Day!