Category Archives: News

Louis McDermott OMI – March 5th, 1944 – 18th October 18th, 2022

The Faith Community of St Michael’s Parish, Inchicore, is deeply saddened to announce the death of our beloved Parish Priest, Fr Louis McDermott OMI. 

Fr Louis came to St Michael’s on January 5th 2011 and has remained with us ever since – only taking a step back when his health deteriorated in recent years.

A native of Garristown, North County Dublin, Louis was a great man of the people with a quick witty sense of humour.  Even in the middle of recent suffering he found time to smile and have fun.  His mind remained razor sharp and interested in all that was happening in the community to the very end. 

Louis had a strong commitment to the Oblate mission for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.  He spent time in the parishes of Darndale, Liverpool and Southampton helping empower people and building local communities.  He was a man who believed strongly in collaboration and synodality in all he did. Here at St Michael’s, he encouraged lay participation at all levels of Parish life and helped build strong leadership teams. He encouraged the employment of a female pastoral worker for gender balance and fairness. 

Louis actively participated in local organisations such as the Kavanagh House, Inchicore Regeneration Forum and Our Lady of Lourdes local national school. 

A keen and skilled sportsman, Louis had played with Dublin Minors before joining the Oblate Fathers in 1969.  In his later years, he went on to enjoy Golf (with an excellent handicap). He was interested in sports of all kinds and had a strong allegiance to the Dubs, St Patricks Athletic, Liverpool FC and Leinster. He also greatly enjoyed horse racing.  

Fr Louis was beloved of many people near and far and he will be grievously missed by the whole St Michael’s community. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his beloved family, relatives, friends, and the Oblate Community.

Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann!  Solas na bhFlaitheas dá anam uasal. 

Pádraigín Clancy, Pastoral Associate, on behalf of St Michael’s Parish.

Funeral arrangements information on the link below:
https://rip.ie/death-notice/fr.-louis-mcdermott-o.m.i-dublin-8-dublin/511405/

SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY 25/09/2022

This year, the Dublin Diocesan Communications Department has put together a short video for Safeguarding Sunday.

Please also find a letter from the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, regarding Safeguarding – at the following link.

SUBMISSION FROM ST MICHAEL’S PARISH TO THE DIOCESAN / VATICAN SYNODAL PATHWAY 2022-2023

In April 2022, 75 parishioners took part in the Synodal process at St Michael’s.


The questions explored what are the Joys, Sorrows, Fears and Hopes in our experience of Church today.

The feedback suggests that the faithful love and care for their Church and value their faith community, treasuring their shared faith experience and personal relationship with God and the positive role of the Church especially in the area of social care and justice.

They are deeply concerned about the Church’s future and see the need for change as being critical to its survival in Ireland. While Pope Francis is seen as a beacon for change, overall, people are concerned about the leadership of the Church and question its commitment to change and collaboration with the laity. Many are afraid that real change may come too late.

Deep upset was expressed at the loss of the youth and the lack of inclusion of marginal groups such as LGBTQ and the divorced in the Church. Legalism and rules are seen as predominating over love.

People see the equal role of women in Church ministry and administration as being essential to its change and growth – even to its survival, and would like priests to be given the option to marry.

Overall, the feedback suggests that the faith community are clear about what changes they understand are needed and would lead the hierarchy into the future if allowed and if heard.

See the final report of St Michael’s on the file below:

See the final report on the Synod from the Dublin Diocese at the link below:

Dublin-Diocesan-Synod-Report.pdf (dublindiocese.ie)

Synodal Pathway

OBITUARY – LUARENA McCORMICK RSM 1942 – 2021

During the summer months our faith community suffered the sad loss of Sr Luarena McCormick RSM [ late of Emmet Crescent] who died in Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, on 29th July 2021. 

Luarena is survived by her sisters Betty and Margaret, her brothers Charlie, Liam and Frank, her sisters-in-law Mary and Aideen and their families.  

Luarena was born in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, on the 6th of July 1942 to Teresa Brady and Arthur McCormick. 

She was finally professed in April 1969 in Carysfort Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin having entered the Mercy Congregation there in 1963.

She spent her teaching years in the Secondary Schools of Golden bridge, Inchicore and Mourne Road, Drimnagh and in the Irish Prison Service.  She also taught in the Prison Service in North East Brazil for three years.  

On receiving news of her death, one former pupil at Golden bridge wrote ‘ I have fond memories of Sr. Luarena from school, a lovely gentle human being’. 

In the last twenty years of her life Luarena’s consciousness of the sacredness of the Earth deepened. She lived her life out of this awareness and shared it with an urgency bourne out of a profound understanding and commitment to right relationship with God’s creation. She did much work for Eco-Congregation and at her funeral mass celebrant and dear friend, Tom McCabe OMI, spoke beautifully about Luarena’s gift for hospitality and of her ‘ breaking the bread of creation’.  

Luarena never lost her zest for life and was an inspiration to us all in the Parish as she bravely bore her illness. As one Parishioner said, ‘Luarena combined all her hard work with great good humour and fun’.  In spite of her physical suffering she remained committed to Parish events attending; liturgies, reflection groups, book clubs, Irish conversation classes, as well as baking delicious cakes for the community and weaving St Brigid crosses with the children at Our Lady of Lourdes NS.   

In her latter days she was graciously cared for by the staff in Our Lady’s Hospice Harold’s Cross, in Catherine McAuley Nursing Home Beaumont and St. James’s Hospital.

Her funeral mass was a tribute to her life’s work in education and social and climate justice. She had asked the choir and musicians at St Michael’s  to sing and play at her passing which they did beautifully.  It was a particularly nice nuance to learn afterwards that Luarena had taught our two flautists, Martina Condon and Ann Macken.  

The people of the Parish extend their deepest sympathy to the Religious Sisters of Mercy and to Laurena’s family of origin, her many friends and especially her life-long anamchara, Sr Agnes Coll, on their sad loss.   

We wish Luarena eternal rest and eternal joy. May her memory live on in our mind and be an encouragement and inspiration to us all. 

Solas na bhFlaitheas, a Luarena a stór, go luighe an chré go héadtrom ar do cholainn uasal.

Pádraigín Clancy, on behalf of St Michael’s Faith Community.

Please Support Trócaire’s Petition and Prayer Vigil for Gaza

Yet another war has destroyed homes and lives in Gaza. Hundreds of men, women and children have died in the past few weeks. Entire families have been wiped out, while many others have been left injured, homeless and without any means to provide for themselves.

The situation must end and peace must be built. Trócaire’s partners are delivering medical aid and we are campaigning to tackle the underlying injustices which are sustaining the cycle of conflict in Palestine.

Trócaire met with the Irish Government about the crisis last week and this coming week Dáil Eireann will convene to discuss the crisis. Our politicians must know the truth about what is happening and be
urged to take action. We invite you to sign our online petition urging the Irish Government to take necessary action –https://www.trocaire.org/gaza-in-crisis/

You can also read stories written by our friends and colleagues in the community at Gaza about what is a happening. The following is one account from Dr. Yasser Abu Jamei who leads the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme – https://www.trocaire.org/news/this-must-end/

Join with Trócaire in a Prayer Vigil for Gaza in your home

The nights are hardest in Gaza due to the fear of bombardments.  It is dark and people are scared, hungry, and cold.  As we look on with pain in our hearts, it is all too easy to feel hopeless, so Trócaire are inviting you to join us in offering light in the dark, to create connection, solidarity, and support for the people of Gaza. 

Please light a candle and hold space in any way that feels right for you during the coming weeks. You may sit in quiet reflection, play some gentle music, read a little about the Palestinian people and their plight for justice, draw, write, pray, meditate. There is no right or wrong way, simply the intentional moving into connectedness with people in Gaza. 

If you would like to share an image or a message of support, we will collate these and share them with our colleagues and friends in Gaza. Contact Janet Twomey at Trócaire (janet.twomey@trocaire.org). 

Thank you for your continued support and prayers for the people of Palestine.

THERESA O’ BRIEN R.I.P. A LIFE WELL-LIVED

REMEMBERING Theresa, and a life so well-lived, and someone who contributed to many and varied aspects of our society, local community, St.Michael’s and the broader Oblate Family over a long number of years.

A fervent and dedicated Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Pastoral Council, the Finance Committee, and choirs to name but a few. And of course she was at the heart of her family in every way. May her courage and determination, her strength, faith and sense of life and indeed her elegance and style bring to all who miss her, and knew her, consolation at this time.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/theresa-o-brien-inchicore-dublin/457724/
A lovely photo of Theresa with her notification of death and funeral arrangements.

Beannacht na Cásca oraibh – Easter Blessings to you all.

Our Easter Garden was kindly erected by Derek Bunyan and Jerry Byrne. Thank you to all who donated plants and flowers!

Easter Newsletter 2021

Please find in the link below the Easter Newsletter for our Parish. It contains important information about the community as well as Holy Week and Easter Masses.

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…