THE PARISH OF KILCULLEN

2009-08-01T19:59:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2nd August 2009

1. Mass on Monday the public holiday will be at 11 am.
2. Next Friday will be the First Friday of August. The Mass will be offered for all whose names are on the Altar List of the Dead.
3. There will be a preparation meeting for Parents and Godparents presenting a child for Baptism on next Sunday at 12 noon.
4. We had to postpone the Mass in Old Kilcullen Graveyard due to the weather. It is now scheduled for Friday 11th September at 7.30 pm.
5. You can become an associate member of the Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes by giving your name and a donation. You can do so here in the church after Mass or in the Parish Shop during the week. All contributions given go towards sending sick people to Lourdes.
6. We draw your attention to the Senior Help Line which provides a confidential listening service for older people and which is open every day of the year. Details are on the notice board.
7. In our prayers for the dead we remember Annie Fenelon of Halverstown who died early last week. Annie was one of our older parishioners. May she rest in peace.

2009-07-25T12:45:00.001+01:00

Parish Notices
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 26 July 2009
1. The annual Golf Classic in aid of Parish Funds will take place on this Monday 27th July in the Curragh Golf Club.
It is open to anyone who wishes to participate.
Teams of four are welcome to play or you might like to sponsor a Tee Box. Enquiries can be made in the sacristy after Mass.
The day will conclude with a meal and a social, and non-golfers are welcome to take part. Tickets for the meal and entertainment are €30 and are available after Mass or in the Parish Centre on Monday.

2. There will be Mass and Blessing of Graves in Old Kilcullen Graveyard on Friday of this week 31st July at 7.30 pm.

3. There have now been a significant number of confirmed cases of Swine Flu in Ireland and in June the World Health Organisation declared a global flu pandemic.
The Diocese is monitoring latest advice from the HSE and will provide us with updated information as it becomes available.
For the moment the instruction is to read the Swine Flu leaflet that was issued to every home some time ago by the Department of Health and Children and to practice the respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette described there.

4. We pray for the happy repose of the soul of Una Watters who died on Thursday. Her body will be reposing at her home in Kinneagh from 7 pm on Monday. The removal will be at 11.30 am on Tuesday to arrive at the Parish Church for 12 noon Mass. Her burial will take place in St Conleth’s Cemetery, Newbridge. May she rest in peace.

5. Please take a Newsletter.

2009-07-25T12:43:00.000+01:00

Don’t forget to look at our new weekly saint bulletin board at the back of the church and in the weekly newsletter. The saints form an integral part of our prayer lives and serve as great sources of inspiration for us to model our lives on. The bulletin board will highlight the feast days of saints which we will celebrate throughout the week.
Lourdes Diocesan Associate Membership Scheme.
Could you help send somebody sick to Lourdes? The Lourdes Diocesan Associate Membership Scheme is the backbone of fundraising which helps send very sick people to Lourdes every September. By donating any amount you will in return gain associate membership and will receive a membership / donation card. During the pilgrimage a Mass for all Associate members will be celebrated at the Grotto. Contributions like these can really help to make a difference to the life of a very sick person. Please give generously.
You can enrol / donate after mass this weekend at the stations provided or by dropping in to the parish shop or pastoral office in the parish centre during the week. Thank You.
Youth 2000 Summer Festival- Clonmacnois, Co. Offaly.
The Youth 2000 Summer Festival will take place near the ancient ruins of the Clonmacnois monastic site in Co. Offaly. The Festival is for young people age 16-35, and will take place the weekend of Thursday 13th- Sunday 16th August 2009. The weekend will include inspiring talks, dramas, a concert, prayer, games and time for reflection and sharing. It promises to be a great opportunity for young people from all around Ireland to explore their faith, meet new friends and have some craic!
Accommodation and buses are FREE, so No Excuses!!!! All you will need is a sleeping bag and a pair of wellies.
If you or your friends / child are interested in taking part in this festival please contact Hannah in the Parish Pastoral Office, or call her on 0879365767.

2009-07-18T09:53:00.000+01:00

CEMETERY SUNDAY

13 September 2009

Gormanstown Blessing of Graves
after 10 am Mass

St Brigid’s Rosary and Blessing of
Graves at 3.15 pm

New Abbey Mass with Blessing of
Graves at 4 pm

Mass in Old Kilcullen Graveyard on Friday 31st July 2009
at 7.30 pm.

2009-07-18T09:52:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time 12th July 2009

1. Thank you for your contributions to the Peter’s Pence Collection last weekend. The total contributed was €1265.
2. The Blessing of Graves will take place at Old Kilcullen on Friday 31st July at 7.30 pm. The date for the other Graveyards is Sunday 13th September.
3. A member of the Pastoral Council will give us a brief report on the last meeting after Holy Communion.
4. Please take a copy of the Newsletter.

2009-07-05T07:20:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time 5th July 2009

1. The Annual Collection to support the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and the Pontifical Charities takes place at Masses this weekend. It replaces the SHARE Collection. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has asked that the following message from him be read to introduce the Collection:
“The Annual Peter’s Pence Collection is one of the oldest annual collections in the history of the Church.
Pope Benedict from the beginning of his Pontificate has recalled all of us to a fundamental truth of our Christian faith, which on the one hand seems so fundamental as not to need repeating, and on the other hand is so easily overlooked in the day to day life of the Church. I am speaking about that simple yet profound fact that ‘God is love’.
The Church is the community which springs up as fruit and image of what that love of God means. Is we lose that true image of God then our faith can take on the false image of a harsh punitive God, rather than a God who loves us and who frees us.
I ask you to pray for Pope Benedict and for his mission in the Church. I ask you to contribute generously to today’s collection to enable the Pope to sustain the charitable work of the Church in parts of the world where it is most needed.”
2. The Parish Pastoral Council will meet on Monday.
3. There will be a meeting for Parents and Godparents in preparation for Baptism on next Sunday at 12 noon.
4. We are asked to pray for the safe return of the two Goal workers who were kidnapped in Sudan’s Western Darfur region on Friday evening; they are Sharon Commins from Clontarf in Dublin and Hilda Kawuki.
5. We are pleased to announce that Hannah Evans, who was with us on placement as part of her training to be a Pastoral Worker, has been appointed by the Archbishop as Parish Pastoral Worker to the Parish of Kilcullen. Hannah will work in collaboration with Fr Michael and Fr Paddy, the Parish Pastoral Council and the people of the Parish in the service of the Gospel and of the mission and ministry of the local Church.

2009-06-28T10:40:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time 28th June 2009

1. During this week the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin will launch a new programme of Evangelisation. Evangelisation is about bringing the name, the message and the love of Jesus with renewed vigour into our own lives and into the world in which we live. We pray that this programme of Evangelisation will truly open the lives of each of us to be embraced by God’s love and thus to become witnesses of that love to our world.
As the Year of Evangelisation begins, two priests are ordained for the Diocese and thirteen Pastoral Workers are commissioned for service in the diocese. The central role of the Pastoral Workers will be to support priests and Parish Communities in educating people in their faith, in supporting and in developing parish initiatives around prayer and the sacraments.
2. Monday 29th June is the Feastday of SS Peter and Paul and brings the Year of St Paul to a close.
3. Wednesday 1st July is the Feastday of St Oliver Plunkett.
4. Friday will be the First Friday of July. Mass will be offered for all whose names are on the Altar List of the Dead.
5. The annual collection of Peter’s Pence to support Pope Benedict and the Pontifical Charities will be taken up at all Masses next weekend. It will replace the Share Collection.
6. As part of the Celebration of the ‘Year for Priests’ which began last week, the Vocations Office of the Diocese is asking for people to volunteer to Become a Priest/Seminarian Prayer Friend and undertake to pray for that priest/seminarian each day during the ‘Year for Priests’. Arrangements can be made by contacting vocations@dublindiocese.ie or Txt or Phone 0868346071.
7. There is a special website offering support for the Year for Priests, www.worldpriestday.com. It contains prayers for priests and other useful material.
8. We wish all who are on holiday a safe, relaxing and happy beak from routine.

2009-06-20T09:59:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time 21st June 2009

1. Sincere thanks to all who turned out for Cruinniú Chríost and made it a memorable Parish Day.
2. Thank you for your contributions last weekend to the special collection for the Eucharistic Congress. The amount collected was €875.00
3. In the Dublin Diocese this Sunday is Matt Talbot Sunday. We pray for his canonisation. The prayer for his canonisation is available in the church.
4. Pope Benedict has declared a ‘Year for Priests’ beginning on 19th June. Your prayers are requested for priests and for vocations to the priesthood. The year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of St John Vianney, who will be declared patron saint of all priests during the year. Each Parish is asked to mark the beginning of the ‘Year for Priests’ by taking part in a diocesan wide 9 Day Novena in honour of St John Vianney. The Prayer Leaflets are available in the church.
5. Two men will be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Dublin on next Saturday. Please keep them in your prayers.
6. This is also the time of year when Changes take place in the Diocese. On that account it can be an anxious time for priests. We request your prayers for their welfare.
7. There will be a Cake Sale in aid of Brannockstown School after 11 Mass in the Parish Centre. Your support will be appreciated.
8. We want to give you advance notice of Graveyard Sunday. It will be on Sunday 13th September.

2009-06-20T09:58:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
Corpus Christi 14 June 2009
1. Pope Benedict has decided that the Fiftieth International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Ireland in 2012. In order to cover the expenses of the Congress there will be a special National Collection on the Feast of Corpus Christi each year for the next three years. The first such collection is being held at Masses this weekend. It replaces the normal Share Collection.
2. The Youth Choir meet for practice on Monday at 7 pm in the Parish Centre.
3. Friday next is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Prayer Leaflets with the Novena to the Sacred Heart are available in the church.
4. Pope Benedict has declared a special ‘Year For Priests’ beginning on next Friday 19th June. To mark the beginning of this ‘Year For Priests’ all parishes in the Diocese are asked to take part in a Nine-day Novena in Honour of St John Vianney, beginning on next Friday. St John Vianney is the patron saint of Parish Priests; however this year he will be declared patron of all priests. Prayer Leaflets for the Novena are available in the church.
5. Some notes regarding Cruinniú Chríost:
• The main gathering point is the Town Square at 2 pm.
• Walk to the venue if you can.
• There is parking for older people at the Community Centre and at the Cattle Mart. There is parking at Scoil Bhríde for the disabled only. Bring a picnic and a rug and sun protection.
• The procession from the Town Square will begin at 2.30.
• Groups will be given a number at the Town Square so that the Procession will have an order.
• The Blessed Sacrament will not be carried in the Procession.
• Songs will be sung during the Procession from after the traffic lights.
• The Procession will go around directly to the rear of Scoil Bhríde where Mass will begin at 3 pm.
• After Mass there will be the picnic and entertainment until 5 pm.
• Encourage one another to make Cruinniú Chríost a Special Parish Event that we will all want to remember.
6. There is a Newsletter this weekend. Please take a copy.

Chruinniú Chríost 2009 in pictures

2009-06-15T09:03:00.002+01:00

Here is a selection of pictures from the Chruinniú Chríost parish gathering on Sunday last.

2009-06-06T17:29:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
Trinity Sunday 7 June 2009
1. The First Collection is for the support of the priests of the Parish as well as for the sick and retired priests of the diocese. Contributions to this collection have not fallen despite the recession and we want to thank you for your generosity every week.
2. There will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in preparation for Cruinniú Chríost this Sunday 3 to 5 pm.
3. The Finance Committee will meet on Monday.
4. The Pastoral Council will meet on Monday.
5. There will be a meeting for all Altar Servers on Tuesday at 7 pm.
6. The final meeting to organise Cruinniú Chríost will take place on Tuesday at 8 pm in the Parish Centre.
7. We encourage everyone to make a special effort to support our special Parish event next Sunday, Cruinniú Chríost, 2 – 5 pm. If you haven’t already done so, please take the Open Invitation letter to someone not at Mass and invite them to take part. Pray for fine weather. Organise your own picnic for after the Mass.
8. There will be three Area Gatherings in preparation for Cruinniú Chríost during this week: for Area West on Wednesday at Castlemartin Lawn at 7.30 pm; for Area North on Wednesday at Moanbane Green at 7.30 pm; and for Area East on Thursday at Brannockstown School at 8.30 pm. Please encourage one another to come out, gather and take part. There is a Prayer Leaflet available in the church for use at home over these days.
9. The Novena to the Sacred Heart starts on Thursday. The Parish Church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart and St Brigid. The Novena Prayer is available in the church.
10. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will lead the Diocesan Eucharistic Procession on Thursday in Clonliffe College at 7.30 pm.
11. Pope Benedict has decided that the Fiftieth International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Ireland in 2012. In order to cover the expenses of the Congress there will be a special National Collection on the Feast of Corpus Christi each year for the next three years. The first such collection will be held at Masses next weekend. It will replace the normal Share Collection.
12. We give you advance notice of the Blessing of Graves; it will take place on Sunday 13 September.
13. There is a Newsletter this weekend. Take a copy.
14. The second collection is the normal Share Collection which supports Parishes in need and pays for a range of services in the diocese.

2009-05-31T10:35:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
Pentecost Sunday 31 May 2009
1. Mass on Monday, the public holiday, will be at 11 am.
2. The Blood Donation Clinic will be in the Community Centre on Tuesday from 4.30 to 8.30 pm.
3. There will be a Festival Weekend in honour of St Kevin in Glendalough next weekend. Details are on the notice board. St Kevin is Patron Saint of the Diocese of Dublin and his Feastday falls on Wednesday 3 June.
4. Cruinniú Chríost will take place in two weeks time, on Sunday 14 June, 2 to 5 pm. The representatives from each Area who carried the Cross last year in the Cruinniú Chríost Procession will collect it again at 11 am Mass this Sunday and bring it to their Area in preparation for the Area Gathering.
There will be an Area Gathering in preparation for Cruinniú Chríost for Parishioners living roughly South of the traffic lights, on Thursday of this week at Nicholastown Green at 7.30 pm. All are welcome.
The Area Gathering for North of the traffic lights will be on Wednesday week 10 June at Moanbane Green at 7.30 pm.
For the Area East of the traffic lights, it will be on Thursday week 11 June at Brannockstown School at 8.30 pm.
5. There is a Letter of Invitation to Cruinniú Chríost along with a Prayer available in the church. You might like to take it to friends and neighbours and encourage them to take part in the Area Gatherings as well as on the day itself, Sunday 14 June.
6. Friday next will be the First Friday of June. The Mass will be offered for all whose names are on the Altar List of the Dead.
7. There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Friday from midday to 9 pm. Parishioners are invited to come and pray before the Blessed Sacrament in preparation for Cruinniú Chríost.
8. Please make sure you exercise your right to vote on Friday.
9. Kilcullen Lions Club are holding a Health Fair next Saturday 10 am to 4 pm at Nolan Brophy Auctioneers, Main Street. Tests include: Diabetes, Blood Pressure & Eye Health. All free of charge.
10. There will be a meeting in preparation for Baptism next Sunday at 12 noon.
11. There is a Newsletter this weekend. Please take a copy.

2009-05-23T17:04:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord 24 May 2009
1. Cruinniú Chríost, our Parish Gathering, will take place this Sunday three weeks. We ask that a Team from each of the Four Areas of the Parish would meet on Monday at 8 pm in the Parish Centre. Each Team is asked to organise a local Gathering or gatherings during the two weeks before 14 June. At the meeting on Monday we will finalise dates and arrangements.
The day itself will follow the same form as last year. We gather at the town Square at 2 pm. We process to Scoil Bhríde at 2.30 pm. Mass will be celebrated at 3 pm followed by picnic and entertainment.
Now is the time to start planning your day and the picnic and encouraging neighbours and friends to take part so as to make it once again a memorable Parish Day.
2. There will be Prayerful Reading of St Paul in the Parish Centre on Tuesday morning at 10.30 am.
3. We have invited those confirmed earlier this year to take part in a Post Confirmation Programme which will take place next Friday and the following Friday in the Parish Centre.
4. The Youth Choir will sing at 7.30 Mass next Saturday and the singing practice for the Youth Choir is on Mondays at 7 pm in the Parish Centre.
5. Next Sunday will be the Feast of Pentecost. The representatives from each Area who carried the Cross last year in the Cruinniú Chríost Procession will collect it again at 11.00 Mass next Sunday and bring it to their Area in preparation for the Area Gathering.
6. The Parish Pilgrimage to Knock will take place next Sunday. Those wishing to travel should give their name at the Parish Office or to Patty Bagnell.
7. PRAYER FOR EXAMINATIONS:
Lord, as I prepare to study, send your Holy Spirit to guide me.
Keep me calm. Help me to do the best I can on the day of my exam.
Give me peace, understanding and wisdom.
Be with me today and always. Amen.
8. Please pray for the happy repose of those who died recently:
Jack O’Connor, Kilgowan;
Teresa Kelly, Avondale Drive;
May they rest in peace.

2009-05-17T12:17:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
6th Sunday of Easter 17 May 2009
1. Thank you for your contributions last Sunday to the Collection for the support of Students for the Priesthood. The total was €1190.
2. We congratulate the children from Brannockstown and Halverstown who made their First Holy Communion on Saturday.
3. The Parish can benefit from claiming the tax relief for donations by Parishioners to the Parish. We want to thank Parishioners who have returned the Tax Relief Form which is necessary for the Parish to make the claim.
4. There will be Prayerful Reading of St Paul on Tuesday morning at 10.30 am in the Parish Centre. There will be a Plainchant Concert on Thursday night 7.30 pm in the Parish church in honour of St Paul.
5. There will be a public forum on Jobs Creation on Thursday night in the Burlington Hotel Dublin. Details on the notice board.
6. There will be Funeral Ministry training in the Parish Centre next Saturday 23 May from 10 am to 1 pm. It is for the Parishes of our Cluster which includes Ballymore and Dunlavin. It is open to anyone who wishes to attend but we do need to know who is coming by Wednesday.
7. ISANDS, the Irish Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Society, will have their Blessing of Remembrance in Glasnevin Cemetery next Sunday at 3 pm.
8. In preparation for Cruinniú Chríost, there will be a meeting on Tuesday at 8 pm in the Parish Centre to plan the Area Gathering for Sunbury Close, St Brigid’s Avenue and Grove, Conroy Park, Nicholastown and Avondale. People from these areas are asked to attend and to help plan the Gathering. There will be a meeting for all Area Teams on Monday week at 8 pm in the Parish Centre.
9. Next Sunday will be the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.
10. A member of the Pastoral Council will give us a brief summary of the last meeting after Holy Communion.

2009-05-09T16:41:00.000+01:00

Cruinniú Chríost
Sunday 14 June 2009
Area Teams Meeting Monday 25 May
8 pm in the Parish Centre
Cruinniú Chríost is our Parish celebration of Corpus Christi, the gift of Jesus to us in the Eucharist, which we acknowledge in a very public way by a Procession through the Streets followed by outdoor Mass and a picnic. It will take place in five weeks time on Sunday 14 June, the Feast of Corpus Christi. The day itself will be a repeat of last year’s model.
In preparation we are asking each Area to form an Area Team to think through and plan Area Gatherings during the two weeks prior to 14 June.
On Sunday 31 May the representatives from each Area who carried the Cross last year are invited to collect it again from 11.00 Mass at the Parish church and to bring it to their Area. Over the following two weeks each Area might decide to have the Cross in a different venue or home each night.
Each Area is invited to host its own gathering or gatherings during those two weeks. The Cross will give the Gathering a focus. The venue could be indoors or outdoors in someone’s home or garden or a neutral venue.
The Gathering would involve an element of Prayer, Reflection, Blessing and Refreshment. A particular feature of the Gathering will be to provide people with an opportunity to bless Family Members, Home, Car, Business or Live Stock. Holy Water and a Prayer leaflet will be provided for the purpose.

There will be a meeting for the Area Teams on Monday fortnight,
25 May at 8 pm in the Parish Centre to finalise arrangements.
9 May 2009

2009-05-09T16:40:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
Fifth Sunday of Easter 10 May 2009
Priesthood Sunday
1. Congratulations to the 50 children from Scoil Bhríde who celebrated their First Holy Communion on Saturday. 17 children will make their First Holy Communion in Gormanstown next Saturday.
2. In the Dublin Diocese this Sunday is called Priesthood Sunday. We pray for our Seminarians who journey towards priesthood and we pray for vocations to the priesthood. There is also a Special Collection to support the formation of students for the priesthood. It replaces the usual SHARE Collection.
3. The Pastoral Council will meet on Monday.
4. The Parish Race Night will be in Naas Racecourse on Wednesday.
5. We continue to honour the Year of St Paul this week with Prayerful Reading of his Letter to the Romans on Tuesday at 10.30 am and a film on his life on Thursday at 7.30 pm, both in the Parish Centre.
6. The Parish Pilgrimage to Knock will be on Sunday 7 June. Booking through the Parish Office or Patty Bagnell.
7. We have had technical difficulties with the Parish Website for some time. There is a parallel site which you can access by inserting blogspot; so for the moment the Parish Website address is www.kilcullenparish.blogspot.com .
8. This weekend we welcome Fr Ciarán O’Carroll who is going to talk to us about the Year of Evangelisation in the Dublin diocese.

2009-05-02T18:53:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
Fourth Sunday of Easter 3 May 2009
Day of Prayer for Vocations.
1. On Monday the public holiday Mass will be celebrated at 11 am.
2. Cruinniú Chríost will take place on Sunday 14 June. Cruinniú Chríost is our Parish celebration of Corpus Christi, the gift of Jesus to us in the Eucharist, which we acknowledge in a very public way by a Procession through the Streets followed by outdoor Mass and a picnic. We will follow a similar model to last year. People from the different areas of the Parish are invited to come and gather in the Town Square at 2 pm and then process through the Main Street and down to Scoil Bhríde for Mass at 3 pm. Bishop Eamonn Walsh will be the principal celebrant of the Mass.
The main meeting to organise the event will take place on Tuesday at 8 pm in the Parish Centre. People from the different areas of the Parish are asked to attend in order to work out how the different areas of the Parish will respond on the day.
3. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland will hold a Tea Day on Thursday. We are having it in the Parish Centre from 10 am to 12 noon. Its purpose is to raise money for people with Alzheimer’s and their carers.
4. To make the Year of St Paul we have a number of events planned for the Month of May. On Thursday at 7.30 pm in the Parish Centre we will have a guest speaker talking about the Life and Conversion of St Paul. All are welcome. On Tuesday mornings beginning this Tuesday at 10.30 am we will have Prayerful Reading of some of the writings of St Paul.
5. The Liturgy Team will meet on Friday at 8.30 pm in the Parish Centre to plan the Liturgy for Cruinniú Chríost.
6. On Saturday next at 11 am we celebrate First Holy Communion with the children from Scoil Bhríde.
7. At Masses next weekend Fr Ciaran O’Carroll, who has responsibility for Evangelisation in the Diocese, will speak to us about the Year of Evangelisation which is about to take place in the diocese.
8. There will be a Preparation Meeting for the Sacrament of Baptism next Sunday at 12 noon.
9. Next Sunday there will be a special collection to support the formation of Students for the Priesthood. It will replace SHARE.

2009-04-18T21:32:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
2nd Sunday of Easter 19 April 2009

1. Fr Michael and Fr Paddy wish to thank all who have sent in Easter Dues Offerings. Dues Offerings throughout the year form roughly one third of priests’ income. Sincere thanks for your continued generosity.
2. We wish to acknowledge all who participated in the Holy Week Liturgies: cleaners, decorators, singers and musicians, servers, sacristan, all who participated and all who attended. Together we helped make it a worthy Holy Week in 2009.
3. We celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday this afternoon at 3 pm. The afternoon will be led by Fr Andrew O’Sullivan.
4. Trocaire are asking people who have not already done so to make a donation this weekend. Envelopes are available in the church to facilitate donations from people who did not have a Trocaire box during Lent.
5. The Youth Choir will meet on Monday at 7 pm in the Parish Centre.
6. A reminder that the Parish Office and Shop is located beside the church in the Parish Centre and is open on weekdays for Parish business as well as Sympathy and Intention Mass Cards, First Holy Communion and Confirmation Gifts and Books and Religious Goods.
7. Hannah, our candidate Pastoral Worker, is here at Mass to say her goodbyes to us.
8. Please remember in your prayers those who have died recently:
Fr Jim O’Sullivan, who served in Kilcullen in the early 1960’s;
Teresa Hilliard, Avondale Drive:
Reception Of The Body At The Church: Monday 7.30 pm.
The Funeral Mass: Tuesday 11 am.
May they rest in peace.

2009-04-04T21:27:00.000+01:00

Highlights from the April Pastoral Council meeting.

On Wednesday April 1st, the Parish Pastoral Council had a very productive meeting.

With a view to producing a weekly newsletter a sample one was produced and ideas of format discussed. It is hoped to have this up and running in the near future.

Representatives from Kilcullen & Gormanstown met with representatives from the other churches in our Cluster (Ballymore Eustace, Hollywood, Dunlavin, Davidstown & Donard). It was agreed to set up a joint Funeral Group and instigate a training programme.

The Faith Formation / Confirmation Committee are focusing on the Year of St. Paul. During May various events on this theme will take place including a guest speaker, an evening of Gregorian chant, and a film on the life of St. Paul.
There will also be Lectio Divina (prayerful reading of scripture) on Tuesday mornings. Students from Cross & Passion College are running events in parallel with those in the main Parish.
This year's Confirmation students will be invited to two evenings based on the Four Pillars of Faith (Creed, Sacraments, Morals and Prayer).
The website www.yfaith.co.uk is worth a visit for children and adults alike.

The Liturgy Team is working on ways to enliven the Mass and other public forms of worship. Their first focus is on the Easter ceremonies.

Cruinniú Chríost, the parish celebration of Corpus Christi, will be held on Sunday June 14th. Anyone interested in coming forward to support the venture are invited to a meeting to be held in early May. The date and venue will be announced closer to the time.

Youth Affairs -The new Youth Choir participated in their first Mass on March 28th. It is hoped to co-ordinate a Youth Team to support the choir with a view to having a youth orientated Mass on the last Saturday of each month.

The meeting on child protection was well attended by representatives from groups that use parish facilities. A training day in child protection issues will be held on Saturday April 18th, from 9.30 to 4.30. Please contact Fr. Murphy if you wish to attend.

The Council discussed the recession and its effect on our parish. Ideas were put forward for ways and means of providing practical assistance.

On August 5th 1869 the foundation stone of the Parish church was laid. We welcome any ideas on to how to mark the 140 years of worship.

Our Pastoral worker, Hannah, will leave us on Easter Sunday. She was warmly praised for all her sterling work since her arrival.

2009-04-04T21:25:00.000+01:00

Passion Sunday

We are at the beginning of Holy Week. If we want truly to be Christian, this week ought to be a time when we share in a special way in the passion of Christ. We do this not so much by indulging in pious feelings, but by bearing the burdens of our life with simple fortitude and without ostentation. For we share by faith in the passion of our Lord precisely by realising that our life is a participation in his destiny. We find this difficult, because so often we fail to understand that the bitterness and burden of our own life do - or should - give us a mysterious share in the destiny of all human beings… If we were aware of this…we would understand that his passion is the unique acceptance of the passion of humankind, in which it is accepted, suffered, redeemed and freed into the mystery of God.

Karl Rahner SJ

2009-04-04T21:22:00.000+01:00

Parish Notices
Palm Sunday of The Lord’s Passion 5 April 2009
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.

Holy Week
Holy Week is the Great Week when we open ourselves to the Paschal Mystery of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ so that the new life of the Holy Spirit may be more deeply rooted within us.

1. The Easter Schedule along with Easter Dues envelopes have been delivered to the homes of the Parish. Extra copies are available in the church.
2. There is a typing error on the Schedule. Our Parish celebration of the Sacrament of Penance in preparation for Easter will be on Monday at 7.30 pm.
3. There will be training for all Altar Servers on Monday at 6 pm in the Parish Church.
4. All Ministers of Holy Communion are asked to attend Mass on Tuesday at 7.30 pm.
5. The Sacrament of the Sick will be celebrated on Wednesday at 7.30 pm. Anyone who is sick is invited to receive the Anointing of the Sick.
6. On Holy Thursday we commemorate the Last Supper in a special way at 5 pm and 8 pm. A Collection for those in need will be taken up at these Masses.
7. On Good Friday we meditate on Christ’s suffering and death with the Liturgy of the Passion at 3 pm and the Stations of the Cross at 12 noon and 7.30 pm and also in Gormanstown at 7.30 pm.
8. The highlight of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday at 9 pm.
9. There will be an extra Mass on Easter Sunday at 12 noon.

10. Hannah, our Candidate Pastoral Worker, will finish her time with us at Easter.

11. There will be a Child Protection Training Course on Saturday of Easter Week in the Parish Centre. Anyone interested in taking part should let us know by Easter Sunday.

12. Cruinniú Chríost will take place on Sunday 14 June.

May this Holy Week be for all of us in Kilcullen Parish a time of renewal and new hope.

2009-03-28T16:16:00.000Z

Child Protection Issues
In 2006 the government set up a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the handling by the diocesan authorities of child sexual abuse by clergy working in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Commission of Investigation is expected to present its report to the Minister for Justice in the near future and the report will be published. It will bring to the surface once again many things we would prefer to forget; but we can’t afford to forget them. As Jesus once remarked “the truth will set you free.” I am alerting you now because I don’t want people to be taken unawares when the report is published.
It will be a painful time for all of us, priests and parishioners alike. Our instincts may be to distance ourselves from it and say it has nothing to do with us. By accepting the pain, however unfair it may seem, we will be in solidarity with the many children whose innocence was stolen from them, and with their parents and all who love them. Their pain is surely far greater than ours.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has devoted an enormous amount of time and energy to ensuring that children are safe-guarded in all activities associated with the Church. From time to time he has also provided an up-date on child protection issues in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The most recent up-date includes statistics which indicate that during the period from 1940 up to the present time:
• Allegations have been made against 77 priests of the Diocese.
• Suspicions have been raised concerning 9 priests of the Diocese.
• Allegations have been made against 54 Religious priests or priests from other Diocese who held an appointment in Dublin.
• Allegations have been made against 9 Religious priests or priests from other Diocese which related to their doing supply in Dublin.
• Suspicions have been raised concerning 3 Religious priests who held appointments in the Diocese.
These statistics date over a period of 68 years. Since 1940 over 1,350 Diocesan priests have served in Dublin and around 1,450 priests from Religious Congregations have held appointments from the Archbishop of Dublin.
These statistics include all the allegations made irrespective of the eventual outcome of the investigation. It is the policy of Archbishop Martin that all allegations and suspicions are reported to the civil authorities, in accordance with the policy document Our Children Our Church. Eight priests have been convicted in the criminal courts. Three Dublin Diocesan priests who have been the subject of allegations of child sexual abuse are currently before the courts.
One thing we can do is to ensure that our Parish Child Protection procedures correspond with best practice. I want to be sure that Parish property is the safest possible place for children. To that end I am calling all individuals, groups and organising working with children and or young people, under the aegis of the Parish or using Parish property, to a meeting on Monday 30 March at 8.30 pm in the Parish Centre. The purpose of the meeting will be to spell out the implications of our Parish Child Protection Policy for all ad rem individuals, groups and organisations. That meeting will be followed by a Child Protection Training Day which will take place on Saturday 18 April from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm in the Parish Centre.
In the meantime, can I ask you all to be vigilant and, if you become aware of any indication that children may be at risk, please don’t remain silent. I am sorry that you will have to go through all of this again, but I am all the more sorry for the pain that has been caused to children and their families through the actions of priests or, in some cases, the failure to act of the Church authorities.
The Parish Child Protection Policy is on display in our two Churches and in the Parish Centre and copies of it are available to take away. The text of what I have just said is also available to take away.
Fr Michael Murphy, 1st March 2009.

2009-03-28T16:13:00.000Z

Introduction to our New Pastoral Council January 2009 to January 2012
This weekend it is my responsibility to introduce the new Parish Pastoral Council which came into being at the beginning of this year and will serve for a three year term. The formality will take place at 11 Mass.
Pastoral Councils were mandated in the diocese four years ago. In terms of the history of the Church they are somewhat new, and as for all of us and as with life, there is a journey involved and Pastoral Councils are at the beginning of their journey. We don’t quite know where that journey will lead us. The leader in this case is the Holy Spirit. So we can trust the journey. But we can only describe the part of the journey that is before us at this time.
At different stages of the history of the Church different things get emphasis as to the way the Church understands itself. In our time, collaboration is a key term to understand how the Church needs to be now to fit the circumstances of our time. Collaboration between all members of the Church, whether Pope, Bishops, Priests, People and Parishes so that we can maximise our resources. Another key term is mission. We are all sent out from every Mass on mission to revitalise the Church in our neighbourhood.
When I came into the priesthood most priests did not see themselves as team players. They were for the most part lone rangers doing their own thing in their own patch. That has all changed. Priests in the Dublin diocese who want to work in Parishes now have to sign up to the fact that all ministry, from now on, will mainly be team style in practice. If you don’t see yourself as a team member there is a problem. The Holy Spirit is blowing us all in that direction whether we want to go or not.
All these terms, ministry, mission, teamwork, collaboration, partnership apply to the Pastoral Council. In ten years time it is very unlikely that there will be a priest dedicated fulltime to one parish. Already appointments in the diocese are being made across clusters of parishes. We will be doing well if in ten years time there will be two priests who will be as old as I will be then to work across the three Parishes of our cluster, where we have seven churches. Every Parish does need a properly constituted Pastoral Council, if it is to survive in the new circumstances ahead. Every Parish will not have a resident priest.
The coming into being of a new Pastoral Council is a very significant step in the life of the Parish. Our Pastoral Council consists of fourteen members, twelve parishioners along with Fr Paddy and myself. Six members are elected and six are selected. The experience of the first Pastoral Council was very positive. I am looking forward to what will come our way through the ministry of our new Pastoral Council. Our collective task is to provide pastoral leadership and share pastoral responsibility for the Parish and we do so mindful of our neighbours in Ballymore and Dunlavin Parishes. We have begun to establish links with these neighbours with a view to sharing resources, planning joint initiatives and learning from each other.
The members of the pastoral council are the eyes and ears of the Parish. A team of fourteen can do more than one or two individuals. Each member must have care for the whole Parish community, taking a community view of issues and focusing on what is the best option for the whole Parish.
By virtue of Baptism we all share in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ, whether ordained or lay. Members of the Pastoral Council are by definition baptised, confirmed and nourished by the Eucharist.
The Pastoral Council is concerned with issues that affect the lives of Parishioners rather than the administration or financial management of the Parish. Areas of pastoral concern, which particularly affect the Pastoral Council, are the same pastoral activities as those which apply to the Parish Priest which are described in the documents of Vatican II and the Code of Canon Law. They consist as follows:
• The proclamation of the Word of God
• Faith formation and catechesis
• Liturgy, justice and peace
• Family life
• Evangelisation
• Caring for the sick and poor
• Encouraging Parishioners to become actively involved in the mission of the Church
This is not a comprehensive list. That list is constantly evolving. The Pastoral Council is concerned with fulfilling the mission of Christ in the local community at this time and attending to all that affects the faith life of that community at the present moment.
The bottom line is: who is going to carry forward the mission of this Parish at this time? Who is going to dream and plan the future of the Parish of Kilcullen? Collectively and individually, that’s the task of the Pastoral Council. And we do not work in a vacuum. We are not an isolated unit. Rather we are part of a diocese which is part of the universal Church, that great reality we define as the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
We meet once a month. Ongoing training and formation and reflection are vital to keep us up to speed for the task.
Prayer is central to the work and life of the Pastoral Council as its source of inspiration and vision. This is not book-end prayer that opens and closes meetings, but prayer that aims to change hearts and minds, prayer that sincerely searches out the mind of God in relation to the needs of this Parish at this time.’ If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the builders labour.’

2009-03-28T16:11:00.000Z

Parish of Kilcullen
Celebrating a Catholic Funeral
The Ministry of Consolation and Comfort
When Christians die, the Church intercedes on their behalf, confident that ‘life is changed, but not ended’. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the Funeral Rites with the comforting Word of God and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. During the Funeral Rites, the Church on earth unites with the Church in Heaven to offer worship, praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to God, the author of life. The Ceremonies also bring hope and consolation to the living.
Funeral Ministry Team
This weekend we are introducing our Funeral Ministry Team to the Parish. This will take place formally at the 11.00 Mass. The Funeral Ministry Team will fulfil one dimension of the Ministry of Consolation in the Parish.
The role of the Funeral Ministry Team will be to assist the priest and to support the family of the deceased, rather like the way the Baptism Team assists at Baptism and supports the family. They will also pray for the deceased and the bereaved family. They will take care to exercise their ministry of consolation and comfort in a sensitive and reverent way, always keeping in mind the life of the deceased and the circumstances of death, in so far as they are known.
The reason for introducing Funeral Ministry at this time is because Parish life is now different:
• By virtue of Baptism we are all called and gifted for the many and varied ministries necessary to build up the Body of Christ which is the Church in this Parish.
• We are preparing the way for a day which is quickly approaching when a priest will no longer be available for all aspects of Funerals.
We hope to roll out this new ministry gradually in the Parish and across the Cluster of our Three Parishes. We will begin with small steps and will remain open to changing what we do as we discover a better approach.

So, from now on, the following will apply in the Parish:
Where possible, a member of the Funeral Team will accompany the priest to the Home of the Deceased, or to the funeral home, and will assist the family in preparing for the funeral. This will involve helping the family choose readings, compose prayers and choose music. Gradually the Funeral Team will share in leading the prayers at home or at the funeral home.
At the Reception of the Body at the Church, the Funeral Team will stand at the door of the church holding candles to greet the arrival of the funeral. The coffin is sprinkled with Holy Water, as a remembrance that in the waters of Baptism Christians receive the pledge of eternal life. After the sprinkling the Funeral Team will cover the coffin with the white Funeral Pall, to recall that on the day of their Baptism a Christian is wrapped in a white robe as a child of God. If the coffin is carried to the altar, the Pall will not be placed over the coffin until then.
The Funeral Team will process with the priest in front of the coffin. The coffin is placed before the Paschal Candle, symbolising Christ’s undying presence and his victory over death by his resurrection. The Funeral Team may place Christian symbols on the coffin, such as the Crucifix, the Book of the Gospels, a rosary beads or prayer book belonging to the deceased. These symbols are clear signs of the dignity of the baptised Christian. The Funeral Team will wait and accompany the family out as they leave the church.
If the family wish to carry with them a photograph or other emblems, which reflect the deceased’s interests or personality, these will be placed on a table near the coffin at the Reception or at the beginning of the Funeral Mass. These are not placed on the coffin and are not included in the Procession with the Bread and Wine. Non-liturgical music should not normally be used during a Funeral Mass.
At the Funeral Mass the Funeral Team will be present to assist and support the family and to help them with readings, prayers and whatever else is needed. Very often a family can be so grief stricken that they do not know what to do and a supporting presence can make all the difference. Pressure will not be put on anyone to read, particularly if they are not regular readers at Mass.
The Rite of Committal at the graveside is another stage in the funeral where the Funeral Team will assist.
Obviously it will take time for this new ministry to settle in and to find its place in the life of the Parish. The Funeral Ministry Team is another significant step as we build the Parish of the future. It has been said that the Funeral Ministry Team may well be the most important mission team in the Church.
Fr Michael Murphy 28/29 March 2009

2009-03-28T16:09:00.000Z

Parish Notices
5th Sunday of Lent 29 March 2009
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.
Season of Lent
During Lent we make preparations to climb the Holy Mountain of Easter. Attentive to the Word of God and Prayer, we prepare ourselves by Penance for the renewal of our Baptismal Promises.

1. We acknowledge your continuing generosity to the Two Collections taken up at Mass. Despite the recession contributions to these collections have not changed.
2. The proceeds from the Parish Feis came to €4,470.00. Sincere thanks to the many people who give generously of their time to make the day enjoyable for all participants.
3. Our new Funeral Ministry Team will be formally introduced to the Parish at 11 Mass this Sunday.
4. There will be training for all Altar Servers on Monday at 6.50 pm in the Parish Church.
5. There will be an Information Meeting about Child Protection for all users of Parish Property on Monday at 8.30 pm in the Parish Centre. All with an interest in this very important topic are welcome to attend.
6. There will be a meeting to begin preparations for Cruinniú Chríost on Tuesday at 7 pm in the Parish Centre.
7. The new Liturgy Team will meet on Tuesday at 8 pm in the Parish Centre.
8. The Pastoral Council will meet on Wednesday.
9. The children preparing for First Holy Communion will feature at Mass next weekend.
10. Friday of this week will be the First Friday of April. Mass will be offered for all whose names are on the Altar List of the Dead. Holy Communion will be brought to the sick and housebound of the Parish.
11. The schedule for Holy Week will be similar to last year. We suggest you bring your own palms for next Sunday, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. The Sacrament of Penance in preparation for Easter will be on Monday of Holy Week at 7.30 pm. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be on Wednesday of Holy Week at 7.30 pm.
12. In the Offertory Procession we include with the Bread and Wine this week’s image from the Trocaire Lenten Campaign and we place it in the Lenten Space in front of the Altar.
13. At the end of 11 Mass we turn the page of the Gospels placed in our Lenten Display Area to next Sunday’s Gospel reading, which is The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Mark.

2009-03-22T21:11:00.000Z

Parish Notices
4th Sunday of Lent 22 March 2009
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.
Season of Lent
During Lent we make preparations to climb the Holy Mountain of Easter. Attentive to the Word of God and Prayer, we prepare ourselves by Penance for the renewal of our Baptismal Promises.

1. We are more than half way through Lent. Holy Week is only two weeks away. Now is the time to resolve to make Holy Week special and take part in the Liturgies, especially Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.
2. The devotion of the Stations of the Cross is especially suited to Lent and you can do them on your own at any time here in the church.
3. Weekday Masses will continue through Lent, 9.30 in the morning, 7.30 in the evening.
4. The new Pastoral Council will be formally introduced to the Parish at 11 Mass this weekend.
5. The Finance Committee will meet on Monday.
6. There will be training for all Altar Servers on Monday at 7 pm in the Parish Church.
7. Children from Brannockstown and Halverstown Schools will make their First Confession in Gormanstown on Tuesday.
8. There will be a meeting for all our Readers on Tuesday at 8 pm in the Parish Church.
9. Our Cluster of Parishes is forming an Executive Committee and it will meet on Tuesday.
10. Wednesday 25 March is the Solemnity of the Annunciation.
11. The new Youth Choir will sing at 7.30 Mass on Saturday next.
12. There will be a preparation Meeting for Baptism on Sunday next at 12 noon.
13. In the Offertory Procession we include with the Bread and Wine this week’s image from the Trocaire Lenten Campaign and we place it in the Lenten Space in front of the Altar.
14. This Sunday is Mothers’ Day. We pray God’s Blessing on all mothers.
15. The Parish Feis takes place this Sunday in the Community Centre.
16. At the end of 11 Mass we turn the page of the Gospels placed in our Lenten Display Area to next Sunday’s Gospel reading, where Jesus will say to us:
‘Unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies,
it yields a rich harvest.’

2009-03-14T22:42:00.000Z

Parish Notices
3rd Sunday of Lent 15 March 2009
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.
Season of Lent
During Lent we make preparations to climb the Holy Mountain of Easter. Attentive to the Word of God and Prayer, we prepare ourselves by Penance for the renewal of our Baptismal Promises.

1. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin wishes the following short message read out at Masses this weekend:
“I would like to express my very special appreciation for the generosity shown by the people of the Archdiocese of Dublin on the occasion of the annual collection for the Society of St Vincent de Paul just before Christmas. The final figures for the collection show an increase of 24% over last year, with a total of €2,195,570.
Despite the many difficulties that families and individuals face, I am genuinely moved to see the depth of the sense of care and solidarity which this generosity shows.
The members of the St Vincent de Paul Society do great work and I would recommend their work and mission especially to young people.”
2. St Patrick’s Day falls on Tuesday. Masses will be as follows:
• Monday 7.30 pm
• Tuesday 9 and 11 am
• Gormanstown Tuesday at 10 am.
3. There will be two fundraising events this week in Kilcullen for the Lakota Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota:
• a concert this Sunday night at 7 pm in the Town Hall and
• a Table Quiz in O’Connell’s on Wednesday at 8.30 pm.
4. We encourage all involved in the various ministry groups in the Parish to attend the Liturgy Workshop arranged for next Saturday 10 am to 1 pm. Please give your name in the Sacristy if you can attend.
5. There will be a meeting for all our Readers on Tuesday week, 24th March at 8 pm in the Parish Church.
6. In the Offertory Procession we include with the Bread and Wine this week’s image from the Trocaire Lenten Campaign and we place it with the Lenten Space in front of the Altar.
7. At the end of 11 Mass we turn the page of the Gospels placed in our Lenten Display Area to next Sunday’s Gospel reading.
8. Please remember in your prayers Paddy Bathe who died on Saturday morning.
May he rest in peace.

Notices 8 March 2009

2009-03-10T10:15:00.003Z

2nd Sunday of Lent 1 March 2009
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.

Season of Lent
During Lent we make preparations to climb the Holy Mountain of Easter. Attentive to the Word of God and Prayer, we prepare ourselves by Penance for the renewal of our Baptismal Promises.

1. Mass on weekdays during Lent at 9.30 am and 7.30 pm.
2. There will be a short version of the Rosary every Monday and Wednesday at 3 pm in the Parish Church, and Friday in Gormanstown Church, during Lent. You are invited to come along with your children to pray.
3. Stations of the Cross will take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 am in the Parish Church.
4. There will be training for Altar Servers on Monday at 7 pm.
5. Practice for the Youth Choir will take place on Monday at 7 pm in the Parish Centre. Anyone in the age group 13 to 25 in welcome.
6. There will be an Information Meeting about Liturgy on Monday at 8 pm in the Parish Centre. The term Liturgy refers to everything we do here in the church, and refers in a special to the Mass. All are welcome to attend. It will be followed by a training day on Saturday 21st March. The purpose of the Training Day will be to establish a Liturgy Team in the Parish. Part of the task of the Liturgy Team will be to make the Liturgy more personal and inclusive of all ages, genders and social groups.
7. There will be no Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land this year due to the small level of interest. We will look at it again next year.
8. The Dublin Diocese is inviting applications for the Permanent Diaconate. The programme of preparation involves a substantial part-time commitment over a four year period, and an awareness of the need for on-going formation after ordination. Applicants should be over 25 years of age (if single) or over 35 years of age (if married) and must be under 60. Further information is on the diocesan website.
9. ACCORD Dublin urgently needs men and women to deliver Marriage Preparation Courses. There will be an Information Evening for those interested at ACCORD, Harcourt St., Dublin on Tuesday 31st March.
10. After Holy Communion there will be a short report from The Pastoral Council.
11. In the Offertory Procession we include with the Bread and Wine this week’s image from the Trocaire Lenten campaign and we place it with the Lenten Space in front of the Altar.

Notices 1 March 2009

2009-02-28T18:00:00.002Z

1st Sunday of Lent
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.Season of Lent
During Lent we make preparations to climb the Holy Mountain of Easter. Attentive to the Word of God and Prayer, we prepare ourselves by Penance for the renewal of our Baptismal Promises.

1. Mass on weekdays during Lent at 9.30 am and 7.30 pm.
2. There will be a short version of the Rosary every Monday and Wednesday at 3 pm in the Parish Church during Lent. You are invited to come along with your children to pray.
3. There will be training for Altar Servers on Monday at 7 pm.
4. Practice for the Youth Choir will take place on Monday at 7 pm in the Parish Centre. Anyone in the age group 13 to 25 in welcome.
5. There will be a meeting for all Ministers of Holy Communion in the Parish church on Tuesday at 8.30 pm.
6. The Pastoral Council will meet on Wednesday.
7. Friday will be the First Friday of March. The Masses will be offered for all whose names are on the Altar List of the Dead.
8. There will be a meeting for Parents and Godparents preparing for Baptism on next Sunday at 12 noon.
9. We would like to hear from any parents who would like their child baptised at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.
10. The Dublin Diocese is recruiting again this year for Candidate Parish Pastoral Workers. Details are on the diocesan website www.dublindiocese.ie. We draw your attention to an Open Evening in Clonliffe College next Thursday to provide potential candidates with more information about the role.

Letter from Fr Murphy: Challenge

2009-02-23T09:51:00.002Z

A Message from Fr Michael Murphy, Parish House, Kilcullen,
On the Occasion of the New Year of the Family Offering (Challenge-Envelope) Collection,
1st March 2009:

THANK YOU

I am very heartened by, and very appreciative of, the great support given to the life and work of the Church in the Parish of Kilcullen. My sincere thanks to every one of you for your goodwill and your help. The generosity – both in terms of financial support and of time given – of so many people is extraordinary. More and more people are stepping forward on a voluntary basis to take part in the various ministries of the Church. All need training in leadership, in an understanding of the Church and of Liturgy, in pastoral priorities and pastoral skills. They will require resources and ongoing formation and personal renewal both pastoral and spiritual. If we fail to make proper provision for meeting the gap left by declining numbers of priests, we would be settling for a winding down of parish life.

CHURCH COLLECTIONS

There are three different Church Collections. What are they and what are they used for?

Family Offering (Challenge-Envelope) Collection: This Collection contributed to on a house-to-house basis by envelope or standing order provides the funds for the operation of the Parish and ongoing maintenance of our two churches. You are entitled to expect your church to be well maintained, well heated, comfortable, bright and welcoming, properly insured. On 5th August 2009 it will be 140 years since the foundation stone of our Parish church was laid by Cardinal Cullen.

Collections for the Support of Priests: This income supports the priests of the Parish including sick and retired priests of the Diocese. It includes the First Collection taken up during Mass, Christmas, Easter and Harvest dues and other offerings made to priests on the occasion of Baptisms, Weddings or Funerals.

SHARE Collection: The Second Collection taken up during Mass is the SHARE-Diocesan Collection. It provides financial support to Parishes. It also helps to fund growing needs in Diocesan Administration and Diocesan Pastoral Services. Sometimes there are special collections instead of SHARE, such as the recent collection for ACCORD, the Diocesan Agency for Marriage and the Family.

HOW CAN I HELP?

You may be already doing so, but if not, you are asked to consider what you would regard as a reasonable offering for you towards the support of your Parish at this time, and you place that in your envelope each weekend. Please drop your envelope at Mass or at the Parish House or Office. You may, however, wish to make an annual donation or indeed use a direct debit mandate available from the Parish Office Tel. 480727. These will also facilitate the tax reclaim.

There are people who will be experiencing financial difficulties during 2009. While respecting this fact, I suggest that this is a time when the services of the Church are more relevant than ever. I urge you, therefore, in so far as you are able to please consider this request seriously. A regular donation to the parish means a lot and is what enables us to plan for the future.

PARISH TAX RECLAIM

Each contribution will be recorded and you will be issued with an individual personal receipt at the end of each year. Using this system will facilitate the reclaim of tax by the Parish at year end. If you are a ‘Self Employed’ tax payer and you donate €250 or more in the tax year you can use the receipt issued to you to enable you to reduce your own tax liability, and pass that benefit on to the Parish.

For the Parish to avail directly of the ‘Tax Reclaim’ the Parishioner must donate €250 or more in the tax year and pay tax solely through the PAYE scheme. It is important to emphasise that the tax relief to the Parish is available on the sum of all donations to the Parish i.e. Family Offering or Challenge-Envelope Collection, Offertory Collections, Dues etc.

WILLS/BEQUESTS

If you would like to assist financially some of the work undertaken by your Parish you might consider a bequest.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. If you require clarification of anything in this letter please contact me or any member of the Finance Committee and we will be delighted to help.

Wishing you every blessing.

Parish Website: www.kilcullenparish.blogspot.com (temporarily)
Parish Email: kilcullenparish@eircom.net

Text Message from St Paul, the Apostle of the Nations: ‘God loves a cheerful giver.’ (2Cor. 9:7).

Notices 22 February 2009

2009-02-22T09:33:00.000Z

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.

Season of Lent
During Lent we make preparations to climb the Holy Mountain of Easter. Attentive to the Word of God and Prayer, we prepare ourselves by Penance for the renewal of our Baptismal Promises.

Thank you for your contributions to the Annual Collection for ACCORD last weekend. The amount contributed by the Parish was €1393.

Practice for the Youth Choir begins on Monday at 7 pm in the Parish Centre. Anyone in the age group 13 to 25 in welcome.

First Penance for children from Scoil Bhríde will be celebrated on Tuesday at 7.30 pm.

The Pastoral Councils of the three Parishes in our Cluster will meet with Bishop Eamonn on Tuesday to further the project of neighbouring Parishes working together.

Lent begins on Wednesday of this week which is Ash Wednesday, a day of Fast and Abstinence. Ashes will be distributed at the 9.30 Mass in the morning and at the 7.30 Mass in the evening.

There will be two Masses each weekday during Lent, 9.30 am and 7.30 pm.

There will be a short version of the Rosary every Monday and Wednesday at 3 pm in the Parish Church during Lent. You are invited to come along with your children to pray starting on Ash Wednesday.

Trocaire boxes are available for those who do not receive one through school.

There will be training for all Ministers of Holy Communion next Saturday in the Parish Centre from 10 to 1 pm.

The children preparing for First Holy Communion will feature at Mass next weekend.

The new year of the Challenge Collection begins on 1st March. We thank all who contribute to the Challenge Collection for your loyal support. The new envelopes are ready for distribution. We would be obliged if all the people who very generously volunteer to distribute the Challenge envelopes to the homes of the Parish each year would kindly do so again. The boxes can be collected from the Parish Office during the week.

There’s a Display with a Lenten theme in the side chapel of the church. You might like to take a look any time during Lent.

Pastoral Council meeting

2009-02-16T18:47:00.002Z

Brief Summary from the First Meeting of the New Parish Pastoral Council held last Monday.

As a newly elected member of our refurbished Parish Pastoral Council, it is my pleasure to give you an update on our activities.

On Saturday last, 7th February, on an icy cold morning, old and new members of the Pastoral Council set off to Orlagh in Rathfarnham for a day of reflection and retreat, sharing thoughts and aspirations for the coming three years.

The new Council met for the first time last Monday 9th February and the following officers were elected:
• Chairperson, Maurice O’Mahony
• Deputy Chairperson, Petra Conroy
• Secretary, Mary Kelly

Among the issues discussed was our Parish Child Protection Policy. If you haven’t already done so, please take a copy which you’ll find in the entrance area to the church. There will be more ongoing dialogue on this important issue.

Various Council members have undertaken to be part of the following sub-committees:
• Youth Projects, Adrian Doran and Betty Hickey
• Faith Renewal, Petra Conroy and Bernard Berney
• Communications, Joy Cullen.
Other areas will be covered as the new Council settles into its role.

The list of Council members is on display in the church. Please come and talk to us – we are here to listen to you.

Thank you for your attention.

Pat Goulding/Bernard Berney/Mary Barber/Joy Cullen (on rota for masses)

Pastoral Council 2009

2009-02-16T18:41:00.003Z

Parish of Kilcullen
Members of the Parish Pastoral Council 2009

Fr Michael Murphy President
Fr Paddy Ryan
Mary Barber, Grangebeg
Bernard Berney, Hillside
Nuala Collins, New Abbey Road
Petra Conroy, Moanbane Park Deputy Chairperson
Joy Cullen, Lipstown Lower
Joe Dooley, Glebe North
Adrian Doran, Gormanstown
Pat Goulding, Ballysax Road
Betty Hickey, Sunnyhill
Mary Kelly, St Brigid’s Avenue Secretary
Miriam McDonnell, Curragh Lawn
Maurice O’Mahony, Old Kilcullen Chairperson

Notices 15 February 2009

2009-02-15T18:37:00.000Z

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.

The annual Collection for ACCORD, the Diocesan Agency for Marriage and the Family, will be made at all Masses this weekend. The Collection for ACCORD replaces the usual SHARE Collection.

ACCORD Dublin throughout the Diocese offers:
• Marriage Preparation Courses
• Counselling for couples and individuals experiencing difficulties in their relationships
• Marital Sexual Therapy
• A Relationship and Sexuality Programme in Schools
ACCORD Dublin needs your support. Please Give Generously.

The Finance Committee will meet on Monday.

There will be training for Readers at Mass on Saturday 21st February in the Parish Centre from 10 am to 1 pm.

There will be training for Ministers of Holy Communion on Saturday 28th February in the Parish Centre from 10 am to 1 pm.

A member of the Pastoral Council will give us a summary of the meeting last Monday after Holy Communion.

Hanna Evans, our Candidate Pastoral Worker, will speak to us after Holy Communion about the Youth Choir and the Music Workshop.

Notices 8 February 2009

2009-02-08T21:48:00.001Z

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 8 February 2009
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.

1. This Sunday is World Day of the Sick. We are asked to take the time to be in prayerful solidarity with the sick and all who care for them. Archbishop, Diarmuid Martin, will celebrate Mass with the Anointing of the Sick in the Church of our Lady Help of Christians, Navan Road, Dublin, this Sunday afternoon at 3 pm.

2. There will be training for the Altar Servers on Monday at 7 pm.

3. The new Pastoral Council will have its first meeting on Monday.

4. The children preparing for First Penance and First Eucharist will feature a Mass next weekend.

5. The annual Collection for ACCORD, the Diocesan Agency for Marriage and the Family, will be made at all Masses next weekend. The Collection for ACCORD will replace the usual SHARE Collection.

6. Hanna Evans, our placement Pastoral Worker, has special skills in the field of church music. She is anxious to start a Youth Choir with the age range 13 – 25 years. Those interested please give your name after Mass. Hanna is also preparing a music workshop for all involved in music in our Parish and she would like to meet people after Mass to that end.

7. There will be training for Readers at Mass on Saturday 21st February in the Parish Centre. If you would like to become a Reader at Mass please let us know by next weekend.

8. Representatives of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference who offer support to the Church in the Holy Land recently issued a statement encouraging people in Ireland to go as pilgrims to the Holy Land. Anyone interested in joining a Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the latter half of this year please give your name so that we can assess the level of interest.

Notices 1 February 2009

2009-02-01T08:38:00.006Z

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year of St Paul, Apostle, 28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009, commemorating the 2000th anniversary of his birth.
The Conversion of St Paul, 25 January; Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles, 29 June.

1. Monday is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the day when we bless candles for use in the church or at home. You are welcome to bring candles from home for the blessing which will take place at 9.30 Mass.

2. There will be training for the Altar Servers on Monday at 7pm.

3. On Tuesday we observe the Memorial of St Blaise, Bishop and Martyr. The blessing of throats will take place at the 9.30 Mass.

4. Members of the Pastoral Council, both past and present, will have a day of reflection and planning on next Saturday.

5. The Preparation Meeting for Parents and Godparents presenting their child for Baptism will take place next Sunday at 12 noon in the Parish church.

6. Please remember in your prayers those who died recently: Terry Devlin, Bishop Rogan Park. May he rest in peace.

Prayer of Pope Benedict XVI for the Year of St Paul

Glorious St Paul, most zealous apostle, martyr for the love of Christ,
Give us a deep faith, a steadfast hope, a burning love for our Lord,
So that we can proclaim with you ‘It is no longer I who live,
But Christ who lives in me.’
Help us to become apostles, serving the Church with a pure hear,
Witnesses to her truth and beauty amidst the darkness of our days.
With you we praise God our Father:
‘To Him be the glory, in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
Now and forever.’ Amen.

Hanna introduces herself

2009-01-27T08:57:00.000Z

The Candidate Pastoral Worker who has recently been seconded to Kilcullen and Gormanstown Parish introduced herself to parishioners at masses on Sunday.

Hanna Evans is from Mullingar, currently living in Dunboyne, Co Meath. She will work until the end of May in the parish, spending three days a week in a new Pastoral Office at the Parish Centre.

Hanna's work in the parish is in tandem with her studies in the Mater Dei Institute to become a pastoral worker in the pilot scheme initiated by the Archbishop of Dublin Diocese, Dr Diarmuid Martin.

She is one of 16 such candidates in training to work in close partnership with priests, pastoral councils and volunteers in the cummunity, to promote the mission and spiritual teaching of the church, 'in the spirit of the Gospels'.

"In general, the aim is to contribute to the building up of community life, cathecesis and evangelisation," she told parishioners over the weekend. "We're a resource given to the community by Archbishop Martin."

Following discussions with Fr Michael Murphy, it has been decided that Hanna will focus on a renewal of faith programme for all ages in the parish. A Liturgy Team will also be established to work with Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers, Servers, and Music, amongst other things.

"Other areas I hope to work in include youth work within the parish, and other music matters."

Saying that she has come to a place where she doesn't know anybody, Hanna is encouraging all in the parish to come to her and introduce themselves, as well as sharing any ideas they might have.

"I will also be looking for volunteers down the road for the various projects," she said. "Again, I would encourage you to come on board with them."

Hanna studied Theology and Music at Maynooth University. She worked as a music teacher before returning to Maynooth to finish her Masters degree in Sacred Music and Liturgy. Before coming to Kilcullen, she spent time in a similar parish placement in Balinteer.

She is available at the Pastoral Office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Car Park deal off

2009-01-26T08:53:00.002Z

A proposed deal between the Parish and a local development consortium involving the Church Car Park is no longer on the table.

The deal was outlined last October, and drawings were published showing the placing of a new car park for the church at the back of the Parish House, in return for a land swap that would have facilitated the developer in building a residential/retail scheme.

Fr Michael Murphy told parishioners at the weekend that the 'negotiations have broken down and the deal is now off'.

He paid tribute to members of the Finance Committee who invested an 'inordinate amount of their talent, time and treasure' in trying to make the deal happen for the good of the Parish.

Notices 25 January 2009

2009-01-26T08:40:00.002Z

The Conversion of St Paul, Apostle

1.The Blood Donation Clinic will be in Kilcullen Community Centre on Monday from 4.30 to 8.30 pm. At present they are experiencing difficulty in collecting enough voluntary blood donations in order to meet hospital requirements of 3,000 units of blood a week.

2.There will be training for Altar Servers on Monday at 7 pm in the Parish church.

3.Bishop Eamonn will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday in Gormanstown church at 10 am and in the Parish church at 12.30 pm.

4.Last October we informed you that negotiations were taking place regarding the Car Park with the adjoining developer and we had drawings on display of what was proposed. We’re sorry to have to inform you now that those negotiations have broken down and the deal is now off.

I want to pay a very special tribute to members of the Finance Committee who invested an inordinate amount of their talent, time and treasure in trying to make the deal happen for the good of the Parish.

5.We’re awaiting a report on the condition of the roof of the Parish church and the Parish House and when we have that report we will inform you of its contents.

6.We in Kilcullen Parish have been invited to host a Candidate Parish Pastoral Worker for their placement. This weekend we welcome our Candidate Pastoral Worker, Hanna Evans, who will be with us until the end of May. Hanna will introduce herself after Holy Communion.

7.Please remember in your prayers those who died recently:

John Jordan, Bishop Rogan Park,
Sheila Bergin, Sunnyhill,
John Brown, Kinneagh,
Pat Miller, Avondale Drive.
May they rest in peace.

Notices, 18th January 2009

2009-01-18T09:38:00.004Z

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1. Training for Altar Servers will be on Wednesday at 7 pm in the Parish church.

2. Candidates for Confirmation in Gormanstown will have their final Liturgy of preparation on Tuesday at 7.30 pm. Confirmation will be administered by Bishop Eamonn in both our churches on Wednesday week. Please keep the Candidates in your prayers.

3. This Sunday is World Day For Migrants And Refugees. We remember the 35 million people who are refugees, living outside their home country or uprooted and displaced within their own country. We remember too the 250 million international migrants in the world today.

4. We thank God for the ceasefire in Gaza and we pray that there will be lasting peace in the land that was the home of Jesus.

5. This week in the annual Week Of Prayer For Christian Unity. The theme this year is ‘That They May Become One In Your Hands’, a text from the Prophet Ezekiel 37:17, inspired by the situation in the Korean peninsula where the people are divided north and south, and also of a divided Christendom.

6. We would like to draw to your attention our Parish Child Protection Policy. Copies of the policy are on display on notice boards in the Parish and copies are available to take away.

7. We’re sorry to have to inform you that the storm on Saturday did serious damage to the roof of the Parish church. A section of the roof has been stripped of slates and a large area has been weakened. We are fortunate that no one was hurt. We are not sure yet what the long term consequences will be; but one immediate consequence was that for safety reasons we had to cancel the 7.30 pm Mass on yesterday, Saturday. We will have to get professionals in to assess the situation as soon as possible. The immediate concern is to make the area safe and patch the roof to keep the rain out. That work is in hand.

8. Please remember in your prayers those who died recently:
Nan Miley of Gormanstown,
Fr Sean Breen the Parish Priest of Ballymore,
and Joey McElligott, brother of Bridget McElligott who is one of our teachers in Brannockstown School.

May they rest in peace.

Homily for Sunday 11 January 2009

2009-01-11T19:26:00.002Z

Baptism of Jesus

The Baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of His public life and ministry and also tells us about His true identity. The Heavens, which for so long seemed closed to every cry, are now torn apart, split open, and the voice of God is heard, and the Spirit of God descends. The heavenly voice proclaims that Jesus is God’s Son, God’s Beloved. In a new and unexpected way, Jesus has been sent into our world as God’s servant to proclaim and to bring about the presence of The Kingdom of God.

We can imagine Jesus having to say goodbye to one part of his life and then moving on into the unknown part. He had to say goodbye to childhood, to adolescence, to early adulthood and now as a mature adult of 30-something take on new responsibilities given him by God. It’s a bit like you and I saying goodbye to 08 and welcoming in 09 not knowing what lies ahead.

When I look to the future for our Church and Parish a number of things come to mind which will pre-occupy us over the year and years ahead. We need to take the long view with regards to our planning. For instance, in 10 years time there won’t be a priest living in every Parish. Therefore there couldn’t be anything like as many Masses on Sundays or weekdays. A priest might not be able to attend all stages of a funeral. We will all be 10 years older. And so on…

However we have already begun a process of adaptation in this time of change. The process has three stages:

Stage I is Clustering.
This has happened already in 2008. The Parish of Kilcullen along with our neighbouring Parishes of Ballymore and Dunlavin now form a cluster. The purpose of the cluster is to share resources and personnel. To that end the Pastoral Councils of the three Parishes have begun to meet.

Stage II is Clustering in Partnership.
This is what we have to do in 2009. This involves the actual sharing of resources and personnel for the sake of the mission of the Church in our three Parishes. We have to explore questions like the number of Masses to be celebrated at the weekend and on weekdays in each church in the cluster. And there are seven churches in the cluster. How many priests will be available to serve in the cluster? What resources are to be allocated to the employment of lay leaders in the cluster? These are the kinds of questions before us now.

Stage III is New Parish Ministries and Structures.
The ongoing task now is to identify and develop new opportunities for ministry and new structures that will enable the cluster to effectively continue to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ in the 21st century.

People in Parishes will have to be trained to do many of the Ministries which the Priest now does. John the Baptist serves as a role model here. His ministry was to prepare people for Jesus’ coming and to point the way towards Jesus. The Ministry to which People in Parishes are now being called is very much along those lines, such as:

Preparation for the Sacraments
Ministry to the Bereaved
Ministry to the Sick
Maintenance and Finance
School Management
Leadership in Prayer
Worship Ministry.

There is a growing awareness that because of our Baptism we all share in the mission of Jesus Christ. There has been a shift in emphasis from “that’s the priest’s job” to “together we share in the mission of Jesus Christ”.

In all this the Spirit of Jesus Christ is at work. We must adapt to the changing numbers of priests and we must foster the development of lay ministry so that we can continue the renewal of faith in our time.

To put it in the words of this Sunday’s Gospel, it’s a matter of being baptized both with water and with the Holy Spirit. Or in the image of 1R: ‘Come to the water’ and receive the Gifts only God can give.

The reflection of that image is a question for all Parishioners: What percentage of my time, my talent and my treasure am I willing to invest in my Parish to guarantee its future?

None of us knows all the questions that need to be asked and none of us has all the answers. It’s more a matter of a journey we travel together into the unknown. The 1R puts it beautifully:

‘My thoughts are not your thoughts,
My ways not your ways –
It is the Lord who speaks’.

As we look ahead to the unknown future of 2009 and beyond we could take a little inspiration from these words from one of Brendan Kennelly’s poem called Begin:

Though we live in a world that dreams of ending
That always seems about to give in
Something that will not acknowledge conclusion
Insists that we forever begin.

Fr Michael Murphy.

Notices, 11 January 2009

2009-01-10T19:24:00.002Z

The Baptism of the Lord

1. The Finance Committee will meet on Monday.

2. There will be training for all Altar Servers on Monday at 7pm in the Parish church. We wish to recruit more Altar Servers, but boys only this time, to serve in the Parish church. Boys from 4th class up are welcome to apply.

3. We also want to recruit Readers and Ministers of Holy Communion. Please let us know if you are interested. There will be training in February.

4. A number of people are beginning training for Funeral Ministry on Thursday of this week. If you are interested in taking part please let us know.

Notices, 4 January 2009

2009-01-04T12:09:00.005Z

Weekday masses will resume tomorrrow, Monday, at 9.30. This replaces the Christmas schedule when the masses were celebrated at 11am.

Tuesday January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany, the Feast of the Revelation of Christ to the World. It is a Holy Day, with the obligation to attend mass. The mass times for the feast are: Monday evening at 7.30pm; Tuesday morning at 9am, and 11am.

The priests of the Parish take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy New Year, that it will be filled with grace and peace. May the Lord Jesus, who lived with his family in Nazareth dwell also with your families and keep you from evil, and make you all one in mind and heart.

Child Protection Statement

2009-01-04T09:41:00.003Z

Archdiocese of Dublin: Parish of Kilcullen Child Protection Policy Statement (Based on the guidance provided in Our Children, Our Church, Child Protection Policies and Procedures for the Catholic Church in Ireland.)

The Parish of Kilcullen values and encourages the participation of children and young people in Parish Liturgies and in activities that will help their spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and social development.

The Parish undertakes to do all in its power to create a safe environment for children and young people and to ensure their protection from physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

The Parish recognises:

The dignity and rights of all children and young people and is committed to ensuring their safety and well being at all times.

The need to protect children and young people and aims to do this in a way that promotes their human dignity, integrity and worth as children of God.

That all involved in working with children and young people have a special duty of care towards them.

The Parish has procedures and a code of conduct in place to implement this policy statement and is committed to reviewing the policy and good practice annually.

Our Parish Child Protection Representative is:
Margaret Walker, Telephone 0877504040

The Designated Person for the Child Protection Service of the Archdiocese of Dublin is:
Philip Garland, Telephone 01 8842590

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Code of Conduct for Clergy, Staff and Volunteers working with Children and Young People

1. Garda Vetting applies to all persons working with children and or young people.

2. Pastoral Ministry to a child or young person should only take place in a publicly accessible place, e.g., designated office or room with a clear glass window. The door should always be left open. The length and number of meetings should be limited.

3. Clergy, staff and volunteer workers should never be alone in a building, car or a closed room with a child or young person.

4. Providing accommodation in the parochial house for children and young people is prohibited except in the case of family members or children or young people accompanied by parents or guardians.

5. When the need for a visit to a home of a child or young person arises, professional boundaries must be observed at all times, i.e., parents or guardian or other adult must be present at all times.

6. Children and young people should not be permitted to work or remain in churches, parish property or schools unless there are at least two adults present. (See Our Children, Our Church, page 22.)

7. Ensure that adequate and appropriate supervision is in place before organising activities with children and young people.

8. Written consent must be obtained from parents or guardians before organising activities for children or young people in your care and do establish whether there are any specific medical or dietary requirements.

9. Particular care should be taken to ensure that the privacy of children or young people is respected at all times and in all places.

10. When working with children or young people you should take care to avoid the trap of becoming a “parental figure” or over involved with one particular child.

11. All trips organised by groups require careful advanced planning and a proportionate number of suitable volunteers to provide adequate supervision. Keep gender balance in mind.

12. Do not take photographs of children or young people while they are in changing areas.

13. Photographs of children and young people generally may not be taken without parental consent.

14. Use only age appropriate language, media products and activities when working with children and young people. Sexually explicit materials or language are never appropriate.

15. Under no circumstances give alcohol, tobacco or drugs to children or young people.

16. Physical punishment, emotional or verbal abuse is not permitted under any circumstances.

17. Ensure that the buildings and or facilities used for activities with children or young people are suitable, safe and secure.

A Christmas Letter to all

2008-12-21T15:23:00.005Z

Dear Parishioners,

Christmas and New Year are times when we are naturally inclined to remember the year that has passed and wonder about the year ahead. Family gatherings and the renewal of contacts with people we may not have met since last year prompt us to reminisce and ponder. My thoughts are on the Parish year, past and to come.

The highlight of 2008 liturgically was Cruinniú Chríost held on the 25th May, Solemnity of Corpus Christi, The Body And Blood Of Christ. Over 500 parishioners processed through the Main Street in public witness to their faith and gathered for Mass at Scoil Bhríde.

Another highlight was the painting of the Parish church and cleaning outside, as well as the painting of Gormanstown church. Because of generous sponsorship in the first case and the fundraising efforts of local parishioners in the second, we were able to do quality work, the best possible. Both of our church buildings are now in pristine condition. On 5th August 2009 it will be 140 years since the foundation stone of the Parish church was laid by Cardinal Cullen.

We have good news from Halverstown School. The extension will be ready after Christmas. We look forward to celebrating 50 years of Halverstown School in 2009.

We have continued our efforts to encourage the partners in the religious education of the child, namely the Home, the School and the Parish, to work together in the preparation for the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation.

2008 will be remembered for the extremes of weather. We had 4 months of rain through the middle of the year which meant we could not hold the Golf Classic. 2008 will also be remembered for the recession which looks like having far reaching consequences for our economy over the immediate years ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who face 2009 with trepidation because of rising unemployment and economic uncertainty.

A group of Parishioners went on the Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes in September. This year marked 150 years since Our Lady appeared to St Bernadette. Our time there coincided with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. This gave an extra dimension to what was already a very lovely experience.

In October some members of the Bethany Bereavement Support Group attended the ASIST Training (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) hosted by the HSE. This two-day course is designed to help caregivers become more ready, willing and able to help persons at risk of suicide.

In November a small group of Parishioners attended an information day on Funeral Ministry. The presentations gave insight into why we need a Funeral Team in every Parish and how we might begin to develop this ministry here in Kilcullen.

Now in December we are introducing new Altar Servers. Their presence will enhance the Liturgy and will be a sign of hope for the future.

In December we will also have a first meeting of our Youth Pastoral Forum whose main aim will be to involve and provide for young people in the Parish.

At the present time we are renewing the Pastoral Council after its first three-year term of office. Some of the present members will remain on and there will be new faces. Past members and new members will meet on Saturday 7th February to review the past three years and to plan the next three. One of the main challenges before the new Pastoral Council will be to make an ethos change from maintenance to mission.

One of the most significant developments for Parish life at this time is neighbouring Parishes working together. We in Kilcullen are now clustered with Ballymore and Dunlavin. During 2009 representatives from the Pastoral Councils of the three Parishes will meet on a regular basis to further the project of sharing resources and personnel. We are in new territory now and first steps will be tentative. There will be the usual growing pains as we approach boundaries that have been ‘sacred’.

On the weekend of 12th October we did a Mass Attendance Census. Roughly 950 people attended Mass in our two churches that weekend. The figure is as it was two years ago. We had 100 Baptisms in the past year and the assistance of the Baptism Team has made all the difference.

Confirmation will be celebrated in our two churches by Bishop Eamonn Walsh on Wednesday 28th January. First Holy Communion will be celebrated in the Parish church on Saturday 9th May and in Gormanstown church on Saturday 16th May.

There will be training in our Parish Centre for Readers on Saturday 21st February and for Ministers of Holy Communion on Saturday 28th February.

One of the signs of hope I see for the Parish is the fact that we have a Five Year Plan. The continued development of various ministries is necessary for the implementation of that plan.

The Parish website www.kilcullenparish.com is a work in progress. We have plans to develop it and give it a face-lift in the New Year.

I set out in this letter to give you a flavour of the year 2008 in Kilcullen Parish from my point of view. Seeds have been sown. Pray that whatever grows will help build up the Kingdom of God in our midst. I am now half way through my nine year term as Parish Priest of Kilcullen. If we can persevere on the road we have begun, which is reflected in this letter, we will together make Kilcullen Parish strong for the future.

We would like to hear from anyone interested in any ministry in the Parish. We would particularly like to hear from people with financial and communication skills. Our Parish Email address is kilcullenparish@eircom.net.

The birth of Jesus is God’s way of saying to us: ‘I love you, yes you, the world and humankind’. May we respond by loving one another after the example of Jesus.

Fr Paddy joins with me in wishing all the people of Kilcullen Parish a Happy and a Wholesome Christmas and Peace in 2009.

Fr Michael Murphy.

Parish Draw winners

2008-12-13T10:46:00.009Z

The winner of the top prize of €12,000 in the 2008 Parish Draw is Coleman Ryan, from Castlemartin Lodge.

The draw took place this evening in the Kilcullen Parish Centre, and the second prize of €1,500 was won by Petra Conroy of Moanbane Park. Bill and Aileen Mullins from Sunnyhill won the €500 third prize.

The remaining prizes of €100 each were won by Eileen Tougher of Hillsborough, Newbridge; Tom Coleman, Ballybrittas, Portlaoise; Brendan McMahon, Yellow Bog; John Archbold and Breda Kelly, Conroy Park; and Jack and Susan Curley of Gormanstown.

The total receipts were in excess of €30,000 (pending final recount). After deduction of the prize fund and expenses, the balance goes to parish funds.

Parish priest Fr Michael Murphy thanked the dedicated people involved in organising the draw, particularly the ticket sellers, and finally those who had 'parted' with a hundred euros each for the tickets. He is pictured above with Valerie Ryan, whose husband bought the winning ticket.