Easter Ceremonies
Many parishioners take a Spring
break during the Easter weekend
which in turn means less people around to
attend the ceremonies in Church. The
feast of the Resurrection being the high
point of the Christian year we would ask
everybody who is available to make a
serious effort to be present to celebrate the
events of Holy Week. We invite a
representative number of women and men
to take part in the Washing of the Feet at
Holy Thursday’s evening mass to let the
sacristans, Tom Ferrick or Anne Hurley,
know beforehand. Anyone who would
like Holy Communion to be brought to
the homes of housebound parishioners at
the end of Mass on Holy Thursday should
also inform the sacristan.
Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage
to Lourdes
This year marks the 150th anniversary
of the apparitions at Lourdes.
Between seven and eight million pilgrims
are expected to visit this renowned venue
during its jubilee year.
The Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to
Lourdes, led by Archbishop Diarmuid
Martin, takes place from September 7th –
12th. This large contingent of some two
thousand Dubliners gathered together at
Our Lady’s shrine constitutes an
experience of familyhood in faith. The
well planned liturgies and special
diocesan choir enhance the various
spiritual events during the pilgrimage. In
recent years groups representing our
parish have taken part in this annual
sojourn in Lourdes and have found it to be
both beneficial and enjoyable. We hope
some of you will come along with us. For
details contact the Parish Centre or phone
Map Travel at 01-8783111.
Painting of Church
We are glad that the re-decoration of
our church interior has been
completed for Easter. Parishioners have
expressed their pleasure at the ‘new look’.
The result has endowed the building with
an atmosphere which is both refreshing
and restful.
We are grateful to our painters T.G. Smith &
Sons for their work, completed with
minimum inconvenience. The church
look forward to its new distinctive presence
at the heart of the St. Annes development.
Children’s Choir
This Choir, under the direction of
Alexandra Jobling, sing each month
during school term at the 10 am mass. We
encourage parents to consider enlisting
their children in this professionally
conducted musical activity.
Bethany Bereavement
Group
The Parish Bethany Bereavement
Group meets in the Parish Centre on
the last Thursday of each month at 7.30
pm. Their function is to offer, when
appropriate, solidarity and encouragement
to those who have suffered grief and
personal loss.
Milltown Parish Bridge
Group
There are a few vacancies, including a
spare player, in the Duplicate bridge
game which takes place in the Parish
Centre on Wednesday evenings at 7.30
pm. Contact Paul Hanratty at 2698104 for
further details.
It is proposed to start a new course of
‘Bridge Lessons for Beginners’ if there
are a sufficient number of people
interested. For details on this please
contact the Parish Centre at 2196740.
Citizen Information Centre
We wish to remind parishioners of
the Citizen Information service
which is available in the Parish centre on
Wednesday mornings between 10.0 am –
12.30 pm. This service provides free,
impartial and confidential information
across the full range of state services and
entitlements as well as local supports.
Milltown Parish Active
Retirement Group
This group have commenced a series of
‘Gentle Activity to Music’ sessions
which will be conducted by Jim Gorman,
Physical Activity Officer with the Health
Promotion unit of the H.S.E.This
programme will continue on the first
Tuesdays of April, May and June in the
Parish Centre at 2.30pm. There is no
charge for this activity and all are
The Active Retirement Group has also
arranged their first mini-break. They are
travelling to the Galway Bay Hotel on
April 6th and will return on April 9th.
Further details on this are available in the
Parish Centre.
Interior Design Day
Ahalf-day Interior Design Course will
take place in the Parish Centre on
Saturday, April 5th. This course will
include information on colour, pattern,
lighting etc. The cost is €40. For further
details contact Clare at 087 – 2843521.
Parish Art Group
This group continues to meet on
Tuesday evenings at 7.30 in the
Parish centre. There is a nominal charge
for these sessions. New members are
welcome to attend.
Yoga
Helen Hughes has re-commenced her
Yoga classes in the Parish Centre on
Wednesday afternoons at 2 pm. It is
proposed to commence a new course after
Easter. Please contact the Parish office for
further details.
Milltown Parish Historical
Society
This Parish Group hosted a very
successful talk on the Dodder with
author Christopher Moriarity. It was the
best attended evening in the Centre to
date. We look forward to the History
Group’s future events.
Parent and Toddler Group
This group continues to meet on Friday
morning at 10.30am in the Parish
Centre. Attendance at these Friday
morning gatherings has been much larger
than anticipated. Their youthful presence
is warmly welcomed by all. This group
intends to invite experts on Child Care to
speak to their group over the coming
months.
First of the SummerWine
Redmonds of Ranelagh have kindly
agreed to host a wine tasting in the
Parish Centre on Friday, April 25th.
Pencil this date into your diary! Further
details will be available after Easter.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Parish Pastoral Council Report
The Parish Pastoral Council is the body which represents the members of this parish of Milltown.
It is responsible for the running and development of our Christian community in co-operation with
our priests.
Due to the decrease in the number of priests, the work of the Parish Pastoral Council becomes ever more
important, especially as we sustain the vitality of our local Christian community and pass our faith on to
our children.
Members of the Council give their time for a period of some three years for bi-monthly meetings when
affairs of the parish are considered and decided upon. They also actively promote important parish
initiatives. There are currently fifteen members on the council. As current chairman, I would like to
express my thanks to the Council members for their valuable contributions to our deliberations and our work.
The PPC was established in the autumn of 2005. Since that time it been active in caring for the work of the parish, and in bringing
about many important changes in the way it functions. The Council has sought to be proactive in all its activities as it manages the
ongoing affairs of the parish. We have also undertaken the following new projects: setting up a parish baptism preparation group
who work with families presenting members for christening, establishing a parish bereavement support group to offer support to
those who have suffered loss through bereavement, inaugurating a parish prayer group, putting in place the office of Child Protection
Officer and formalising a child protection structure in the parish. In addition, we have established a special children’s choir, installed
a Loop electronic hearing aid system in the Church to assist those with impaired hearing; thus enabling them to participate more
fully in the parish liturgies. Most recently a new parish social justice group has also been formed. An official Parish Register of all
groups and committees (21 in total), who are active in the parish, has been compiled. Further information can be obtained on these
and other parish activities on the parish web site www.milltownparish.ie
In view of the many and varied activities now underway in the parish, we find that there is an ever growing need for more helpers
who are willing to actively participate in the life of our parish. Therefore we ask that you would offer yourself to help in one or other
of these communal tasks... Volunteerism brings its own unique rewards!
Colman Scott, Chairman Pastoral Council
The Compostela Experience
In our Christmas edition of Milltown News we flagged the prospect of a parish group making what is
popularly called the Camino (journey) to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This journey can be described
as a combined ‘adventure cum pilgrimage’ which has become increasingly popular in recent years. It was
suggested that a small representative group from Milltown might like to join in this trek across Galicia to
Compostela in northern Spain during the coming summer, where young and old from very many countries of the
world converge either for the feast day of St. James in July or at another date during the holiday season. This
journey has been undertaken by millions of travellers /pilgrims over the last one thousand years. During the last
twenty years it has attracted more and more enthusiasts, increasing fivefold during that time. Some one hundred thousand pilgrims
travelled this hallowed route during AD 2007.
At the journey’s end in Santiago a carnival atmosphere surrounds the celebrations in honour of the Apostle. How one gets to Santiago
varies. Most of the younger pilgrims walk a large part, if not all, of the way, crossing the Pyrenees from France to Spain complete
with their scallop shell emblem (the sign of St. James) and special pilgrim’s staff. Genuine pilgrims are expected to complete one
hundred kilometres on foot or on bicycle to merit their official certificate of achievement.
The road to Compostela offers an experience which mingles enjoyable tourism, an exercise in physical fitness and a challenge to the
instinct for pilgrimage that has forever been present in all the great religions of the world. The Compostela journey caters for every
shade of belief and for that curiosity which dwells deep in everybody, of every age. Along the pilgrimage way one finds hostels or
‘refugios’ where backpackers and other less hardy folk receive free overnight lodgings. The special camaraderie of the Camino
abounds, especially each night, around the fires in the courtyards of the ‘refugios’.
If there is any family or individual in the parish who is tempted to embark with us on this summer adventure, more information is
available at the parish office. In addition, Ms Patricia Kenny of MAP Travel (phone 01.8783111) will advise on details of the trip,
including particulars of our route, besides organising accommodation of your choice, ranging from ‘refugios’ to ‘paradors’! Plans
for this excursion should be made as soon as possible.
popularly called the Camino (journey) to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This journey can be described
as a combined ‘adventure cum pilgrimage’ which has become increasingly popular in recent years. It was
suggested that a small representative group from Milltown might like to join in this trek across Galicia to
Compostela in northern Spain during the coming summer, where young and old from very many countries of the
world converge either for the feast day of St. James in July or at another date during the holiday season. This
journey has been undertaken by millions of travellers /pilgrims over the last one thousand years. During the last
twenty years it has attracted more and more enthusiasts, increasing fivefold during that time. Some one hundred thousand pilgrims
travelled this hallowed route during AD 2007.
At the journey’s end in Santiago a carnival atmosphere surrounds the celebrations in honour of the Apostle. How one gets to Santiago
varies. Most of the younger pilgrims walk a large part, if not all, of the way, crossing the Pyrenees from France to Spain complete
with their scallop shell emblem (the sign of St. James) and special pilgrim’s staff. Genuine pilgrims are expected to complete one
hundred kilometres on foot or on bicycle to merit their official certificate of achievement.
The road to Compostela offers an experience which mingles enjoyable tourism, an exercise in physical fitness and a challenge to the
instinct for pilgrimage that has forever been present in all the great religions of the world. The Compostela journey caters for every
shade of belief and for that curiosity which dwells deep in everybody, of every age. Along the pilgrimage way one finds hostels or
‘refugios’ where backpackers and other less hardy folk receive free overnight lodgings. The special camaraderie of the Camino
abounds, especially each night, around the fires in the courtyards of the ‘refugios’.
If there is any family or individual in the parish who is tempted to embark with us on this summer adventure, more information is
available at the parish office. In addition, Ms Patricia Kenny of MAP Travel (phone 01.8783111) will advise on details of the trip,
including particulars of our route, besides organising accommodation of your choice, ranging from ‘refugios’ to ‘paradors’! Plans
for this excursion should be made as soon as possible.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Weekly Bulletin 15th & 16th March
Parish of Saints Columbanus and Gall - Weekly Bulletin
Sixth Sunday of Lent, 15 th & 16th March, 2008
Palm Sunday
The Sunshine Fund of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be holding their annual outdoor collection this weekend. Each year the Sunshine Fund provides much needed sea side holidays for approximately 1,300 of Dublin’s less fortunate children in Sunshine House, Balbriggan. The Advocate collection is the only way the Sunshine Fund can finance these holidays. Please collect an Advocate paper on you way out of the Church.
This Sunday at the 11.30amMass there will be a Service of Reconciliation in preparation for Easter. This should not take very long as we have arranged for some visiting priests to help.
The Easter Edition of The Milltown News will be circulated this weekend. Please contact the Parish Office if you do not receive a copy of this publication.
There are Trocaire boxes available at the back of the church. Please take one on your way out.
The Parish Pastoral Council will meet this Tuesday, March 18th, at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.
Our Parish Centre phone line and email have been out of order for the last week. If you wish to contact the Parish Centre please call the Parish mobile at 087 9500334.
Our weekly Parent and Child Coffee Mornings will recommence on Friday, April 4th at 10am in the Parish Centre.
We wish to thank you for last weekend’s Offertory Collection which amounted to € 1225 and the Share Collection which amounted to € 820.
Holy Week Services
March 16th 11.30am Mass Service of Reconciliation.
March 20th Holy Thursday 8pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
March 21st Good Friday 12 noon Stations of the Cross
3pm The Lord’s Passion
8pm Stations of the Cross
March 22nd Holy Saturday 12 - 1pm Confessions
8 - 8. 30pm Confessions
9pm Mass of the Easter Vigil
March 23rd Easter Sunday 10 & 11. 30 am Easter Sunday Mass
No evening Mass
March 24th Easter Monday 12 noon Mass
March 25th – 29th Easter Tues - Sat 12 noon Mass
Sixth Sunday of Lent, 15 th & 16th March, 2008
Palm Sunday
The Sunshine Fund of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be holding their annual outdoor collection this weekend. Each year the Sunshine Fund provides much needed sea side holidays for approximately 1,300 of Dublin’s less fortunate children in Sunshine House, Balbriggan. The Advocate collection is the only way the Sunshine Fund can finance these holidays. Please collect an Advocate paper on you way out of the Church.
This Sunday at the 11.30amMass there will be a Service of Reconciliation in preparation for Easter. This should not take very long as we have arranged for some visiting priests to help.
The Easter Edition of The Milltown News will be circulated this weekend. Please contact the Parish Office if you do not receive a copy of this publication.
There are Trocaire boxes available at the back of the church. Please take one on your way out.
The Parish Pastoral Council will meet this Tuesday, March 18th, at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.
Our Parish Centre phone line and email have been out of order for the last week. If you wish to contact the Parish Centre please call the Parish mobile at 087 9500334.
Our weekly Parent and Child Coffee Mornings will recommence on Friday, April 4th at 10am in the Parish Centre.
We wish to thank you for last weekend’s Offertory Collection which amounted to € 1225 and the Share Collection which amounted to € 820.
Holy Week Services
March 16th 11.30am Mass Service of Reconciliation.
March 20th Holy Thursday 8pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
March 21st Good Friday 12 noon Stations of the Cross
3pm The Lord’s Passion
8pm Stations of the Cross
March 22nd Holy Saturday 12 - 1pm Confessions
8 - 8. 30pm Confessions
9pm Mass of the Easter Vigil
March 23rd Easter Sunday 10 & 11. 30 am Easter Sunday Mass
No evening Mass
March 24th Easter Monday 12 noon Mass
March 25th – 29th Easter Tues - Sat 12 noon Mass
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Weekly Bulletin March 8th & 9th
Parish of Saints Columbanus and Gall - Weekly Bulletin
Fifth Sunday of Lent, 8th & 9th March, 2008
Milltown Parish Lenten Talks 2008. ****PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WEEKS TALK (10th March)HAS UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO BE CANCELLED****
At 8pm on Thursday next, March 13th, pupils from Alexandra College will attend a Service of Light in preparation for their Confirmation which will take place here in Milltown Church on the 23rd of May.
This year St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated on Saturday March 15th. The Vigil mass will be at 6pm on Friday evening, morning mass at 10am & 11.30 and evening Mass at 6pm. Mass. Mass will be at 12noon on Monday, March 17th.
At the 11.30am on Sunday next, Palm Sunday , there will be a Service of Reconciliation in preparation for Easter. This should not take very long as we have arranged for some visiting priests to help.
There are Trocaire boxes available at the back of the church. Please take one on your way out.
Our weekly Parent and Child Coffee Mornings continues to take place on Friday mornings in the Parish Centre at 10.30 am.
The Dublin Diocesan Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from September 7th to September 12th. Please contact the Parish Office if you wish to join the Diocesan pilgrimage with a group from this Parish. Application forms for sick pilgrims are available from the Secretary, Lourdes Pilgrimage office, Holy Cross College, Clonliffe road, Dublin 3. There is a special reduced fare for this section of the Pilgrimage.
We wish to thank you for last weekend’s Offertory Collection which amounted to € and the Share Collection which amounted to €
Holy Week Services
March 20th Holy Thursday 8pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
March 21st Good Friday 12 noon Stations of the Cross
3pm The Lord’s Passion
8pm Stations of the Cross
March 22nd Holy Saturday 12 - 1pm Confessiions
8 - 8. 30pm Confessions
9pm Mass of the Easter Vigil
March 23rd Easter Sunday 10 & 11. 30 am Easter Sunday Mass
No evening Mass on Easter Sunday
March 24th Easter Monday 12 noon Mass
March 25th – 29th Easter Tues - Sat 12 noon Mass
Fifth Sunday of Lent, 8th & 9th March, 2008
Milltown Parish Lenten Talks 2008. ****PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WEEKS TALK (10th March)HAS UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO BE CANCELLED****
At 8pm on Thursday next, March 13th, pupils from Alexandra College will attend a Service of Light in preparation for their Confirmation which will take place here in Milltown Church on the 23rd of May.
This year St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated on Saturday March 15th. The Vigil mass will be at 6pm on Friday evening, morning mass at 10am & 11.30 and evening Mass at 6pm. Mass. Mass will be at 12noon on Monday, March 17th.
At the 11.30am on Sunday next, Palm Sunday , there will be a Service of Reconciliation in preparation for Easter. This should not take very long as we have arranged for some visiting priests to help.
There are Trocaire boxes available at the back of the church. Please take one on your way out.
Our weekly Parent and Child Coffee Mornings continues to take place on Friday mornings in the Parish Centre at 10.30 am.
The Dublin Diocesan Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from September 7th to September 12th. Please contact the Parish Office if you wish to join the Diocesan pilgrimage with a group from this Parish. Application forms for sick pilgrims are available from the Secretary, Lourdes Pilgrimage office, Holy Cross College, Clonliffe road, Dublin 3. There is a special reduced fare for this section of the Pilgrimage.
We wish to thank you for last weekend’s Offertory Collection which amounted to € and the Share Collection which amounted to €
Holy Week Services
March 20th Holy Thursday 8pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
March 21st Good Friday 12 noon Stations of the Cross
3pm The Lord’s Passion
8pm Stations of the Cross
March 22nd Holy Saturday 12 - 1pm Confessiions
8 - 8. 30pm Confessions
9pm Mass of the Easter Vigil
March 23rd Easter Sunday 10 & 11. 30 am Easter Sunday Mass
No evening Mass on Easter Sunday
March 24th Easter Monday 12 noon Mass
March 25th – 29th Easter Tues - Sat 12 noon Mass
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Address to all Parish Masses on Weekend of 16/17th February 2008
ADDRESS TO ALL PARISH MASSES ON THE WEEKEND OF 16/17TH FEB 2008
BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL RE- THE DECISION TO TWIN OUR PARISH WITH A NEEDY PROJECT
Good [evening] fellow parishioners. I am Colman Scott, I am the Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council as some of you may already be aware.
The PPC is the representative body of you the membership of this parish. It is responsible for the running and development our parish in co-operation of course with our priests of the parish.
It is a fact that the number of priests in the Archdiocese of Dublin has fallen from a level of more than 600 just 10 years ago, to where it will reach 400 by the end of this year, and only 200 within another 10 years. Therefore, the work of the PPC in the life of every parish in the Archdiocese will become increasingly important as time passes if we are to sustain the vitality of our local Christian communities.
The PPC was established only two and a half short years ago. In addition to the managing of the normal ongoing affairs of the parish, we have also addressed the following:
Setting up a parish baptism preparation group who work with families presenting members for christening,
Setting up a Parish bereavement support group to offer support to those who have suffered loss through bereavement,
Setting up a parish prayer group,
Establishing the office of Child Protection Officer in the parish and formalising a child protection structure in the parish,
Establishing a children’s choir,
Installing a LOOP “electronic hearing aid system” in the Church to assist those with impaired hearing and thereby to participate more fully in the parish liturgies.
All of these and indeed other developments are very real, and I believe positively affect the Christian lives of parishioners in various positive ways both now and in the future.
The job of the Parish Pastoral Council continues to be one of positive development.
The Parish Pastoral Council has been looking at the question of Social Justice. And in these days of lent, it seems appropriate that we address our minds to the matter ever more. We are all aware of the great needs that exist in the world, and the gaping differences in welfare of many in the world compared to ourselves. Justice issues we know are central to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For this reason, the Parish Pastoral Council has established a Social Justice Group to consider this matter further and to see how we as a parish might address the question in our local situation in Milltown.
This Parish Social Justice group has been set up as a sub-committee of the Parish Pastoral Council to which it is responsible on behalf of all us parishioners.
I am here this evening to address you on the developments which have been made by this group to date.
We have identified two key goals: first making ourselves ever more aware of the glaring social injustices which exist in the world; and secondly to translate this awareness into concrete action. The concrete action will be to identify a community other than ourselves which is seriously disadvantaged; the life of which we would try to support in a practical manner. This outreach which is known as twinning will normally express itself in identifying ourselves with the lives, hopes and aspirations of the community which we would plan to partner.
Numerous invitations have already been made for new members to join the SJ group, and indeed the weekly notices of recent weeks have all contained such invitations.
And, today we are inviting proposals for an appropriate twinning project for our parish.
We would suggest a 28 day period within which we are asking that submissions be made.
If you have any questions about this proposal, we invite you to have a word about it with members of the Social Justice Group who will be located at the table beside the organ immediately after this Mass.
The Social Justice group will evaluate the proposals, and recommend a selected twinning partner for the parish. This choice will be presented to the Parish Pastoral Council, which will have the final say in approving the choice.
Once this has been done, the Social Justice Group will come back to you – the parish to elicit your support in making the selected twinning project a success.
There are a number of parishes in the diocese engaged in this area, having already embarked on active twinning projects. We hope that you will support this new initiative.
More information will be available shortly on our web site www.milltownparish.ie
Thank you
BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL RE- THE DECISION TO TWIN OUR PARISH WITH A NEEDY PROJECT
Good [evening] fellow parishioners. I am Colman Scott, I am the Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council as some of you may already be aware.
The PPC is the representative body of you the membership of this parish. It is responsible for the running and development our parish in co-operation of course with our priests of the parish.
It is a fact that the number of priests in the Archdiocese of Dublin has fallen from a level of more than 600 just 10 years ago, to where it will reach 400 by the end of this year, and only 200 within another 10 years. Therefore, the work of the PPC in the life of every parish in the Archdiocese will become increasingly important as time passes if we are to sustain the vitality of our local Christian communities.
The PPC was established only two and a half short years ago. In addition to the managing of the normal ongoing affairs of the parish, we have also addressed the following:
Setting up a parish baptism preparation group who work with families presenting members for christening,
Setting up a Parish bereavement support group to offer support to those who have suffered loss through bereavement,
Setting up a parish prayer group,
Establishing the office of Child Protection Officer in the parish and formalising a child protection structure in the parish,
Establishing a children’s choir,
Installing a LOOP “electronic hearing aid system” in the Church to assist those with impaired hearing and thereby to participate more fully in the parish liturgies.
All of these and indeed other developments are very real, and I believe positively affect the Christian lives of parishioners in various positive ways both now and in the future.
The job of the Parish Pastoral Council continues to be one of positive development.
The Parish Pastoral Council has been looking at the question of Social Justice. And in these days of lent, it seems appropriate that we address our minds to the matter ever more. We are all aware of the great needs that exist in the world, and the gaping differences in welfare of many in the world compared to ourselves. Justice issues we know are central to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For this reason, the Parish Pastoral Council has established a Social Justice Group to consider this matter further and to see how we as a parish might address the question in our local situation in Milltown.
This Parish Social Justice group has been set up as a sub-committee of the Parish Pastoral Council to which it is responsible on behalf of all us parishioners.
I am here this evening to address you on the developments which have been made by this group to date.
We have identified two key goals: first making ourselves ever more aware of the glaring social injustices which exist in the world; and secondly to translate this awareness into concrete action. The concrete action will be to identify a community other than ourselves which is seriously disadvantaged; the life of which we would try to support in a practical manner. This outreach which is known as twinning will normally express itself in identifying ourselves with the lives, hopes and aspirations of the community which we would plan to partner.
Numerous invitations have already been made for new members to join the SJ group, and indeed the weekly notices of recent weeks have all contained such invitations.
And, today we are inviting proposals for an appropriate twinning project for our parish.
We would suggest a 28 day period within which we are asking that submissions be made.
If you have any questions about this proposal, we invite you to have a word about it with members of the Social Justice Group who will be located at the table beside the organ immediately after this Mass.
The Social Justice group will evaluate the proposals, and recommend a selected twinning partner for the parish. This choice will be presented to the Parish Pastoral Council, which will have the final say in approving the choice.
Once this has been done, the Social Justice Group will come back to you – the parish to elicit your support in making the selected twinning project a success.
There are a number of parishes in the diocese engaged in this area, having already embarked on active twinning projects. We hope that you will support this new initiative.
More information will be available shortly on our web site www.milltownparish.ie
Thank you
Copy of leaflet handed out at all Masses on Weekend of 16/17th Feb 2008
Weekend of 16/17th Feb 2008
Copy of leaflet handed out at all Masses
PARISH OF Sts. COLUMBANUS & GALL – MILLTOWN
PARISH SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT
The Parish Pastoral Council has lately established a social justice group in the parish. This initiative is the natural reflection of a community which acknowledges its Christian responsibility towards others; particularly those who are deprived and/or oppressed as a result of injustice. For this reason we feel it appropriate that we as a parish should provide support for a chosen community project, in a particular location, which would benefit from the sharing of resources by us with the proposed beneficiaries. This outreach would be an appropriate symbol of our concern for the material, social and spiritual wellbeing of those of our ‘neighbours’ whether far or near, who struggle to realise their full human dignity; in terms of decent living standards, normal social amenities, and incentives which promote human development in all its various forms. Moreover, such a project, driven by an urge to serve the demands of social justice would enliven our awareness of inequality and misfortune in our world, challenge the quality of our Christianity and help us to put into practice the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
To this end, we would welcome your specific proposals for such a project.
Outline proposals can be handed in or posted to the parish office or sent by email to milltownparishcentre@eircom.net for the attention of the Social Justice Group.
See also: www.milltownparish.ie
Copy of leaflet handed out at all Masses
PARISH OF Sts. COLUMBANUS & GALL – MILLTOWN
PARISH SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT
The Parish Pastoral Council has lately established a social justice group in the parish. This initiative is the natural reflection of a community which acknowledges its Christian responsibility towards others; particularly those who are deprived and/or oppressed as a result of injustice. For this reason we feel it appropriate that we as a parish should provide support for a chosen community project, in a particular location, which would benefit from the sharing of resources by us with the proposed beneficiaries. This outreach would be an appropriate symbol of our concern for the material, social and spiritual wellbeing of those of our ‘neighbours’ whether far or near, who struggle to realise their full human dignity; in terms of decent living standards, normal social amenities, and incentives which promote human development in all its various forms. Moreover, such a project, driven by an urge to serve the demands of social justice would enliven our awareness of inequality and misfortune in our world, challenge the quality of our Christianity and help us to put into practice the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
To this end, we would welcome your specific proposals for such a project.
Outline proposals can be handed in or posted to the parish office or sent by email to milltownparishcentre@eircom.net for the attention of the Social Justice Group.
See also: www.milltownparish.ie
Criteria for Selection of our Twinning Partner
PARISH OF STS COLUMBANUS & GALL – MILLTOWN
SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT February 2008
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF OUR TWINNING PARTNER
1. CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING AND LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE PARISH
The project should entail a strong element of consciousness-raising, offering parishioners the opportunity to learn of the difficulties faced by our twinning partners and to learn more about the social injustices which exist in the world. The impact of the project should be felt not just by the recipients but also by the donors through an awareness of receiving as well as giving.
2. FOCUS OF OUR HELPING HAND
It will be an objective that the project will enhance the dignity of our twinning partners.
As much as possible, its objective will be to promote self reliance; rather than creating dependency, it should be about helping people to develop their own resources and to help themselves.
It would be desirable, but not a precondition, that the group partnered by us would also have the capability in time to similarly assist another group in a comparable project.
For the parish, the objective is for us to help as individuals and as a community to understand better and to meet more fully the obligations of justice as set out in the gospels.
3. TYPE OF NEEDS
These can be countering economic hardship, social oppression, or any other type of basic human need (or any combination of these).
4. IDENTITY/ETHOS
It is not a requirement that our partner be a Catholic Parish – though, all other things being equal, it could be: it is recognised that reliable local contacts are vital, and that often this is via a priest working on the spot.
5. PROJECT TYPE AND LOCATION
There is no pre-stipulated project type or location.
6. DECISION-MAKING
The division of responsibility and decision making between the two partners will be clearly delineated in advance.
7. TYPE OF CONTACT
The issue of what type of and level of contact we would have with our twinning partner would be clarified in advance. This would include issues of opportunities for visiting our twinning partners (or for their visiting us) and of our being able to return to the parish here with reports of the progress made and benefits as a result of the twinning process.
8. MONITORING AND ACCOUNTABILITY
It is important that a reliable means of monitoring the progress of the project or of subjecting it to periodic evaluation should be established. Moreover, the issue of control and accountability for all finances is vital. The type of control we would have over financial expenditures would be clearly set out and agreed at the outset. The specific measures most appropriate for monitoring/evaluation and for financial control would depend on the project adopted.
9. STRUCTURE OF THE PARISH SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP
The Parish Social Justice Group is formally constituted with a clearly designated role structure, having a chairperson, and secretary, and with meetings reliably minuted, and with regular reporting to the Parish Pastoral Council, to which - as the ultimate representative body of parishioners – it is accountable.
It is recognised that the Parish Social Justice Group is at present focused on the process of selecting a partner twinning project. Once this task has been completed, it is foreseeable that the structure of the group will change. When the twinning project has been chosen, it is likely that additional skills will need to be brought on board to carry the project forward. The focus then will be on deciding what we will do with and for our partners - and then actually doing it.
10. ADMINISTRATION COSTS
It is a clear requirement that the project selected would be one which had minimal administration costs, and that the maximum possible proportion of the parish monies would find its way directly to the project.
PARISH OF STS COLUMBANUS & GALL – MILLTOWN
SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT February 2008
MECHANISM FOR SELECTION OF OUR TWINNING PARTNER
• Proposals for a twinning partnership are invited from individuals or groups within the parish and are to be submitted to the Parish office by 16 March 2008.
• Submissions are to be in written form (with emphasis on substance rather than presentation); it is envisaged that oral presentations may subsequently be invited at which proposals can be further clarified and elaborated.
• The Parish Social Justice Group is responsible for selecting the best proposal and recommending it to the Parish Pastoral Council for ratification.
• Selection will be made according to the criteria set out above.
• All proposals will be given fair and equal consideration.
• To avoid possible conflicts of interest, any person making a proposal will not be involved in the selection process.
SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT February 2008
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF OUR TWINNING PARTNER
1. CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING AND LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE PARISH
The project should entail a strong element of consciousness-raising, offering parishioners the opportunity to learn of the difficulties faced by our twinning partners and to learn more about the social injustices which exist in the world. The impact of the project should be felt not just by the recipients but also by the donors through an awareness of receiving as well as giving.
2. FOCUS OF OUR HELPING HAND
It will be an objective that the project will enhance the dignity of our twinning partners.
As much as possible, its objective will be to promote self reliance; rather than creating dependency, it should be about helping people to develop their own resources and to help themselves.
It would be desirable, but not a precondition, that the group partnered by us would also have the capability in time to similarly assist another group in a comparable project.
For the parish, the objective is for us to help as individuals and as a community to understand better and to meet more fully the obligations of justice as set out in the gospels.
3. TYPE OF NEEDS
These can be countering economic hardship, social oppression, or any other type of basic human need (or any combination of these).
4. IDENTITY/ETHOS
It is not a requirement that our partner be a Catholic Parish – though, all other things being equal, it could be: it is recognised that reliable local contacts are vital, and that often this is via a priest working on the spot.
5. PROJECT TYPE AND LOCATION
There is no pre-stipulated project type or location.
6. DECISION-MAKING
The division of responsibility and decision making between the two partners will be clearly delineated in advance.
7. TYPE OF CONTACT
The issue of what type of and level of contact we would have with our twinning partner would be clarified in advance. This would include issues of opportunities for visiting our twinning partners (or for their visiting us) and of our being able to return to the parish here with reports of the progress made and benefits as a result of the twinning process.
8. MONITORING AND ACCOUNTABILITY
It is important that a reliable means of monitoring the progress of the project or of subjecting it to periodic evaluation should be established. Moreover, the issue of control and accountability for all finances is vital. The type of control we would have over financial expenditures would be clearly set out and agreed at the outset. The specific measures most appropriate for monitoring/evaluation and for financial control would depend on the project adopted.
9. STRUCTURE OF THE PARISH SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP
The Parish Social Justice Group is formally constituted with a clearly designated role structure, having a chairperson, and secretary, and with meetings reliably minuted, and with regular reporting to the Parish Pastoral Council, to which - as the ultimate representative body of parishioners – it is accountable.
It is recognised that the Parish Social Justice Group is at present focused on the process of selecting a partner twinning project. Once this task has been completed, it is foreseeable that the structure of the group will change. When the twinning project has been chosen, it is likely that additional skills will need to be brought on board to carry the project forward. The focus then will be on deciding what we will do with and for our partners - and then actually doing it.
10. ADMINISTRATION COSTS
It is a clear requirement that the project selected would be one which had minimal administration costs, and that the maximum possible proportion of the parish monies would find its way directly to the project.
PARISH OF STS COLUMBANUS & GALL – MILLTOWN
SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT February 2008
MECHANISM FOR SELECTION OF OUR TWINNING PARTNER
• Proposals for a twinning partnership are invited from individuals or groups within the parish and are to be submitted to the Parish office by 16 March 2008.
• Submissions are to be in written form (with emphasis on substance rather than presentation); it is envisaged that oral presentations may subsequently be invited at which proposals can be further clarified and elaborated.
• The Parish Social Justice Group is responsible for selecting the best proposal and recommending it to the Parish Pastoral Council for ratification.
• Selection will be made according to the criteria set out above.
• All proposals will be given fair and equal consideration.
• To avoid possible conflicts of interest, any person making a proposal will not be involved in the selection process.
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