18th - 25 th Jan 2025

The Octave for Christian Unity takes place each year on the above dates. It's a wonderful opportunity to consider how the main Christian Church's agree and differ. A different Christian Community prepares resources and suggests the format of an ecumenical Prayer service.

We also have a letter from the archbishop who, quotes Pope Francis' endorsement. Bishop Roche was the Homilist at the Interdenominational Service in Abbey Presbyterian Church Parnell Square North (known to you and me as Findlater's Church!) last night.

I've had a delightfully varied experience of Ecumenical groups. Lucan Village has Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist and Society of Friends, all within about 500 yards. We used to meet for Soup and a Sandwich once a month, we also had public gatherings for Christmas Eve, Good Friday and Pentecost, all at the Village Green. I was in Lucan from 1996 to 2005.

On a very practical level these meetings meant that we got to know each other, and whenever we needed to discuss an issue, it was much easier to chat with someone that we knew on first name terms. The 3 public gatherings were, we felt, a great witness to what was going on in the background. In Balally we worked with Dundrum and Kilternan Parishes. Most recently I was a member of the Rathgar/Terenure Fellowship.

Archbishop Farrell says The Week for Christian Unity is a privileged moment of prayer, encounter and dialogue. It is an opportunity to recognize and receive the richness and value that are present in the other, the different, and to ask God for the gift of unity.

Let's pray for Christian Unity, and the unity of all peoples.

Fr Philip PP (United we stand…)

I am resolved...

I was surprised to hear someone on Radio recently to say that she was not making any New Year's Resolution. 'I'll just try to be the real me' was the comment. The person didn't even say I'll be a better me. We humans are flawed people and there's lots of Sin/bad behaviour out there. Did you hear the mad figures for speeding during December?????

It got me thinking: what was her experience of making New Year's resolution? Did he/she try all sorts of things and fail at them all? Were those resolutions too bland or broad? I'll give up sugar, and lower my cholesterol, go to bed earlier and eat more fruit and Veg, while never gossiping about my neighbour!

Sometimes we take on too much, and/or we're too vague. I'll be a better person. If I take on 10 better habits and I manage to achieve only 4 of them, I may be disappointed. Whereas if I decide to be very specific and take on 3 things and I manage 2 of them I've a 66% success rate.

It's not too late to make a resolution for a better me, but let's be specific. As a parish we could compile an email list, then the Parish could forward Newsletters, notices, even messages from the archbishop.

On Feb 13th at 7-8.30pm there will be Child safeguarding training for ALL volunteers. It's in the Church. Not everyone can come on that date but let's try to be there. It's for everyone!! Put the date in your diary NOW.

Fr Philip PP (More on email list later)

Pastoral Councils

One classmate of mine has a great turn of phrase! When our retired Archbishop, Diarmuid Martin came into Office he discovered a couple of Parishes didn't have a Pastoral Council. So, he issued a Decree that all parishes were to have Parish Pastoral Councils. He issued a decree….so he was nicknamed Caesar Augustus!!!

A pastoral Council is not involved in the Day to day running of the Parish, it's not a management group. They/it try to discern where the Lord is leading us as a Parish. I often try to explain Pastoral Councils as a Leadership group. 'When the lads are hacking their way through the Jungle, the managers keep the machetes sharp, take splinters out of the workers feet and make sure they are well watered' It's the Leadership group who climbs a tree and makes sure that we're going in the right direction.

Now, it's easy to see the Direction in the jungle, but it's very different when we want to follow/discern God's direction. It involved a lot of Prayer and Reflection. And it takes time, perseverance, self-awareness, a willingness to give up on my own agenda, that's just for starters!

Now, following the Synodal Conversations and the Building Hope initiative, Archbishop Farrell is setting up a Diocesan Pastoral Council. All the above applies in bucket-fulls.

There will be 9 Lay People from across the Diocese, the Archbishop, the 2 Assistant Leaders in Evangelization, Education etc. There's a very clear timetable for Deaneries, Pastoral Areas and finally the diocesan discernment. Do, keep the whole process in your prayer, it's a wonderful journey that the Diocese is embarking upon.

Fr Philip PP (Very hopeful)

Watch the few Bob!

Congratulations and Thank You to all who so generously donated to the Vincent de Paul Collection Dec 7/8th This annual collection is often the biggest collection in the Church each year.

The V.de P. always tells where the money is going and that there is also a visit to each household. We heard recently in the media about some charities where there is or has been poor governance. The Charities Act is becoming more and more strict as time goes on.

The money must be traceable, and the Money must be spent on the purpose for which it was donated, we're safe here with Vincent de Paul. We recently installed 2 'Tap n Go' machines in the Church. They are on trial 'so to speak'. The big selling point is they give the person donating the opportunity of giving their personal details so that we can claim tax.

It is important that everyone knows that the 'Tap n Go' machines are for Mass Collections ONLY. The money donated is divided 60% for the support of the Priests and 40% for Share. It's not possible to donate to the Family Offering or other Church funds via these machines.

And while I'm talking about collections, please don't give them to anyone begging outside the church. Only St Vincent de Paul can have a collection on Church grounds, ALL others must have a Garda Permit and use it on the Road (outside the Church grounds). We don't know where the money goes when it is given to any beggar/collector. I have my suspicions that many of these beggars/collectors have handlers who take the money for themselves.

Begging is legal, but it must be respected, no-one should feel under pressure to give. If a person begging is rude or threatening, then it's begging with menace, and is illegal.

Fr Philip PP (tapping)

BUYING VOTES

We find ourselves in the middle of Auction Election/Politics! I wouldn't be a politician to save my life! The main problem with Democracy is that it requires popularity. The alternative is worse! And don't forget that all these gifts/allowances/tax breaks etc., are paid to us by us (the Taxpayer). However, this is a special time for us to communicate with our politicians/ /Candidates. I'd like to say to them, that:

1. I'm disappointed that the last Referendum (on the family and care) was very significantly rejected by the electorate, there was no reflection or thought as to how all the political groups got it so wrong.

2. The previously rejected Referendum was on the abolition of the Seanad, all sorts of promises followed, it has taken 12 years for the first changes to be even suggested.

3. It seems that there are now 7 Genders recognized by the Dail (Where did that come from) rather late at night with very few TDs there. These 72 Genders will be taught to Primary and Secondary Pupils in S.P.H.E.

4. We're full of respect for different ethnicities but NOT when it comes to doctors who don't agree with directly ending life in the Womb.

5. And Assisted Dying is around the corner despite the very telling escalation of numbers and changes in criteria, as seen changed in Canada. Where "the right to die becomes the duty to die "Let's use the new 'eagerness to listen' of our Politicians/Candidates' to communicate our concerns about society and not just economics.

Fr Philip PP