Parish News Archives - March 2007

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

Rector Writes

A LETTER FROM THE CURATE

Dear Friends,

Fairtrade Fortnight is being held this year from 26th February – 11th March. Lots of different events are being organised during these two weeks – here in the parish we held a Fairtrade Coffee morning in Castleknock Parish Centre on Friday 2nd March.

For many people today, simple everyday activities like doing their shopping can have a profound effect on the lives of people thousands of miles away. Unfortunately, globalisation and market liberalisation has wreaked havoc on the lives of some of the poorest people in our world. Despite all of the technological and scientific advances in the past fifty years, there are still families going hungry, children forced out of school or into slavery, destitute seasonal workers and financial crises for the countries of the so-called Third World.

For many farmers, the price they receive for the goods which we buy from them usually isn’t enough to cover their basic costs. Nor does it allow them to meet their basic needs for food, healthcare and education - they struggle to survive within a system of world trade which isn’t fair. The experience of globalisation for some of the most vulnerable people on earth has been increasing income inequality, job losses and environmental damage.
In Ireland, as in many others countries, Fairtrade is becoming an important way of ensuring that Third World producers get a better deal. Awareness of Fairtrade is growing - in 2002 just 16% of Irish adults recognized the Fairtrade Mark, but sales for Fairtrade products are now growing by approximately 40% a year. More and more products now carry the ‘Fairtrade’ Mark, and some of Ireland’s leading food and drink retailers, such as, Marks & Spencers, O’Brien’s Sandwich Bars and the Thomas Read Group, have switched exclusively to Fairtrade coffee and tea products.

Through the awareness raising work of many organisations, including Fairtrade, consumers are now more aware of the unequal distribution of the world's wealth. Many products on sale are far too cheap to give producers in Third World countries a decent standard of living.

Fairtrade allows us to take more responsibility for the goods that we purchase from people in such countries. Fairtrade means paying farmers a fair price for the work they do, and it guarantees that the price they are paid will always cover the cost of production – no matter how low the market price goes. It isn’t about charity – if producers are paid a fair price for their products, they don’t need charity.

The organisation is now working with more than 800,000 producers, workers and their dependents in over fifty countries. For these people, Fairtrade means:
• Fair prices and fair wages
• Good working conditions
• Improved health and safety standards
• The security of long-term contracts
• New opportunities for women and children
• Environmental improvements which emphasise sustainable production
• The workers have more control over their own lives, through participating in democratic organisations
As I’ve mentioned before, according to statistics, it’s said that if we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human rations remaining the same:
80 people would live in sub-standard housing
70 people could not read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
33 would be without access to a safe water supply
39 would lack access to improved sanitation
24 would not have any electricity
(and of the 76 that do have electricity, most would only use it for light at night).
7 people would have access to the Internet
1 person would have a college education
1 person would own a computer
6 of the hundred would control 59% of the entire world's wealth and all of them would come from the United States
Perhaps when we consider the earth from such a compressed perspective we realise how things aren't very evenly spread in the world.

By choosing Fairtrade marked products we can play an important role in helping to alleviate poverty and supporting marginalised producers, in a manner which promotes dignity and self-sufficiency. Change Today, Choose Fairtrade. With so many certified products now available, it’s easier than ever to change what we drink and wear to Fairtrade, and make a positive change today for the lives of so many people.

Elaine

From the Registers

Holy Baptism:

Christian Marriage:
31st January. David O’Reilly and Rebekah Cranks of Clonee.

May their home be a place of love, security, truth and welcome.

Funeral:
29th January: Ronnie Robinson of Rathbeggan.
31st January: Cal (Kathleen) Murphy of Clonsilla

May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

In Memorium:
Ronnie Robinson: After a period of long illness, Ronald Tom B. Robinson died on 25th January 2007, in his seventy fourth year. A large attendance at both services demonstrated both Ronnie’s popularity and his wife Dorothy’s active involvement in church and other social circles.
Ronnie was perhaps best known amongst the farming fraternity, which embraced a long association with Ganly Craigie auctioneers, President of the Irish Pony Society and Irish Poultry Fanciers Society. He also served as a member of Clonsilla Select Vestry for many years and was also a parochial nominator. Ronnie loved life and God’s creation and was most at ease when walking through the fields and talking about livestock.
As with all carers they can be sometimes forgotten amidst sickness, and our heartfelt prayers are with Dorothy in the days and weeks ahead. Ronnie is survived by his wife Dorothy, his two children David and Gwyn, grandchildren Tim and Ellen, his brother Frank and sister Rosemary.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Cal (Kathleen) Murphy: Cal Murphy died on 26th January after a long illness which she bore with great patience and dignity. A native of Wexford, she moved to Dublin in 1970, shortly after her marriage to Anthony, but still loved to visit her home county, where she had many relatives and close friends. A music fan, Cal enjoyed listening to Country and Western music, watching soap operas on television, and she also had a great love of reading.
She is survived by her husband Anthony, her children Heidi, Cathy, Paula, Derek, Patricia and Ann, and her grandchildren Abbie and Thomas. Her funeral was held in St. Brigid’s Church on Wednesday 31st January.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Organisations Reports

Girls' Brigade
This has been a busy start to the year with the National Competitions occurring so early. Well done to all who took part and in particular to Junior Emily Hayes who was placed 4th in the Junior/Senior Skipping solo. Well done also to the Junior/Senior A Team who were placed 2nd in their Competition.

The Scripture Exam will take place at the end February. The District Competitions will take place in March along with the Musical Theatre Competition.

Our Display will take place on Friday 27th April at 7.30pm in Castleknock Community College.

Ros Garrett

Boys' Brigade
Junior Section:
The annual figure marching competition took place on Saturday 17th February .There was a change of venue this year and we headed off to St Andrews College in Booterstown.

We entered two teams and they both performed superbly and were a credit to the 10th Dublin Co. The A team were pipped to the post and came 2nd while the B team (which was two marchers down due to illness) came 5th.
After the competition, the boys stopped off at McDonalds for their favourite part of the evening .

As usual we are indebted to Hal McGuckin (retired B.B leader) who gives up a lot of his time to prepare the boys for this event. The marching is quite involved and takes a lot of patience and time to get everyone moving in the correct sequence. Thanks also to Sean Skehan (Junior Section Leader) who also puts a lot into the preparation of the teams.

The Junior Section and the Company Section are now busy preparing for their scripture exam which will take place in a couple of weeks.

19th Annual Display:
The Company is now getting ready for the Annual Display which gives the parents and other guests an opportunity to see some of the skills and talents that are abundant within the company.
The display will take place on Friday 20th April in the Parish Centre at 7.30.

New Leaders:
We are appealing for new leaders for the company. We now have the largest company in Ireland with over 60 boys. We urgently need some new leaders from September. If we do not get some new leaders on board the future of the company is in jeopardy.

No experience is necessary as training will be provided. The company meets on a Tuesday evening and caters for boys from age 5 to 16 ,so if anyone is interested please get in touch with the Parish Office.

Janet Seaman.

Tiny Tots
On Friday 9th February, Tiny Tots Mums routed out their earplugs and headed for the Annual Beetle Drive.
A fantastic night was had by both adults and children alike and in the process, thanks to those in attendance and raffle tickets sales. We managed to raise €732.30 for Make-a-Wish Foundation of Ireland.

A special thank you to Sean Skehan, our compere, who kept the dice rolling, to the National School for use of the tables, chairs and PA System, to those who donated raffle prizes and to the Mums in Tiny Tots who made the night a great success.

Vivienne Hayes

Youth Club
The youth club continues to meet every fortnight.

Since Christmas they have had a “Battle of the Sexes” in the Parish Centre in Castleknock (Guess who won !). There was also a trip to the National Aquatic Centre and a cinema night in Clonsilla Parish Centre. Good luck to all our members who are sitting their mock exams at the moment and to those who have finished and are waiting results.

Announcements

Forthcoming Services and Events:
Holy Week
There will be a service at 8 p.m. each evening during Holy Week in St. Brigid’s Church, Castleknock. Further details available soon.

Easter Vestry Meetings
Clonsilla Easter Vestry - Sunday 15th April at 11 a.m.
Castleknock Easter Vestry - Sunday 22nd April at 12.30 p.m.

Other News

Daffodil Day Coffee Morning

Friday 23rd March 2007 in the Parish Centre Castleknock from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. In aid of the Irish Cancer Society. Please come and enjoy a cup of coffee and a chat and support this worthy cause.

Shirley McGuckin & Janet Seaman

Annual Sports Service

In Thanksgiving for the Gift of Sport on Sunday 25th March 2007 at 7.00pm in CHRIST CHURCH, TANEY ROAD, DUNDRUM. Address by MARY DAVIS CEO Special Olympics, Ireland. Singing led by THE ALEXANDRA COLLEGE CHOIR, Collection will be in aid of SPECIAL OLYMPICS, IRELAND. ALL WELCOME. Come and bring your friends.

Art Exhibition in aid of Dublin 15 Hospice

Castleknock Art Group members are holding an exhibition of their works along with many local artists in Coolmine Rugby Club, River Road on 30th March to 1st April 2007.

Opening times: Friday 30th March 7-10pm
Saturday 31stMarch 11-6pm
Sunday 1st April 11-5pm

Please come along and support this worthy cause.

Any queries contact Cherry Stanbridge

Hymns of the Trade

The Dentist's Hymn: Crown Him with Many Crowns
The Builder's Hymn: The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn: There is a Green Hill Far Away

March 18th - Mothering Sunday

There is an old Jewish saying which states:
God could not be everywhere,
and therefore He made mothers.

Mother Church, Mother Earth, Mother of the Gods - our human mothers - all of them have been part of the celebration of ‘Mothering Sunday’ - as the fourth Sunday in Lent is affectionately known.

In Roman times, great festivals were held every Spring to honour Cybele, Mother of all the Gods. Other pagan festivals in honour of Mother Earth were also celebrated. With the arrival of Christianity, the festival became one honouring ‘Mother Church’.

In the 16th century many people who lived in villages made a point of visiting not their local church, but the nearest big church, which they considered to be their ‘Mother Church’. Other people used to go to worship in their local cathedral – so Mothering Sunday came to be the day of the year to give thanks for ‘Mother Church’.
Also, in centuries gone by, many boys were apprentices to craftsmen and young girls (some as young as 10) worked as ‘live-in’ servants. They had very little free time and were allowed only one holiday a year on which to visit their families. Some of the girls were given special sweet cakes called simnel cakes (in some places the day was called Simnel Day, because of this) to take as a gift, while boys would often gather bunches of wild flowers to give to their mothers (this is how the custom of the Mothering Sunday ‘posy’ developed).

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