There will be a meeting for all parents/guardians of children due to receive the sacraments in Spring 2027 in St Benedict’s and St Monica’s Churchs. Information on the full year parish programme of events and the dates for the sacraments will be available at these meetings.

St Benedict’s & St Mary’s School

First Communion parents meeting: Thursday 24th September at 3pm

Confirmation parents meeting: Friday 2nd October at 3pm

St Eithne’s & St Malachy’s School

First Communion parents meeting: Tuesday 22nd September at 3pm

Confirmation parents meeting: Thursday 1st October at 3pm

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The annual collection for Crosscare takes place this weekend, September 19/20 in place of the usual Share collection. Parishioners who may not be able to contribute on these dates can support the appeal online at www.crosscare.ie.

Crosscare, the social support agency of the Archdiocese of Dublin, provides practical support to people at some of the most difficult moments in their lives. Every day Crosscare works alongside families worried about losing their home, young people in need of guidance and support, people experiencing homelessness, and migrants and refugees seeking safety and a fresh start. The theme of this year’s appeal is Hope & Resilience.

Saturday 15th August is the Feast of  the Assumption  of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mass will be celebrated in Raheny Church at 10am.

Mass will be celebrated in St. Paul’s Ayrfield  at 10am

Mass will be celebrated in Holy Trinity Donaghmede at 10am.

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Today we remember Grandparents and the elderly people in our lives. We thank them for the role they play in family life. They are always generous with their time and can be important teachers who show us how to love and care for one another. They remember the past and teach us from that past. We thank God for our grandparents and celebrate their contribution to our lives. Also, on this day we don’t exclusively think of grandparents, we also think of older people and the role they play in our lives. Grandparents play an essential part in the life of families today. On this day we give thanks for all grandparents, living and deceased

St’s. JOACHIM and ANNE, Parents of Our Blessed Lady Lord Jesus, you were born of the Virgin Mary the daughter of Ss Joachim and Anne. Look with love on grandparents the world over. Protect them! They are a source of enrichment for families, the Church and Society. Support them! As they grow older, may they continue to be for their families’ strong pillars of Gospel faith, guardian of noble domestic ideals and living treasuries of sound religious traditions. Make them teachers of wisdom and courage, that they may pass on to future generations the fruits of their mature human and spiritual experience.

Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly:

Holy Father
Who watches over every person
Watch over me too when I am elderly.
You have revealed your name to me in Christ,
And You were not discouraged by my fragilities.
You hold me tenderly in your hands,
And You caress my lines.
You will never forget me! (see is 49:15)

Grant that I may not fear my weakness;
Help me learn to love it
Just as You love it.
Help me learn to listen to it
Just as You listen to it.
Help me embrace it
Just as You have chosen it –
You who, through all-powerful, clothed yourself in humility.

May growing old strip away all our pride
and all division
So that we may live these years
united in You.
You will never forget us! (see is 49:15)
Amen.

It is with both sadness and gratitude that we announce that our Faith Development Worker, Kirsten, will be moving to a new appointment within the Archdiocese this July. Kirsten has been appointed to serve the parishes of Finglas, Finglas West and Rivermount, and will finish her ministry with our Parish Partnership later this month.

For the past four years, Kirsten has worked across the Parish Partnership of Ayrfield, Donaghmede, Edenmore, Grange Park and Raheny. During that time, she has journeyed alongside so many children and families as they prepared to celebrate the Sacraments of First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Her warmth, dedication and faith-filled presence have been a great support to our parish communities.

Kirsten has also helped to nurture and strengthen many lay ministries throughout the partnership, supporting and encouraging Ministers of the Word, Ministers of the Eucharist, Baptism Teams, Funeral Ministry Teams and many other parish volunteers. Through her work with the Building Hope process, she has helped us reflect on the gifts and strengths of our parishes while encouraging us to look with hope and confidence towards the future.

While we will be very sorry to see Kirsten leave our Parish Partnership, we are deeply grateful for all she has given over the past four years. We thank her for her generosity, commitment and care, and we wish her every blessing and happiness in this new chapter of ministry.

Please keep Kirsten in your prayers as she prepares to take up her new appointment and may she be assured of our prayers and gratitude for all she has done among us.  

Please join us on our Coffee Morning in St Monica’s Church on Monday 22nd to bid our farewell to Kirsten.