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Previous issues of The Parish News Contents of this issue
The Parish News will be published monthly and will usually be available by the first Sunday. Please note that next months magazine will be for the months of July and August Copy Deadline Organisation reports should be sent either in written format to Martha Waller, C/O The Parish Office, or by email to: MarthaWaller@Hotmail.com. These should be submitted by the 10th of the preceding month, no matter what day of the week. THE RECTOR WRITESDear Friends, Mission and evangelism are 2 words which often seem to have a frightening effect on Church of Ireland members; they often seem so terrifying, so not us! We feel we may risk being branded with the Mormons or Jehovah's witnesses, or as fundamentalists. But they are really terribly simply words: they amount to no more than telling the story of our faith, sharing the Christian story in our words, but more importantly in our actions. Seen that way, there is little to be frightened about. All we have to say is "Come and see". We can say it to our friends and our family, to the inquirer at work or in conversation. Talk simply about what is important to you and you'll find you are sharing your faith and telling your story - and The Story. June is the month every year when we put this into practice in a very special way - through our programme of door to door visiting. Each Thursday night in June (5th, 12th, 19th, 26th) we'll be visiting a newly built area of our parish and simply knocking on each door. We introduce ourselves; ask if there are members of the Church of Ireland in the house, and move on. It's very simple and yet the appreciation from callers is immense. They are often very interested in the Church and in what we're doing: in the many years this has gone on, we have had almost no hostile reactions. It's a very sociable night and everyone, swapping stories and talking about their conversations, has a great deal of fun. The contacts made can sometimes be the start of a long friendship. So why not bring a friend and come and join us for at least one of the nights? The first night (June 5th) we will be visiting in Tyrellstown, just past Mulhuddart village. Go left at the first roundabout after the village and meet at the entrance to the estate at 7.30pm. We'll be done by 9.30pm and then there's refreshments. One person whose faith journey has brought her a long way has been Aisling Shine. Aisling has brought so much to our parish - hard work, commitment, encouragement, a superb sense of humour. She has been a great support to all the clergy past and present. When things threaten to go wrong, we have all learned from her motto: "Improvise, overcome, adapt"!! Aisling will be ordained on June 22nd in Christchurch Cathedral at 3.30pm. Please do come and support her as she begins her new ministry in Drumcondra/North Strand in the auxiliary ministry. Our loss is their gain, but of course she'll still be around to cheer us up! One other practical way in which we shared our Christian story together was at the International Food Night. A great time was had by all as we feasted on food from 5 Continents. It was great way of getting to know each other better, and appreciate the wonderful diversity in our parish community. Food binds us all together - why else did our Lord give us that special way of remembering Him? Yours in his service Andrew Rite of ConfirmationOn Friday 9th May, Archbishop John Neill confirmed - Rachael Allen, Lee Bannister, Gavin Barr, Leah Crawford, Zoe Cunningham, Emily Dobson, Rebecca Jameson, Stephen Lowe, Daniel O'Hanlon, and Caoimhe Smullen. A Large crowd participated enthusiastically in the singing and heard the Archbishop speak to the Candidates of the importance of following the risen Jesus throughout their lives. Thank you to all who attended to support them and to the candidates and their families for the commitment shown throughout the year of preparation. But thank you chiefly to Robert Lawson and the team of leaders who worked so hard since September. O Lord, may they continue to be yours forever. SARS In Toronto by Rev. Bruce Pierce[reprinted from C or I Gazette] The ability to mount a rapid and appropriate response to changing circumstances is crucial to the survival and growth of any institution. This principle was demonstrated recently to me, in my role as chaplain resident at United Health Network (UHN) in Toronto. In response to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus, the reaction was flexible, adaptable and yet comprehensive. In the light of SARS, even to enter, as a member of staff, any hospital in Toronto at the time of writing requires considerable effort. On reaching the only accessible entrance to the hospital, staff must first show their photo ID badge to hospital staff who are fully gowned with full-face protective helmets and gloves. Hands are outstretched then and liberally covered in antiseptic lotion. A form must be completed and checked to show where entering staff have been, how they feel and where they will be in the hospital. Next, temperature is taken and if it exceeds 38 there is a referral to occupational health. If all these stages are negotiated successful then one can come into the hospital after a further washing of hands. And this happens to every staff member every day. SARS is an infectious disease first recognised in south East Asia during late February. Due to its unique nature and the current lack of specific treatment, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued its first global health alert for over a decade. Symptoms of SARS include high fever and one or more respiratory symptoms (including cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing). The implications of SARS are multifaceted. For the economy, it has been forecast that Canada could lose, this year, up to $2 billion in lost growth. The direct cost of SARS to the Toronto area hospitals will probably exceed $100 million. In the hospital group where I am based, over 200 additional staff will be hired to screen staff, patients and those few visitors who are allowed to enter the three-hospital group. The scale of the Toronto problem, while small by the Asia figures, as of 27th April, shows that there have been 269 cases, with 20 deaths. Over 144 previously infected patients have been discharged and over 10,000 quarantined for at least ten days. It has been a stressful and demanding time for hospital staff, with many working extra shifts due to new procedures being introduced. There has been frustration, as patient admission and procedures have had to be postponed. Some staff have been caught in the front line of this frustration. Exhaustion seems the watchword for many staff, as they work long shifts dressed in perspiration-inducing protective wear. Following directives from the provincial authorities, no meetings have been held in the hospital unless deemed crucial. This has extended to even having all chairs removed from the restaurants so that no congregating is possible there. All chapel services, including those on Easter Day, have been cancelled for the same reason. Staff have also commented on the difficulty experienced in building up the important rapport with patients, due to the masks and other barrier procedures. For many patients it has been a traumatic experience. Visiting has been banned except in limited circumstances, which were either for young children or terminally ill patients. If a visit has been deemed appropriate the family faces the same entrance ritual as staff undergo. Some patients also faced delays, with operating theatres being closed for at least the first week of the crisis. Loneliness appears to be one of the dominant feelings for patients, and phones and email facilities were provided to help in the enforced separation. For chaplains, it has been a time for increased support for staff and families and in the early days of the crisis much of our ministry took place by phone. Local clergy have not been let into the hospitals and the chaplains adapt to the changing situations as resources and professional practice dictate. Chaplains follow the same gowning procedures as other staff members. The crisis I believe has shown again the value of chaplaincy within a hospital. It is felt here that the strict protocols may well remain for months if not years. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges has been for society to realise that we cannot just rely on an antibiotic to solve every problem and that we do not have a cure for every situation. Healthcare in Canada and elsewhere is entering a time of increased vigilance and infection control, with no room for complacency. Hospital life, including chaplaincy work, may well change forever because of SARS. The Revd Bruce Pierce, on sabbatical from AMNCH Hospital at Tallaght, is currently CPE Resident and Anglican Chaplain at Toronto General Hospital. He sent this report last month. BOYS BRIGADE NEWSMay 6th marked the end of another busy year in the life of the 10th Dublin. It culminated in a wonderful closing service in St. Brigid's church conducted by our curate Rev. Sandra Pragnell. Leader Retirement New Leaders Required JS Boys from the 90's Charity Match The match was keenly contested with the boys winning by a "small margin". We thank Gilbert Smart for his good humour and also his efficient way in refereeing the game. We also thank the 3 ladies for providing invaluable medical assistance - Ros Garrett, Shirley McGuckin and Valerie Dobson. Thanks to the Team Managers Eddie Greene and Ada Lawson. Also to David O'Reilly for providing the nets and Bernard Sheridan for providing the jerseys. The match was followed by a buffet supper back at the Parish Centre. It was a nostalgic evening as boys and leaders caught up with times gone past as some of the boys would not have seen each other for over 10 years There was informal presentation of prizes and they were as follows: Man of the Match - Ken Patton (he received a voucher for a massage and he was the envy of all the players.) Special Thanks goes to Linda Ludgate for doing the catering, Keith Bannister for doing the bar, Ada Lawson, Valerie Greene, Sandra Connolly, Shirley Smyth and Emily Wrafter who co-ordinated all of the catering. The whole evening was evident of a team effort both on and off the pitch which lent to a great social occasion. The Junior Section Team of the 90's were: Ian Anderson, Gareth Anderson, Gary Ludgate, Keith Colton, Jonathan Dunn, David Scott, David Pasley, David Patton, Robert Buckley, Nigel Holland, Stuart Holland, Garry Colton, Russell McCaulay, Mark Smyth, Alan Smyth and Glenn Ludgate Junior Section News Anchor Boy News THANKS Have a wonderful restful summer! Robert Lawson - Co-ordinator 10th Dublin Mother's UnionThe early risers made it to the train for a 7.30 a.m. start for our outing to Kilkenny. After breakfast in the Kilkenny Design Centre we then did the cultural bit and had a most interesting tour of the Castle. It was a day for "retail therapy" (some more than others!) so we toured the shops - every one on High Street. One discovered Italian made shoes at half price and couldn't resist a bargain. Having secured an interest free loan from funds which were earmarked to make a mortgage repayment (or so we were told), the purchase of the shoes was made to complete the outfit already folded neatly in a Goods of Kilkenny bag!! Neither a borrower or a lender be!! However, later in the evening I witnessed the repayment of the loan so thank goodness there was no re-possession of the home occupied by our newly elected rector's churchwarden, her family and the cats. We shopped till we nearly dropped but after a food stop in Langton's we were revitalised for the journey home and the constant chat. We congratulate Holmpatrick and Kennure with Balbriggan Branch on their 60 years plus of Mothers' Union and were pleased to be present at the North Area service when their new banner was dedicated. Valerie Greene, Hon. Secretary. Pentecost (by the Curate)This year the Feast of Pentecost, formerly known as Whitsun, falls on 8th June. After Easter, this is the second most important feast in the Church because it effectively marks the birthday of the Church. Pentecost is the 50th day after Easter (the word comes from the Greek pentekoste meaning fiftieth day) and it was the name given to the Jewish Feast of Weeks which fell 50 days after the Passover. At the Feast of Weeks the first-fruits of the corn harvest were presented (Deut 16:9) and it usually also commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses. Because this was the day on which the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1), the Church adopted the name Pentecost for the Feast to celebrate the beginning of the church. In the early church, baptisms usually took place at Easter, but Pentecost became the secondary date for baptisms. The white robes worn by those to be baptised led to Pentecost being popularly known as Whitsunday. Red is the liturgical colour for Pentecost (seen in the stoles worn by the clergy, as well as the pulpit fall and the coverings at the Eucharist): it signifies the Holy Spirit (which is why it is also the colour for Confirmation services). In the Eastern Church, there is a tradition of kneeling throughout the Vespers to mark Whitsunday evening, in contrast to their being forbidden to kneel at any service during the 50 days from Easter. Our church marks Pentecost with a special Dawn Eucharist, as well as our usual service, and Night Prayer. Nowadays we tend still to think of Christmas and Easter as the two great festivals: maybe it is time we rediscovered the importance of Pentecost, when (as Jesus had promised) the Holy Spirit was sent down upon the people who were the nucleus of the church. It's a dramatic story, where we see a small group of people transformed by God' Spirit and able to spread the Good News literally to all nations, and who were so ecstatic with the joy they felt that people thought they were drunk (Acts 2:13-15). Let us pray that we can rediscover the joy of Pentecost. CLONSILLA PROJECTFUND RAISING EVENTS FAMILY FUN EVENING FORT LUCAN FRIDAY 20TH JUNE 2003 Mums & Dads, come and enjoy a Glass of Wine Contact: DUBLIN WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIR CONCERT SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER in Saint Brigid's Church Castlekncok, at 8 p.m Tickets €10.00 Available from Mrs. Pat Gray or GOLF CLASSIC 26TH SEPTEMBER 2003 IN WESTMANSTOWN GOLF CLUB [BY KIND PERMISSON] ENTRY FORMS AND FURTHER DETAILS THANK YOU Cake Sale - an enormously successful cake sale on 2nd May raised €1,706 for the Clonsilla Project. This is a magnificent total - many thanks to Janet Seaman, Margaret Tutty, Avril McCabe and the team of helpers and supporters who made this such a success. What is a Deacon?On 22nd June in Christ Church Cathedral our parishioner Aisling Shine will be ordained as a Deacon, to serve in the Parishes of Drumcondra and North Strand, and we will celebrate that wonderful occasion with her. But what exactly is a Deacon? The word deacon comes from a Greek word (diakonos) which means someone who serves or ministers to others. All Christians are called to serve others, but the deacon has a particular function which is worth noting. In the Anglican Church we retain the threefold ministry of Bishop, Priest and Deacon (in the Orthodox church they add the ministry of the Reader to that list). Because you cannot be a Priest without first being a deacon, we tend to think of the Diaconate as a stepping stone to Priesthood, yet in the early church there were deacons who held the office for life. As the many references to deacons in the New Testament show us, the calling of a deacon is a serious one. The first deacons (in Acts 6: 1-6) were the seven, including Stephen and Philip, who were called to help the poor and distribute alms. In some of the Epistles (eg Phil 1:1 and 1 Tim 3:8) the deacon assists the bishop: later the chief deacon in a given place became the bishop's principal administrative officer (hence the term Archdeacon - now of course always a priest). During the period of the early church, deacons read or chanted the Epistle and Gospel at the Eucharist, received the offerings of the people, assisted the bishop or priest in the distribution of communion, and directed the prayers of the people. By the Middle Ages the influence of deacons had diminished because of the perceived superior role of the priests, which led to the Western Church tending to see the diaconate simply as a stage in preparation for priesthood. The Eastern Orthodox Church still has people who are deacons for life, and in recent years the Roman Catholic Church in England and elsewhere has ordained permanent deacons, usually men who are married. Nowadays deacons in the Anglican Communion have similar functions to their counterparts in the RC Church: deacons are authorised to baptise, to administer Communion, to read the Gospel at the Eucharist and to dismiss the people at the end of the service, to assist at weddings, to preach, and to officiate at funerals. In practice, deacons carry out most of the pastoral duties of a priest, with the exception of celebrating the Eucharist and pronouncing the Absolution and Blessing. As a historic office in the church, which meets pastoral needs inside and beyond the church, the role of deacon is an exciting one. And so we keep Aisling in our prayers as she takes this important step in her faith journey. The Curate JUNE AT A GLANCESunday 1st - Easter 7 Parish Walking Group Over €1,000 for Christian AidSupported by all the Irish and British churches, Christian Aid works with the world's poor in over 60 countries. Each year the second week in May is used in parishes to focus awareness on this important area of Christian ministry both in long term development work with the poor, and in emergency relief. This year from 11th to 17th May we had Christian Aid envelopes in the pews and collecting boxes, and also on Friday 16th May the clergy organised and ran a Coffee Morning with a sale of Fair Trade Goods. The support from the parish throughout the week (and especially on a very wet Friday) was superb, and we are delighted to announce that we have sent a cheque to Christian Aid for €1,009.85. Many thanks to all of you for your contribution. At the Coffee Morning there was considerable interest shown in the Fairtrade goods (these are items which give a fair deal to the third world farmers who produce the raw materials). As Christians we should care about how our spending on shopping affects others. Chris Martin (the lead singer with Coldplay) has pointed out: "Trade is ridiculously unfair. All it would take is a bit of consumer awareness. Fairtrade isn't trendy yet, but it could be." Our local Superquinn stocks some Fairtrade coffee, tea and fruit juice. We can help by asking for more Fairtrade items there and in other shops, who will only stock them if the demand is sufficient. For many third world producers, hopes of a better life depend on us. The Curate EASTER VESTRIESThe Clonsilla Easter Vestry took place in St Mary's on Sunday 27th April after the morning service. The Castleknock and Mulhuddart Easter Vestry took place in the Parish Centre on Wednesday 30th April. Following the Castleknock vestry, a social evening for the grouped parishes was held in the hall to celebrate the multi-cultural aspects of the parish. Ethnic food from various parts of the world was prepared by parishioners from Brazil, Italy, South Africa, Nigeria, the Philippines, the Netherlands, with British cheeses provided by the Curate. It was a great occasion, the exotic flavours were delicious and it was a very enjoyable way of getting to know each other across the three churches. Many thanks to the Rector who had the original idea. SUMMER CLUBThe annual SUMMER CLUB will now be held on 25th to 29th August in the Parish Centre (adult helpers still needed). FROM THE REGISTRARSHoly Baptism: On 5th April at St Brigid's, Castleknock: Robert David Robinson (son of Kevin and Ingrid Robinson of Dunboyne). On 4th May at St Mary's, Clonsilla: Max Thomas Clark Greenway (only child of Iain and Donna Greenway of Littlepace). Christian Funeral and Burial: On 15th May at St Brigid's, Castleknock - Francis William Pennicott, of Corduff, and late of Nancy's Wood, River Road, Castleknock. In Memoriam: Frank Pennicott (15th April 1937 - 10th May 2003). A lifelong Castleknock resident, Frank was born the third of six children (and the younger of the two sons) to the late George and Georgina Pennicott of Blackhorse Lane (now Avenue). A pupil of St Paul's National School, Frank then moved with his family to Nancy's Wood on the River Road (now under part of the M50 embankment). After a brief stay in England as a young man, Frank returned to Nancy's Wood to help his father with the haulage business and with the Riding School. Horses were Frank's great love, and he later trained and ran race horses, most successfully with a horse called (naturally) Tolka River (though sadly the horse was eventually stolen and destroyed). Frank also grazed cattle and sheep on rented land around the area (all now built on - in fact the house in Corduff is on land which was once pasture for his sheep. In more recent years, Frank nursed his mother until her death at a very advanced age in 1996, and he was a constant support to his sister. He coped with his own illness with great courage and typical good humour. All who knew and loved him were sad to hear the news of his sudden death at the Mater Hospital on 10th May, only weeks after his 66th birthday. May he rest in peace. We extend our deepest sympathy to Frank's family, especially his sister Ida, and nephew Charles and his wife Finola, and their daughters, Emma, Ruth, Lucy, Sophie and Megan, and assure them of our prayers. Readings for Sunday Services in JuneSunday 1st June (Easter 7) Sunday 8th June (PENTECOST) Sunday 15th June (TRINITY) Sunday 22nd June (Trinity 1) Sunday 29th June (St Peter) SERVICES FOR JUNEEvery Wednesday: Holy Communion at 10.30 a.m. in Parish Centre Sunday 1st June Easter 7 - Sunday after Ascension Sunday 8th June Pentecost Sunday 15th June Trinity Sunday Sunday 22nd June Trinity Proper 9 Sunday 29th June St. Peter Pentecost Choral Eucharist |
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Parishes of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla |
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