Mary Immaculate Refuge of Sinner

Having just celebrated St Patrick’s Day, we now find ourselves in the second half of Lent preparing for the climax of the Church’s liturgical year, the celebration of the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection during Holy Week. Easter is a time of new beginnings, an ideal opportunity to reconnect with faith and the mystery of God’s love for each of us, especially if we have been ‘offline’ for a while. The enclosed parish Easter card provides a guide to the times of services for Holy Week and Easter in Rathmines church. We hope that these liturgies will provide a welcoming space in the midst of our busy-ness, where we can encounter the Risen Christ who offers us new life.

As visitors to the church will have noticed from all the scaffolding in evidence, we are in the middle of some renovation work, involving a complete re-wiring of the church and a replacement of the heating system. The old heating system has already been removed and a temporary system is in place. We thank parishioners very sincerely for the patience and understanding you have shown for the disruption to normal church life occasioned by this ongoing work, which hopefully will be completed in June.

This year we have been celebrating the 150^th Jubilee of the dedication of the parish church. To mark this occasion a number of events have been planned, including: an organ recital with David Adams (18^th April); Mass involving the Holy Ghost and St. Louis schools to celebrate Catholic Education in Rathmines (28^th April); an exhibition of photographs in Rathmines Library (May); publication of Jubilee magazine (June); Parish Day (24^th May) and a Television Mass to mark the closing of the Jubilee year (1^st July). Many thanks to all who have donated sponsorship to support these various events.

On a sad note, our former parish priest, Fr. Aidan Burke, died on 14^th February after a long illness borne with dignity and courage. His funeral liturgy was celebrated in Rathmines church and was a moving farewell to a pastor who had served this parish with great dedication and love for 20 years until his retirement in 2004. May he rest in peace.

The Parish Pastoral Council is a year old this Easter, and is actively developing a parish pastoral plan and preparing for a parish wide pastoral visitation in the autumn. The parish Child Protection Officer can be contacted c/o the parish office or tel: 086-247 7243

The Family Mass is now a regular feature on the first Sunday of every month at 11am. Light refreshments are provided in the parish house afterwards, giving an opportunity to get to know other young families in the parish. A Special children’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper is being organised this year at 5pm on Holy Thursday, 5^th April. If you would like to know more about the Family Mass group or would be willing to help out from time to time, contact Tricia Caffrey through the parish office.

The Young Adult Group has been providing tea/coffee and biscuits after the 6pm Folk Mass each Sunday now for the past year. They are also currently running a ‘Discover’ Programme, which provides an opportunity for young adults (18-35) to share together informally about their faith. If you are interested in joining, contact Michele Pacillo at 087 779 2601 or simply come along any Sunday evening at 7.30pm to the parish house.

School news: Our two parish primary schools, St. Louis Infant School and St. Louis Senior Primary School continue to flourish. Together, both school cater for 650 pupils from the Rathmines area.

This year the ever-active Parent’s Associtation is undertaking a mammoth fundraising venture, Who wants to be a Thousandaire. This event takes place at the Garda Club, Harrington Street on Wednesday Aptil 25^th at 8.00p.m. It promises to be a great night. Already, the schools have received generous sponsorship, please contact Sheila on 4972188.

Registration for St. Louis Junior Infants 2007 takes place on Friday May 4^th from 9.30am-11.30am. Further enrolment details may be obtained by contacting Sheila on 4972188.

Also, St. Louis Senior Primary School is still accepting applications for 2^nd class, September 2007. Applications forms available from the school office.

If you have recently moved into the area and are wondering what services are available in the parish or would like a priest to call to you, please contact Michelle, the parish secretary, at Tel. 497 1531 or e-mail: secretary@rathminesparish.com