Author: kmulally

St Brigid’s Parish, Blanchardstown -Newsletter 5th November We remember our own dead and our own sadness this November. Tears speak out our grief, but they also witness to our love and we are glad to have loved so much that we can cry. May those we have loved rest in your embrace, O Lord.
The Baptism of Our Lord
World Day of Migrants and Refugees

CURRENT SCHEDULE
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: Mass at 10am preceded by the Rosary at 9.30am , Church closes at 5pm
Monday: Area Mass at 7.30pm Wednesday: Liturgy of the Word at 10am
Saturday: Church opens at 10am Vigil Mass at 6pm
Sunday Mass at 10.30am
1st Saturday of the month– 10am Mass followed by confessions
Last Tuesday of the month-Prayer Group Mass 8pm, all welcome Bank Holidays: Mass 11am only
All services available on www.blanchardstownparish.ie/webcam Also on Phoenix Radio– 92.5FM
Eucharistic Adoration Tue & Fri 10.30am-5pm
Blanchardstown Area evening Mass Mon: Blanchardstown 7.30pm Tues & Thurs: Castleknock Wednesday: Mulhuddart Friday: Corduff

Altar List of the Dead
These lists are now available in the Church. The new lists will be placed in front of the altar on Thursday 2nd November – The Feast of All Souls. They will be left in front of the altar for the month of November, the month of the Holy Souls. After that all Masses on the First Friday of the month will be offered for the names on the Altar List of the Dead. The completed envelopes can be returned to the Sacristy or the Parish Office.

The Church - a 'spiritual edifice' built by God with 'living stones'.
Our Parish Church St Brigid’s Blanchardstown - a temple of bricks and mortar, is a symbol of the living Church, the Christian community. In their Letters the Apostles Peter and Paul understood the church building as a 'spiritual edifice' built by God with 'living stones', which are Christians, upon the one foundation which is Jesus Christ, Who in His turn is described as the 'cornerstone'". Why have I introduced this weekend’s newsletter with this paragraph? Because on Thursday next, November 9th, the Church celebrates an important feast day in its calendar and that is the ‘Feast of St. John Lateran’ or the feast of ‘The dedication of the Lateran Basilica’.
The Church of St. John is located on the Lateran hill in Rome and is described as the ‘Mother and Head of all the churches in the City and the World’ (Urbi et Orbi). It is the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome and was called ‘St John’ after the two monasteries once attached, dedicated to St John the Divine and St John the Baptist.
Inside the Lateran Basilica
The beauty and harmony of churches, which are intended to give praise unto God, also invites us, to gather together to celebrate the Liturgy as the community of the baptised, which comes together to hear the Word of God and to draw nourishment from the Body and Blood of Christ. And each community, in fact, has the duty to protect its own sacred buildings, which constitute a precious religious and historical heritage".
We know that God is everywhere. Yet when the people of God build a building, a church and dedicate it totally to God’s service, God’s glory comes to dwell in that building in such a way that the building can now be called the house of God.

And that’s why when we enter a church, we do some little things: dressing in a decent manner for church; signing/blessing oneself with holy water on entering the church; genuflecting or bowing to the altar or the tabernacle before taking one’s seat or before leaving the church; not chatting in church, and lowering one’s voice when one has cause to talk in church.
The sacredness of the church building is important. Coming to Church, to Mass is not another social gathering. But when we realize that the church is a holy place, a place of encounter with God, with one another and with oneself, then we bring a certain disposition of mind and body to church service which helps make worship an uplifting rather than boring experience. This weekend’s Mass as indeed at all weekends, invites us to renew our faith in the church as a house of prayer and to cultivate habits and practices that make it easy for God to encounter us whenever we go to church.

Exploring the Teachings of Jesus
What is Christian Morality?
St Brigid’s Pastoral Centre, Blanchardstown
This Wednesday (08 Nov) 7:00pm to 8:15pm
Questions for discussion this week:
Why is Sunday special and why put family first?

A Reflective Sentence Without the Sunday Eucharist, we cannot live. Do you not know that the Christian exists for the Eucharist and the Eucharist for Christians?. Answer of the martyr Saturninus 305

St Brigid’s Church of Ireland Castleknock Ecumenical graveyard service with blessing of the graves. Sunday 12th November 3pm. All welcome.

Parish Contacts: V Rev Fr. Michael Carey: 8213660 Rev Jim Adams(Deacon) 0862232411 Rev Michael O’Connor(Deacon) 0872941729 Sacristy: 8238354 Parish Finance Christine Carleton / Parish Secretary Jean Rogers: 8115412 email: office@blanchardstownparish.ie website: www.blanchardstownparish.ie https://www.facebook.com/St-Brigids-Parish-Blanchardstown-44438662375848/

From the Pastor’s Desk
Youth Choir – Family Mass
The Parish Family Mass has moved to 10.30am on the last Sunday of the month. We started it last weekend and the Youth Choir sang at this Mass and will do so from now on. They sang beautifully. I thank the Family Mass Team; If you cast your mind back to the first 6 months of this year, the Youth Choir sang at 12 noon on the last Sunday of the month at what was the Family Mass. Reviewing this over the summer the Family Mass Team were of the opinion that having a 12 noon Mass at the end of the month didn’t register with people with the result that the attendance was low and so, with their recommendation and with the approval of the Parish Pastoral Council and the Adult and Youth Choir, The Family Mass will now move to 10.30 on the last Sunday of the month. This Family Mass is trying to create a sense of Community for young people and young families. It is not I stress a ‘Children’s Mass’ and therefore shouldn’t ‘put off’ anyone who normally comes to this 10.30 Mass. All our masses do, I hope, strengthen and enliven our sense of Parish Community here in St Brigid’s, but on the last Sunday of every month we will make a special effort and welcome to young families.
First Holy Communion - Enrolment Sunday
Thank you to the parents/guardians and of course the boys and girls who attended this Mass. The Church was full, which was wonderful to see and the girls and boys answered their promises will a mighty and very loud ‘We do’. Here are their promises!
Priest: Children, as you look forward to sharing the Bread of life for the first time, do you promise to listen to all the people who will help you to learn about God’s love for us and who will tell you about Jesus and the way he wants us to live?
Children: We do
Priest: Do you promise to try to get to know God better by coming to Mass, by listening to God’s Word, by joining in the prayers and by praying at home with your family as often as you can?
Children: We do
Prayer for Vocations
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time - In teaching about humility, Jesus tells us “The greatest among you must be your servant.” We pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life and that those who are discerning to follow the Lord in this way, may be graced with humility and be servants of love. Fr Michael Carey PP

Children’s Corner:
A Prayer to Say

IN THE GOSPEL

Scoil Bhríde Enrolment ‘24/’25
Applications for enrolment in Junior Infants and ASD Special class, will be accepted from Monday 6th to 27th November. Scoil Bhríde Cailíní will have an open evening on Monday 13th November from 6.30-7.30pm for girls and their parents.

Parish Meetings – In the Pastoral Centre
Monday 6th November – The Teen Hope Team will meet at 11.00am
Thursday 9th November – The Liturgy Team - will meet at 3.30pm

St. Vincent de Paul The outdoor monthly collection for St. Brigid’s Blanchardstown, St Vincent de Paul, will be taken up NEXT weekend at all Masses

Mass intentions for the week
Saturday Vigil	Aileen Smith (1st Anniv) / Maureen Bannon (MM)
Sunday 10.30	Frank & Sheila Scully / Evelyn Higgins (MM) Joan Nolan
Monday 7.30pm	May & Christy Somers
Tuesday 10am	Mairead Concannon

We pray for our recently deceased; John Gunning Always loved, never forgotten

Table Quiz! Castleknock Tennis Club Friday November 17th - 8pm Contact John Mitchell for information 086 264 5861

Saints in the Church’s calendar: All the Saints of Ireland - Mon 6th Nov. Ireland, especially in the early Christian centuries, was known as an isle of saints and scholars. Many of these combined pastoral care with observance of the monastic life. The Irish also did much to bring the faith to other parts of Europe and, if we are to believe the story of St. Brendan, even further afield.
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica – Thurs 9th Nov, The Church of St John Lateran in Rome is, ‘Mother and Head of all the churches of the city and the World’. It is the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome and was called ‘St John’ after the two monasteries once attached, dedicated to St. John the Divine and St. John the Baptist. It is dedicated to the Most Holy Saviour.
St. Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the church – Fri 10thNov, became Pope in 440 and died 461. He taught the two natures, human and divine, of Christ at the Council of Chalcedon, 451, and the primacy of the See of Peter.
St. Martin of Tours, bishop – Sat 11th Nov 316-97, Bishop of Tours, apostle of rural Gaul, founder of monasteries. At the age of eighteen, he was baptised and, around this time, met a naked beggar to whom he gave half his cloak. Patron of France, soldiers, beggars and innkeepers.

Sunday Mass Collections
Many thanks for your continued support of these collections which are vital for the support of the priests of the diocese. You can contribute to the Mass collections by:
Putting your offerings in the ‘white boxes’ around the Church or by leaving your Envelope into Parish Office during the week. Using the ‘Tap and Go’ machines. Many parishioners find this quite handy – especially in these ‘cashless’ days. Using the online ‘Donate’ facility on the Parish Website.
See www.blanchardstownparish.ie where you can select both one-off and recurring payments. The Mass collections are divided – 60% to the 1st – Common Fund for Priests; 40% - to the 2nd – Share. Thank you so much for your generosity

We welcome those baptised in the month of October ; Zoe, Rían, Alan, Leo, Patrick & Jack, Oliver, Dara, May they continue to grow strong in body, mind and spirit.

Easter Dues Envelopes If you did not receive Easter Dues envelope and would like to contribute to the Priests of the Parish, please take one from the tables around the Church. A sincere thank you to all who have returned their Easter Dues. Your continued generosity is very much appreciated. If you have not made a return and would like to there are dues envelopes available in the Church. If you are not a regular contributor to the Parish and would like to do so, please leave your name and contact details with myself or in the Sacristy or Parish Office.

Car Park
APCOA, the church car park management company, have had cause to clamp a number of cars recently. To prevent further instances of clamping please abide by the following:
- Attending church services (Mass, Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms) - no parking charge.
-Attending Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Tuesdays and Fridays - enter your car registration in the book in the porch.
-Attending other meetings/gatherings—a permit is required unless otherwise advised (you can get one from the office). At all other times please do not be tempted to park and nip off to the shops or indeed into the Church to light a candle without paying the parking charge, that way you will not be clamped.

Summer Dues envelopes are still available if you would like to make a contribution. Monies from these envelopes go to the Diocesan Common Fund (income for priests & retired priests).

Sunday Mass Collections
Many thanks for your continued support of these collections which are vital for the support of the priests of the diocese. You can contribute to the Mass collections by:
Putting your offerings in the ‘white boxes’ around the Church or by leaving your Envelope into Parish Office during the week. Envelopes are provided on seats or you can have an Envelope supply in your home for convenience.
Using the ‘Tap and Go’ machines. Using the online ‘Donate’ facility on the Parish Website. See www.blanchardstownparish.ie
where you can select both one-off and recurring payments.
The Mass collections are divided – 60% to the 1st – Common Fund for Priests; 40% - to the 2nd – Share.
Thank you so much for your generosity

Croi Mhaire Foodbank is based in St Ciaran’s Church in Hartstown and covers all of Dublin 15. They work in partnership with St Vincent de Paul, and alongside the Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living and Empower. Croi Mhaire currently delivers food parcels to 65-70 households every two weeks. The number continues to rise weekly. This is the type of non-perishable food items that are suitable: Cereal, porridge, pasta, rice, noodles, soup, tinned fish such as tuna/salmon, tinned vegsuch as beans, peas, sweetcorn and carrots, biscuits, crackers, miwadi, cereal bars, rice cakes, chocolate spread or food suitable for school lunch, jam, marmalade, pasta sauces, sauces for meals (curry, sweet and sour and stir fry), tinned fruit, custard, creamed rice and ..chocolate and crisps

What is the Laudato Si Award? The Laudato Si Award is a new Parish based award for young people to engage with ecological action, education and spirituality. It is based on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si. The goal is for young people to learn, lead and inspire the whole parish and community. Takes place with a group of 3+ people ages 13—17. Monthly meetings on Tuesdays at 4.30pm to 5.30pm from October 11th 2022 to 18th of April 2023 in St Brigid’s Pastoral Centre
If you are interested in participating please contact the team at this address: mairin.keegan@dublindiocese.ie
*Parental Consent forms will need to be completed in advance

Wanted—volunteer Church cleaners! Are you—a dab hand with a duster? Magic with a mop? Handy with a hoover? Or, would you just like to be part of a parish team? If you have up to an hour to spare once a month, we would love you to join our group of Church Cleaners! If interested, please leave your name in the sacristy or the parish office. Thank you!