Mary Immaculate Refuge of Sinner

As this newsletter goes out to you, we are about to enter the most solemn week in the Church’s year, Holy Week, when we relive the drama of those events leading up to the Passion and death of Jesus Christ and as a community of faith proclaim his resurrection. You are invited to attend the various liturgies of Holy Week so that we can enter prayerfully into this paschal journey and discover anew its meaning for us today. (see enclosed Easter Card for schedule).

This year 2006 is a special year in the life of our parish, as it marks the 150^th anniversary of the solemn dedication of our church on June 1856. Our parish Jubilee Committee are planning a series of events to mark a year of celebration beginning with a solemn Mass of thanksgiving celebrated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on Saturday 10^th June. Other events planned include a major organ recital, a pilgrimage to Lourdes in June and a bible tour in the Holy Land in October led by Prof Sean Freyne.

Our main Lenten project this year has been the establishment of a parish Pastoral Council. Thanks to the groundwork prepared by the Working Group over several weeks, the idea of a Pastoral Council has generated a lot of enthusiasm among parishioners, and over 20 nominations were received by the closing date on 26^th March. The members of the new parish Pastoral Council will be announced on Palm Sunday 9^th April, and parishioners will be invited to pray for the new council in a blessing ceremony on one of the Sundays of Easter.

Our recently formed Liturgy Group have been working hard preparing the liturgies for Holy Week and Easter. Their energies have also been behind the promotion of the Trocaire Lenten campaign, which focussed on each of the Sundays of Lent on the injustice of child labour in Nicaragua. Sean Farrell from Trocaire gave a very moving powerpoint presentation on the campaign at the 6pm Folk Mass on the fourth Sunday of Lent, while a display of Fair Trade produce was available on the fifth Sunday of Lent.

Shiela O’Dea from Newfoundland, who teaches liturgy at All Hallows College, gave an excellent workshop on liturgy in the church on Saturday 1^st April. Attended by a good number of parishioners, including Ministers of the Word and of the Eucharist, it left us with plenty of ideas for the celebration of our Holy Week and Easter liturgies.

Following the initiative of a small number of families in the parish, a Family Mass was celebrated at 12.30pm on Sunday 2^nd April. It was deemed a great success by all who took part, and refreshments were organised afterwards in St Mary’s community centre, so that families could get to know one another. It is hoped to have a Family Mass at least once a month, and the next one is planned provisionally for Sunday 14^th May at 11.00am. With the involvement of a few more families, it could become an even more regular event.

The Young Adult Group have been providing refreshments in the community room (also called the prayer room) of the church following the 6pm folk Mass each Sunday since November. The refreshments are available to all, and the community room has become a venue where those who attend the Folk Mass (whether regularly or only occasionally) can get to know other people. The young adult group meet afterwards to reflect together on the Gospel for the following Sunday, and invite other young adults to join them any Sunday at 7.30pm. For those interested a book club, a women’s walking group and a netball team are also being organised.

The Finance Committee have been very active in examining ways in which we can improve the parish finances. With the help of our architect we have also been looking at both the extent and foreseeable cost of work which needs to be carried out on the parish church, hall and parish houses. The committee hopes to present a schedule of work and a programme for the necessary fundraising involved in the near future.

St. Louis Senior Primary School are now enrolling boys and girls for their second classes (Aged 8 Approx) Tel: 497 6098.

The Bethany Bereavement Support Group is now well established in the parish and is a great source of comfort and healing to those who attend our monthly ‘Drop-in-centre’ on the third Thursday of the month from 8.30-9.30pm at St. Mary’s Community Centre.

Baptisms take place on the first Saturday of every month at 12noon. Completed forms must be returned to the parish office at least two weeks prior to baptism.

Adult baptism Information about the parish programme of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A) available from the parish office.

Marriages All couples must give at least 3 months notice of the marriage to one of the priests of the parish or contact the parish office.

Don’t forget to visit the parish website www.rathminesparish.com which is regularly updated to find out more about Rathmines parish and forthcoming events.