Parish Notices

Parish Pastoral Council
The work of the Parish Council has developed throughout the past year. We thank its members for their regular input and fidelity to the task of building an ever more robust and confident local Christian community. In particular we thank Colman Scott for his energetic and dedicated work as Chairman of the Council.
Prayer Group
This parish group meet at 3pm every Monday afternoon in the Sacristy. Fr. Alan accompanies them. Please contact the parish centre if you would like to belong to this group.
Baptism Teams
A significant pastoral development in the parish has been the formation of a number of baptismal preparation teams. Each month parents and godparents of prospective candidates for the sacrament of Christian Initiation meet with the one or other of the baptismal teams. The families in question have found these sessions helpful in building appreciation of the sacrament.
Children’s Choir
This choir sings each month at the Sunday 10am mass, under the direction of Alexandra Jobling. We encourage parents of the parish to consider enlisting their young sons or daughters in this professionally conducted musical activity.
Bethany Bereavement Group
A bereavement support group now meet on a monthly basis in the Parish Centre. Their function is to offer when appropriate, solidarity and encouragement to those who have suffered grief and personal loss through the death of a family member.
Library
A library section is planned for the parish centre. Books, magazines, C.D.’s and videos of a predominately Christian and historical interest will be included among resources available to parishioners from this service. This facility will be inaugurated in the New Year. We are grateful for the sponsorship of this project which has been made possible by courtesy of a generous local donor.
Milltown Parish Travels

Compostella Pilgrimage
Very many people are aware of the increasingly popular Pilgrimage which brings pilgrims from all around the world to make their way to the shrine of St. James (St. Iago) the Apostle, at the town of Compostello in Galicia in north western Spain. This journey is known as the Camino (the way). It has both a romantic and religious appeal. We would like to hear from any families in the parish who are interested in making this fabled journey together during the coming Summer holiday period. If sufficient interest is expressed in this adventurous project the parish will undertake to organise it on a date that is most acceptable. We await your response to this invitation!

Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Each year a group from the parish join a 2000 plus strong archdiocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes (September, 7th–12th). Next year is the 250th anniversary of the Our lady’s apparition at Lourdes. Because of this a much larger number than normal will travel to the shrine. For this reason early bookings are essential and so we invite those who may plan to join our parish group on this pilgrimage to contact the parish office as soon as possible.

Rome
On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Monsignor Stack’s ordination to the priesthood, which occurs on the 31st May next, it is planned to travel to Rome (October,14th – 19th). A proposed outline of this trip is available in the parish office. The group will be accompanied in Rome by Fr. Alex Stenson who has lived there and is expert on historical and ecclesiastical features of the Eternal City. In order to secure accommodation in our chosen location - the oldest and most charming section of Rome (Piazza Farnese), it is essential that bookings are made in early January. We hope you may be able to join us on this journey which will be both informative and entertaining.

Appreciation
At the close of the year we wish to thank all those who helped in the parish during 2007. We are grateful in particular to sacristans Joan Cooper, Tom Ferrick also Ann Hurley who helped us in this ministry, organists Fergal Caulfield and Andrew Synott, Chamber choir Director Orla Flanagan, Director Children’s Choir Alexandra Jobling, and her young members together with her young members and their encouraging parents, Cantors Mary O’Flaherty, Paula Jennings & Orla Loughman, members of the Sunday 10 & 11.30 am masses, the ministers of the Word and Eucharist and John Loughman who organises their rotas, Marie Stuart and her team of flower arrangers, church cleaners and the team who count and manage the collections. A special word of thanks to our faithful altar servers who enhance our Sunday liturgy.
On behalf of the parish we express our gratitude for the important work accomplished during the past year by Tony Kerr, chairperson of the parish finance Committee. Also much appreciated is the supportive role of the members of his committee.
This year we are indebted to Orna Gaynor and the Parish Centre Management Committee who guide and service the activities of our new Centre. We thank Margaret Griffin for her unfailingly helpful service to all our parish guests. Recently we have been fortunate to enlist the willing work of Jim Smyth in maintaining the outdoor environs of our parish plant.

Active Retirement
This parish group has been busy with a wide-ranging variety of projects during the past year. These included outings to Kilkenny Castle and Design Centre, Farleigh House, Arus an Uachtarain, the Japanese Gardens and other special interest venues. They also hosted the challenging “Go for life” indoor fitness sessions at our Parish Centre. Perhaps the highlight of the group’s active year was their 3rd annual Christmas in the Castle Golf club, where some seventy members enjoying a splendid meal. They look forward to the future promising prospects of stimulating trips and events in the days ahead. All of these ventures conducted under the skilful and watchful eye of Chairman Walter Harvey.

Art Group
This group, with the direction of artist Aidan Gaffney, have met every Tuesday night in the Parish Centre. They propose to mount an exhibition of their work to date during the coming year. New members are welcome.

Bridge
Paul Hanratty continues his Monday morning improver’s bridge class. There are a few vacancies in the duplicate game which takes place at 7.30 pm each Wednesday in the Parish Centre.

Citizen Information Centre
This service is available on Wednesday mornings to inform and advise the public on their entitlements vis a via State services. A qualified information provider is available from 10am – 1pm.

Cookery Demonstration
In the New Year we look forward to hosting our first cookery demonstration in our well equipped kitchen. This promises to be a unique gastronomic experience!

Crochet Group
Thursday mornings in the parish centre are enlivened by the artistry of this group under the guidance of Anna McNamara. New members are welcome to join this creative ensemble.

Dublin City Councils Arts programme
We thank the above for their sponsorship of the classes in Digital photography and Creative Dance.

Irish conversation
There is an Irish conversation session takes place at the parish centre each Friday immediately after mass under the direction of Eileen Ryan. All are welcome.

Milltown Parish Historical Society
We wish to congratulate our parishioner Carmel Duggan for her recent magisterial lecture on the history of Milltown Parish and Mount St. Anne’s. This parish group fulfils a very useful function in informing us of the value of our local sense of place.

Mother and Toddler Group
A group of young mothers from the parish have recently established a social network in the parish through which they and their children will get to know and support each other. We wish every blessing on this initiative. They will commence meeting in the parish centre on a weekly basis on Friday January 11th from 10-12 am .

Web site
We invite you to log on to our parish web site with its continuously updated content. The web site is managed by parishioners Ken O’Brien and Noel Spain. Its address is at www. milltownparish.ie.

Yoga
A weekly yoga class will commence in the Parish Centre in the New Year if a sufficient number enrol. This will take place on Wednesday afternoons from 2-3.15pm. Please contact the parish Centre if you wish to attend.


Mairin Spain
Parish Administrator

Christmas Schedule 2007

Christmas Schedule 2007

Christmas Eve – Monday 24th December
Morning Mass 10.00am
Confessions 8.00 -8.30pm
Carol Service Chamber Choir 8.30pm
Mass 9pm

Christmas Day – Tuesday 25th December
Morning Mass 10.00, 11.30am
No evening Mass

Wednesday 26 th December – Saturday 29th December
Mass 12.00 noon

Usual Mass Times on Sunday 30th December
Vigil Mass 6.00 pm Saturday Evening
Sunday 10.00 & 11.30am and 5.30pm

New Years Eve – Monday 31st December
Mass 12.00 noon

New Years Day – Tuesday 1st January 2008
Mass 12.00 noon


Milltown Parish Centre Opening Hours
Monday – Friday: (10.15am – 12.45pm)
Sunday: 10.00am – 1.00pm
Evenings as required

Telephone: 2196740
Signed Mass cards are available in the centre.
The parish Centre will close on Friday Dec. 21st and reopen on Wednesday Jan. 2nd

Christmas Schedule

Christmas Schedule 2007
Christmas Eve – Monday 24th DecemberMorning Mass 10.00am
Confessions 8.00 -8.30pm
Carol Service Chamber Choir 8.30pm
Mass 9pm

Christmas Day – Tuesday 25th December
Morning Mass 10.00, 11.30am
No evening Mass

Wednesday 26 th December – Saturday 29th December
Mass 12.00 noon

Usual Mass Times on Sunday 30th December
Vigil Mass 6.00 pm Saturday Evening
Sunday 10.00 & 11.30am and 5.30pm

New Years Eve – Monday 31st December
Mass 12.00 noon

New Years Day – Tuesday 1st January 2008
Mass 12.00 noon


Milltown Parish Centre Opening Hours
Monday – Friday: (10.15am – 12.45pm)
Sunday: 10.00am – 1.00pm
Evenings as required

Telephone: 2196740
Signed Mass cards are available in the centre.
The parish Centre will close on Friday Dec. 21st and reopen on Wednesday Jan. 2nd

Second Sunday of Advent

Weekly Bulletin

2nd Sunday of Advent: 8th & 9th December, 2007

We wish to thank you for last weekend’s Offertory Collection which amounted to €1218
The Share Collection amounted to €818.

The annual diocesan collection for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be held at all Masses this weekend. This collection replaces the Share collection. Members of the local conference of St. Vincent De Paul will speak at each of the Masses.

We encourage parishioners to take a look at the Parish Website. The address of the site is www.milltownparish.ie.

Our seasonal parish C.D. called ‘A Coral Christmas’, featuring the parish Chamber Choir is again available. A tasteful Christmas greeting card goes with the C.D. which costs €10. This package makes an attractive Christmas gift.

A number of the weekly church cleaning group have recently retired which means that we must try and have them replaced. Therefore we would ask any volunteers, be they men or women, to volunteer for this ministry. It means giving one hour each week to ensure that God’s house is worthily maintained for our community worship here in the Parish. We hope that there are some of you who would be willing to offer this important ministry in the parish.

During the season of Advent it is desirable that we might try and reflect on our faith and Christian tradition. A good way of doing this is by reading some material from the church bookrack which is regularly replenished and kept up to date.

Our children’s choir will take part in the 10am mass on Sunday next. We would like to emphasise that this professionally directed choir provides an unique opportunity for children of the parish to become acquainted with the beauty of music and song thus enriching their future in society.

The sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) in preparation for the feast of the Nativity (Christmas) will take place at the 11.30 mass on Sunday December 23rd. We encourage your participation in this special Advent exercise. Moreover we would ask you to be good enough to share this information with others.

Friday next December 14th is the feast day of St. John of the Cross, famous Spanish poet and mystic.
This Weekend’s Mass Intentions

6 pm. Sat. 8th Laurence Spain (ann.) 10 am Sun. 9th Brighid Dolan (ann.)
11.30 am Sun. 9th 5.30 pm Sun. 9th Mary Cooper (ann.)

Readers for next weekend: Dec. 15th & 16th

6 pm. Sat. 15th A. Prost 10 am Sun. 16th E. Dunleavy
11.30 am Sun. 16th D. Fitzpatrick 5.30 pm Sun. 16th K. Dorshner

Parish Centre Phone No. 2196740
Parish Mobile 087 9500334

E. Mail: milltownparishcentre@eircom.net

First Sunday of Advent

Weekly Bulletin

1st Sunday of Advent: 1st & 2nd. December, 2007

We wish to thank you for last weekend’s Offertory Collection which amounted to €1122.
The Share Collection amounted to €748.

The annual church gate collection for the Parish Centre amounted to €2,100 for which we are very grateful. This will help us with the sizeable running expenses of the new centre. Have you been to visit us yet?

The names of your deceased family members and friends have been included on the Parish Altar List for the Dead. We thank those who sent contributions with their lists. A special Mass is offered each first Friday of the month for those named.

This Saturday two families from the parish celebrated the Baptisms of their daughters Aibhe and Alice. We welcome them to our Christian community and congratulate their parents.

This weekend there will be a church gate collection for the Irish Blind Dog Association.

The annual diocesan collection for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to be held at all Masses on next Saturday and Sunday December 8th & 9th. This collection will replace the Share collection.

We encourage parishioners to take a look at the Parish Website. The address of the site is www.milltownparish.ie.

Next Saturday, December 8th is the feast of the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The vigil Mass for this Holy Day of obligation will be at 6pm on Friday evening. Masses on Saturday next will be 10am, 11.30 am and 6pm.

A number of the weekly church cleaning group have recently retired which means that we must try and have them replaced. Therefore we would ask any volunteers, be they men or women, to volunteer for this ministry. It means giving one hour each week to ensure that God’s house is worthily maintained for our community worship here in the Parish. We hope that there are some of you who would be willing to offer this important ministry in the parish.

This Weekend’s Mass Intentions

6 pm. Sat. 7th 10 am Sun. 8th
11.30 am Sun. 8th Ita Cruess Callaghan 5.30 pm Sun. 8th

Readers for next weekend: Dec. 7th, 8th & 9th

6pm Fri. 7th S. O’Reilly
10am Sat. 8th P. Morgan 11.30am Sat. 8th M. Byrne
6 pm. Sat. 8th A. O’Beirne 10 am Sun. 9th G. Mc. Keever
11.30 am Sun. 9th P. Kilbride 5.30 pm Sun. 9th B. Lynch

Parish Centre Phone No. 2196740
Parish Mobile 087 9527447

E. Mail: milltownparishcentre@eircom.net