Editorial
Dear Parishioners
First of all I would like to thank you for your warm welcome to me at my Institution on Tuesday, 6th October. I would like to thank all those involved in organising the evening, the service as well as the reception in the Parish Centre. It was a memorable evening. You made me, my family, fellow clergy, parishioners from Clondalkin and Rathcoole, very welcome.
I would also like to thank the Preacher, Canon Horace McKinley, from Whitechurch for his sermon. In it he stressed the need for partnership and collaboration in ministry, laity and clergy working together, to advance God’s kingdom.
My first Sunday, 11th October was also memorable. It was your Harvest Sunday, in Castleknock and Clonsilla; both the churches were beautifully decorated for the occasion. I was pleased to see the number of people who attended. The singing was uplifting. I would like to thank Maedhbh Abayawickrema, our organist and director of music for the music at both the Institution and Harvest Celebration.
It will take me time to get to know you and to get to know this very large parish. But as I said in my address I hope you will first and foremost see me as a friend, someone you can turn to in times of joy as well as times of sorrow. I realise I have been given a great responsibility in being made rector here, by the church. I hope I will be given the health, courage and wisdom, by God to fulfil this calling.
This is a new beginning for me and for the parish, I hope together, in partnership we can continue to advance God’s kingdom of love and justice.
Yours very sincerely
Rev. Paul Houston
