Author Archives: St Michaels

ASH WEDNESDAY AND LENT

Hi there! Here is some information about Ash Wednesday and Lent in our Parish!

1. Ashes will be blest at 10AM mass on Ash Wednesday. Small bags of Ashes will  then be available to collect in the porch at St Michael’s  church from 10.30AM  – 7.00PM. 
Fr Louis will also administer a virtual blessing for anyone who has clay or ash at home during the mass.    
 
2.  A small Lenten Prayer Card will also be available in the porch of the church.

3. Please find a list of some Prayer and Reflection courses for Lent here. Click the link below to download it!

4. Please also find a list of some Support Services available in the community. Click the link to download it! 

“Lent, the Church’s springtime,
Waiting to burst into bloom.
Emptiness waiting to be filled with God-ness, goodness.
An invitation to Grow in Love”

Ag Críost an Síol…

WORLD DAY OF THE SICK – FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

On 13 May 1992, a number of years following an assassination attempt on his life, that led to a time of suffering and the experience of being seriously ill in hospital, Saint Pope John Paul II launched a World Day of the Sick – which coincides each year in the Church across the world with the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes on 11 February.

Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have continued this special World Day – an occasion during which the whole Church bears witness as always with special concern to the tender mercy and love of God towards all who suffer. It is a time to reflect on the needs of all who suffer, to pause and be prayerfully in solidarity with those who experience illness and with all who care for those who are facing sickness. 

Pope Francis always encourages us to experience the merciful face of Jesus, showing his mercy and tenderness to those who live through sickness and suffering, respecting their own inalienable dignity and mission in life, as we serve life and health.

“The celebration of the XXIX World Day of the Sick on 11 February
2021, the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes,
is an opportunity to devote special attention to the sick and to
those who provide them with assistance and care both in
healthcare institutions and within families and communities.  We
think in particular of those who have suffered, and continue to
suffer, the effects of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.  To all,
and especially to the poor and the marginalized, I express my spiritual closeness and assure them of the Church’s loving concern”

Pope Francis, 29th  World Day of the Sick 2021

 
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Mary, Mother of God, full of mercy, pray for us. Blessed Joseph her Spouse, pray for us.

Beannacht na Féile Bríde oraibh

Wishing you every blessing this St Brigid’s day and a happy, healthy, hopeful Springtime. 

On this Morning Prayer, Padraigin weaves Brigid from our past into the present. And makes her a real, relevant and powerful symbol for women and the realities of today.
This morning Padraigin shares the folklore of Brigid from the Aran islands  and also links Brigid with our families and healing the family tree.

A NEW YEAR NOTE OF HOPE FROM ST MICHAEL’S

Hello to you all and best wishes for 2021

Bliain nua mhaith agaibh  ar fad!

January can be a difficult month each year, as we let go of Christmas-time and try to embrace the ‘beginning again’  that a New Year offers.

This January is more difficult than most, as we are facing the realities behind another level 5 lockdown and the fact that the Coronavirus is still with us. Indeed,  among our community some are sick, in hospital, in nursing-homes, in isolation at home or working on the frontline services, putting themselves at risk each day, for the good of us all.   The good news is that the vaccine is here and on its way to each of  us. There are also measures which we can all  take each day to continue to keep well and keep each other safe.

The recent publication of the Report on the Commission of the Mother and Baby Homes has opened up much trauma, pain and hurt for many of us.  Hopefully, as a country we are now engaging in appropriate actions to ensure survivors are heard and that healing can begin.  We also must ensure that this kind of harsh treatment of the most vulnerable, in our community, is never repeated.

Patrick Kavanagh famously wrote ‘ Christ Comes with a January Flower’ .  The January flower is the snowdrop, also called St Brigid’s Flower – Bláithín Bríde!

 As the day lengthens and as we come towards St Brigid’s Day, may we find renewed hope in Christ.  Just as the snowdrops of January, are a  sign of hope and endurance at this time of the year, may we too hope and endure through all that happens.   May we stay strong, be safe and support each other as best we can.  Let us pray for each other in a new way. 

May we remember in particular in our prayers our frontline workers.  We give thanks for their inspiration as we say in the words of Bruce Springsteen;

May your strength give us strength,

May Your faith give us faith, 

May Your hope give us hope

May Your love give us love.” ( ‘Into the Fire’ )

May 2021 turn out to be a brighter, easier and healthier year for us all.

                                    Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís
(Anne O’Brien, Chair Parish Liturgy Committee, and Pádraigín Clancy, Parish Pastoral)

Advent Newsletter + Info

Please find in the link below the Advent Newsletter. Also, it contains important information about the Christmas Masses.

Please note: Attendance at Christmas Masses is by ticket only.  Please find request forms for tickets  in St Michael’s Church or Parish Office at 52A Bulfin Rd. 

Forms must be submitted to the Parish Office by Dec 20th and there will be a draw for tickets on Monday 21st.  

There will be four Christmas Masses at St Michael’s: Christmas Eve 6.30PM and 8.30PM and Christmas Day 9.00AM and 11.00AM.  Regrettably – owing to Covid restrictions only 50 can be admitted to any mass. Thank you for your understanding and patience at this difficult time

Morning Prayer: November 6th – Feast of All the Saints

November 6th is the Feast of All the Saints of Ireland and we invite you to join Pádraigín in St Michael’s for our short morning reflection as we pray together and ask the intercession of these great saints, holy men and women of Ireland.

Useful website links for Prayers

Hi there! The files below are from the Diocese and give some useful website links for prayers – also good advice for family prayer. Just click on the links to download the files.

Hope you all enjoy them!

October 2020 Parish Newsletter

Here is our October Newsletter. We hope you enjoy it!

Live Mass Recordings

As many of you know, we now have a Live Feed service in the Parish, enabling us to broadcast (and record) the Daily as well as the Sunday Masses.

The recordings will be available shortly after the mass, when the video is uploaded.

So first of all: we would like to thank our viewers – as we had more than 150 different households connected with us during last Sunday Mass!

To view the recording is very simple: go to the Live Feed menu, then select the Recordings tab (check the image below).

A direct link to last Sunday Mass’ (October 18th 2020) Recording (for Viewing and Downloading) can be accessed here

Donations – World Mission Sunday

As Fr. Louis and Pádraigín reminded us in today’s Mass, this Sunday is the “World Mission Sunday“, which is a direct reminder of the multiple missions going on around the World, and a direct appeal for spiritual and financial support so that the life-giving work of missionaries can continue.

Please find in the attachment below important information on how you can support WMI:

For more information, please check the World Mission Ireland website: https://www.wmi.ie/