Parish News Archives - June 2008

Rector Writes | Readings & Services | From the Registers | Organisation Reports | Announcements | Other News

Rector Writes

Dear Friends,

Two apparently different, yet connected, thoughts this month.

First, reflecting back on the Confirmation service: I always find it very moving to see our young people stand up and make a very personal commitment to God and the Church. It comes at the end of an intensive period of teaching and training for the candidates, stretching back over a year in Confirmation Club, but also further than that, through Sunday Club and what they have learned from their parents, godparents and friends. We do believe in this parish in taking Confirmation very seriously, and that is why we devote a great deal of time in preparation. Now we know that confirmation is both end but also beginning. It is the end of the childhood stage of learning, and the beginning of the adult Christian life. Now these young people have to make sense of the world and the Christian faith in a mature way, to bring together what they have learnt and their life experiences to make a faith that is meaningful for them. They will need to find their own sources, as we all do, of spiritual growth and development: prayer, bible study, Holy Communion, church teaching, but also their God given reason, and time set apart to reflect and be still with God. Which brings me to my second point.

As I write this letter, we have been enjoying a spell of very fine weather, which has encouraged us all to get outside and enjoy the open air. Nature has an extraordinary power to heal, to bring solace, where “the soul can be remade”. For our newly confirmed, and all of us, the time to just appreciate the natural world for itself, and also as God’s gift, is invaluable. This summer, we should take time to walk, cycle, just sit, in the countryside, in the parks, in our own gardens and allow the power of our senses to remake our souls. I can’t help but turn again to that supreme poet of place, of nature, Patrick Kavanagh:

Canal Bank Walk
Leafy-with-love banks and the green waters of the canal
Pouring redemption for me, that I do
The will of God, wallow in the habitual, the banal,
Grow with nature again as before I grew.
The bright stick trapped, the breeze adding a third
Party to the couple kissing on an old seat,
And a bird gathering materials for the nest for the Word
Eloquently new and abandoned to its delirious beat.
O unworn world enrapture me, encapture me in a web
Of fabulous grass and eternal voices by a beech,
Feed the gaping need of my senses, give me ad lib
To pray unselfconsciously with overflowing speech
For this soul needs to be honoured with a new dress woven
From green and blue things and arguments that cannot be proven.

Enjoy the summer…

Yours in Christ,

Andrew

From the Registers

Holy Baptism:
Sunday 11th May in St. Brigid’s: Ryan, son of Rachel and Jedd Comiskey of Kinsealy and Charlotte, daughter of Bob and Jenny Copeland of Drumree.

May they shine as lights in the world to the glory of God the Father

Christian Marriage:

Funeral:

In Memorium:

Organisations Reports

Girls' Brigade
The GB display, held in CCC, was another action packed night of drama, skipping, dancing and much more besides! It was a worthy end to the year’s hard work and showcased the very best of GB in our parish. Prizes were awarded to all the girls and our thanks go to Sally Darlington and all the team as they take a well earned summer break.

Ros Garrett

Mothers' Union
All those who came on the annual outing northwards this year had a good day. Visits were made to Tandragee (the Ulster home of Tayto), Armagh Cathedral, and The Outlet for some retail therapy. Thanks to all who helped to organise the day.

St. Brigid’s hosted the North Area service this year and representatives from most of the north side branches attended. We were privileged to hear Rev. Lorraine Ritchie, Minister of Clontarf Presbyterian, speak of her personal journey with Christ, bringing her from South Africa to Ireland, and of her struggles with setbacks in her life. The service itself was an evening liturgy from the Iona Community and afterwards everyone enjoyed refreshments at the Parish centre. See you all in September!

Susan Green

Boys' Brigade
The BB display featured the best of BB activities, with games, marching, drama and guest appearances by Freddie Mercury and Amy Winehouse! Well done to everyone for a super night and thanks to Sean Skehan and all the leaders for all their hard work.

Announcements

Flower Evening:
The large crowd who attended the Flower evening on April 30th was a satisfied one! It was another excellent night with wonderful arrangements on the theme “Spring into summer”. Many thanks to Dorothy Robinson and the team of organisers, and we are delighted to report that €1,150 was raised for Clonsilla Parish. Well done to all!

Anniversary:
Andrew and Elaine took part in a special mass to mark the 25th anniversary of the building of Our Lady, Mother of the Church (Castleknock) in 1983. The mass was celebrated by Archbishop Martin and it was great to be present at such a joyous occasion. Congratulations too to our friends at St. Thomas’ Laurel Lodge, who also celebrated their 25th anniversary on that weekend.

Mulhuddart summer Schedule:
St. Thomas’ Church returns to its summer schedule with services each Sunday night at 8pm – soon with surprise musical additions! The peace and tranquillity on a summer evening there has to be experienced to be understood… a great way to share a few moments of quietness before beginning another busy week.

Local Boy achieves greatness:
Parish hearts swelled with pride with the announcement that Canon Trevor Williams had been elected bishop of Limerick and Killaloe. Bishop-elect Trevor (59) grew up just off the Navan Road and was a regular worshipper at St. Brigid’s, where his mother Ada was Sunday School Superintendent. He has been an outstanding worker for reconciliation in the North, serving as director of the Corrymeela Community, and we wish him God’s blessing in his new ministry.

Getting to know you:
Our Sunday Club closing services were very well attended, and gifts given to all those attended regularly through the year (over 100!). Thank you to the two teams of Sunday Club and crèche leaders, especially co-ordinators, Avril McCabe and Lesley Anders. These services were “Badge Sundays” when everyone who attended received a label on which to write their name. This gave everyone a chance over coffee to meet and speak to people they might never have met before without fear of embarrassment! We hope to repeat the exercise again soon.

School Website:
Castleknock NS has its own website now … visit them on castleknocknationalschool.com and see all the latest news.

Coming up in June:
8th June:
Ordination of Deacons in Christ Church Cathedral, including our own Robert Lawson. Please pray for Robert as he begins his ministry in Celbridge.

22nd June:
Service to mark the closing of the school year. All welcome!

Other News

General Synod 2008

The General Synod is the ultimate decision making body of the Church of Ireland. It is made up of over 600 lay and clerical members elected from the Diocesan Synods every three years. It meets for three days in May and considers amendments to the constitution, hears reports from sub-committees and debates motions on a wide variety of topics. Anne Cadoo and Andrew Orr are members from this parish.

This year’s Synod was overall a rather routine affair. The early nineties were characterised by the protracted debates on the ordination of women, while the late nineties saw the Synod in some turmoil over dealing with Drumcree. The early years of this decade were taken up with revising the new Book of Common Prayer; as a result the last few years have seemed especially quiet. The main features of this year’s meeting were the venue, and the address of the President.

The Synod met this year in Galway, the first time ever west of the Shannon and was generally agreed to be a success, with all venues within in walking distance. A memorable Synod Eucharist showcased the multicultural worship in St. Nicholas parish, and the church also hosted the Mayor’s reception the following night.

The President’s address was especially memorable. It was the first time that The President of Ireland had addressed the Synod. She spoke of the contribution of the Churches to peace building and reconciliation, often in times when all seemed hopeless, and looked forward to a new future.
“What we sow now, generations of Irish men and women will reap for years to come. The seeds of our historic problems were sown centuries ago in political and religious conflicts. Their bitter harvest endured too long…… I am ever-conscious that we are the first generation of Irish men and women who have been privileged to have been granted the potential of altering the course of our island’s history on such a grand and humanly uplifting scale…… make the island of Ireland the best it can be through the active citizenship of its people, bonded now in an historic and exceptional solidarity and for the first time able to say—they will know we are Christians by our love.”

President McAleese received a standing ovation from everyone present.

Among the items discussed at Synod were minor alterations to the marriage service, a change to the pension scheme, a proposal to pay Non Stipendiary Ministers, developments in youth work and interfaith discussions. The only proposal to generate widespread debate was that of attaching an explanatory paragraph to the 39 Articles of Religion, which dissociates the modern church from some of the hurtful and unpleasant descriptions of other Churches which were a product of the 16th century when the Articles were written.

Next year’s Synod takes place in Armagh.

Thank You

On behalf of Ada, Theo and Paul, I would like to say a sincere Thank You for the wonderful gifts you presented to us on Sunday 18th May 2008. The day will be memorable for many reasons but in particular the warm welcome and the generous hospitality that we received.

My training for ordained ministry commenced many years ago amongst the wonderful people of Castelknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla and the then Rector and current Bishop of Cork, Paul Colton. I learned many things from the many clergy colleagues - curates, assistant priests, to churchwardens, select vestry members, members of the uniformed organisations and parish office administrators that I worked with down through the years including the current Rector, Rev. Andrew.

So now I journey to Celbridge Union of Parishes feeling suitably equipped and strengthened in the knowledge that we always have friends in the area but encouraged that I go there in the power of the Holy Spirit.

May God be with you on your journey.

Kind Regards,

Robert

Pipeworks Festival 2008

It’s festival time again and a truly wonderful programme awaits all music lovers this summer. Read on for an overview of the festival: better still consult Pipeworks Festival website for full details and how you can become involved. www.pipeworksfestival.com or just call the administrator at 085 7868860 if you do not use web sites.

Pipeworks presents a diverse and exciting programme for its thirteenth festival. This year’s programme includes performances by organ virtuosi from the UK, France, Germany, the USA and Sweden; sees sixteen young, aspiring organists from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Russia, South Korea, the UK and the USA compete to win the Dublin International Organ Competition; features beautifully programmed concerts performed by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the National Chamber Choir; and presents a silent film with live organ accompaniment.

2008 sees the festival expanding to include recital trips to Dundalk and the beautiful cathedral city of Kilkenny with associated recitals in Galway and Wexford. Performances by the Silesian University Choir from Gliwice, Poland and the National Chamber Choir acknowledge the great choral traditions of Eastern Europe.

The festival also presents Ireland’s major celebration of the centenary of Olivier Messiaen’s birth, with performances of all his organ works as well as some of his choral and orchestral music. In short, a wonderful array of concerts, recitals, and master classes in the country’s finest churches, cathedrals and concert halls.

Booking and further information: www.pipeworksfestival.com, email adminpipeworks at gmail.com.

Vacant Position

Got some hours to spare?
Caretaker required for St. Brigid’s Church, Castleknock
19.5 hours per week – times flexible
Would suit students, early retired or unemployed
Applicants must be 18-65 & must qualify under Social Economy project rules
Closing date 20th June 2008
for further information contact Bernie via the Parish Office.

Rector Writes | Readings & Services | From the Registers | Organisation Reports | Announcements | Other News

Parishes of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla
Parish Office
Main Street
Castleknock
Dublin 15
Tel: 01-820 0040
Fax: 01-820 0040
E-mail: castleknock@dublin.anglican.org