TAP n Go

During Covid 19, lots of dreadful things happened! I think we're all still a bit traumatized. But it is worth looking at the many good things that happened. Think of the Herculean work done in communities across the Country. Many people got to know their neighbours, many people took up hobbies that they could do at home or in the garden.

Many parishes got Webcams. I had a plan to do it in my previous Parish, but it was put on the Long finger! I thought it might be a good idea too to get a donate button/icon on the Parish Website. Thanks to Covid, we got both, and they are going strong.

The Diocese had to do something when there were NO public masses, thus there were NO collections for the Support of Priests and Share. Tap n Go arrived in many parishes including Foxrock the donation is for Mass Collections only, i.e. Support of the Clergy (Active and retired) and Share.

One of the Problems with the system is that up to now, tap n Go donations were anonymous which meant that donations could not be put into the Parish/Diocese Tax reclaim system.

BUT breaking news! Newtown Park Church is piloting the New Tap n Go machines. When you 'Tap' you get the opportunity to put in your personal details and then we can connect your contribution to your other donations and, if its' over €250 in the year the PARISH gets the Tax rebate of nearly another half. I love getting a few bob back from the Taxman (sorry Tax-person!)

It's the perfect weekend to start as it' is SHARE Sunday. There's a letter from Archbishop Farrell and the Annual Share Newsletter. It makes good reading.

Thanks for all the support of Mass collections, Dues, and Parish Maintenance (Family Offering).

Fr Philip PP (Ex Tax collector)

TRAINING SESSION

I can hardly believe that I was installed in Newtown Park and Foxrock Parishes 4 months ago!! And therefore, I'm giving super-advance notice of a training session to take place in Newtownpark Church on 13th Feb next year, it's ONLY 3 months away.

Every volunteer, employee and priest MUST do an evening's training. Lots of people will remember the huge hassle of Garda Vetting. This has all changed, only those with direct access to Minors must be Garda vetted. It usually works out at 8 or 9 people in the whole parish.

But that doesn't let other people off their Safeguarding responsibilities. Safeguarding whether for Children or Vulnerable adults is the responsibility of everyone. The training keeps us all up to speed.

Each parish in the Diocese must have at least one Safeguarding representative. Ideally there would be two in each Parish. Safeguarding is a permanent item on the Agenda of the Pastoral Council. Often the Rep gives his/her report at the start of the meeting and head off.

If there are two reps, then they can go to every alternative meeting. The Reps are trained, and their jobs are to ensure that the information about Safeguarding is in the Church and Parish Centre notice boards, to keep an eye on who is vetted, and who is due for training, and ensure that the Sacristy Register is completed.

So please put the date in your diary, More info later.

Fr Philp PP (Safe as houses!!))