From the Registrars

Holy Baptism:

On 27th February 2005 at St Brigid’s Church – Isaac Creaton Boyle, son of Patrick and Caroline of Brookhaven Park
On 6th March 2005 at St Brigid’s Church – Karl Sean Reid, son of George and Carol of Shandon Crescent
On 20th March 2005 at St Brigid’s Church – Ethan Clark, son of Bruce and Claire of Riverwood Glen

May they shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father

Congratulations to Donna and Iain Greenway on the birth of a son, Oliver Charles Henry, a brother for Max, on 1st March.

Rite of Confirmation:

On 20th March (Palm Sunday) ay St Columba’s, Swords – Ritah Thobekile Nkala of Park Drive Grove, Castleknock.

Lord, may she continue to be yours forever

Christian Funeral:

On 16th March 2005 at St Brigid’s Church - Caroline Thoni-Doyle, of Bramley Green, Castleknock (28th June 1963 – 13th March 2005).

May she rest in peace.

In Memoriam: Caroline Thoni Doyle

At Caroline’s funeral on 16th March, St Brigid’s Church was packed – several hundred came to her removal and to her funeral, to pay tribute to all that Caroline meant to all of us and to support her family in their loss. Our Reader, Robert Lawson, who had shared with Caroline the experience of cancer and chemotherapy, spoke beautifully about Caroline’s life and death, and extracts from that sermon are reproduced here.

“We pay tribute and thank God for Caroline, a dear daughter, a dear sister, a dear mother, a dear wife and a dear friend. It is impossible for me to paint a true portrait of Caroline because it is only each of us here, with our paintbrush, who can brush the strokes that would give a true likeness. But Caroline was indeed very special to me and special to all of you here today. She gave a whole new meaning to the sporting term PMA – positive mental attitude – because she was its very epitome.

“Whenever Caroline was asked how she was, she always replied quickly with that inimitable broad smile and her darling blue eyes “I’m fine, and how are you?” Her sincerity had love written all over it.

“Caroline’s father, Albert, was Swiss and her true spiritual home was Switzerland. She visited Switzerland many times, cultivating a love of the place and, even without speaking the language, could always engage with the local people as if they understood one another.

“Three symbols for me summarise Caroline:

  • The first is a daffodil – a symbol of nature which Caroline loved so much – her garden was important to her, and she loved animals.
  • The second symbol is “Hello” Magazine – almost a bible to Caroline, embracing her love of clothes and helping her to engage in conversation with other patients regularly waiting for treatment in the Mater Hospital.
  • The third symbol is people – all of you present here. Caroline was a people’s person, touching so many lives, and there were always people at her house in Bramley Green. Ken never knew who would be when he came home from work each evening. And Caroline used the experience of her illness to help other cancer sufferers, and many pre arranged trips that she had with her mother had to be abandoned as she counselled a patient over the telephone.

“The family want to acknowledge the loving care that Dr. John Caffrey and his team of doctors and nurses at the Mater Private Hospital gave Caroline throughout her illness. Caroline was a friend to so many: her husband Ken remarked once in the hospital how he had to share Caroline, but Caroline simply had so much love to give that she had to share it with people.

“The reading from John’s Gospel is a wonderful reading – ‘Jesus says: I am the way, the truth and the life.’ We cannot deny the inevitable fact of death but Jesus offers this reassurance. Caroline, perhaps unknown to herself, was a very godly person. One of the closest ways we can get to know God is through people. One definition of a saint is one who, like a stained glass window, lets the light shine through. And it was just like a stained glass window that Caroline allowed God to shine through her. Caroline was indeed a human saint! Just as Jesus says I am the way, so Caroline showed us the way. Jesus said I am the truth; and Caroline dealt in truth – never mincing her words, what you saw was what you got, and if she didn’t agree, she’d let you know. Jesus also said, ‘I am the life’: in his life, Jesus points us to God, and so too did Caroline in the way she lived her life point us to God. Farewell Caroline, our beloved friend, and rest now. For you are with the God who created you, with whom you lived and moved and had your being. Amen.”

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