Each year the Parish Pastoral Council reviews our Child Protection Policy. Our Policy was drawn up a few years ago in line with the Diocesan Child Protection Policy and Procedures. As the Diocese and the Country tries to update and adapt procedures for the safety of children, so too do we in Milltown.
As a result of our review we decided to call a meeting of all Parish volunteers/ ministers and, ask Fr Paddy Boyle to update us on developments. Fr Boyle co-ordinates training and development of Parish Child Safety Policies throughout the Diocese. One very interesting clarification for me is that the Gardai get involved, only if a crime is alleged, the HSE’s job is to protect children. The principal development is that the Archbishop has directed that All Parish volunteers/ministers are to be Garda Vetted. Often the reaction to Garda Vetting is surprise.
What actually happens is that the Minister/Volunteer fills out a form with their history of addresses. By signing the form the person is giving permission to the Gardai to report back to the Diocese as to whether there is any conviction or case pending in relation to the particular volunteer/minister. So those at the meeting collected a form in an envelope addressed to them. They collected another envelope which is addressed to me at my Ramleh Pk. When the history of residence is filled out and the form is signed, it can be posted to me or handed in to the Parish Office or the Sacristy. It is a highly confidential form and I’m the only one who deals with these forms. They go from me to the Archbishop’s house and then to the Garda vetting unit in Thurles. ‘Garda vetting’ can be a difficult task: in many ways it is only a ‘snapshot’ of the person right now. Some people find the whole idea of Garda vetting unpleasant and a bit over the top. Let’s not forget our own history.
Two weeks ago, on the same weekend that I wrote about our Banking Scandals, the Archbishop led a Service of Lament and Repentance for the sexual abuse of children by priests and religious, in the Pro-Cathedral. Our own Churches Scandals of The Ferns, Ryan and Murphy reports come to mind immediately. Many who were at the Service said that there was a sense of extreme emotion, sadness and exhaustion.
The Archbishop’s reflections were moving. He finished off by saying “The Archdiocese of Dublin will never be the same again. It will always bear this wound within it. The Archdiocese of Dublin can never rest until the day in which the last victim has found his/her peace and he/she can rejoice in being fully the person that God in his plan wants them to be.”
Original Sin- Alive and Well
Fr. Philip Adm.
We welcome the Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso Choir will sing at the 10am Mass this Sunday morning. This choir is directed by Ite O’Donovan
We thank you for last Sunday’s Offertory Collection of €1,372 and the Share Collection which amounted to €1039.
Jacob Hennessey, Pierce Robinson, Ellen O’Farrell & Isabella Stewart were baptised in our church on Saturday last. We welcome them into our Christian community and congratulate their parents.
We invite you to join us and pray the Novena of Grace in honour of St. Francis Xavier between the 4th and 12th of March. Copies of this prayer are available on the church bookrack.
We thank those of you who have already returned your Christmas Dues. Dues envelopes may be placed in the collection bags at Mass, given to one of the priests or handed into the Sacristy or the Office.
Members of the Parish Liturgy Group are invited to attend a Liturgy Meeting on Thursday next, March 10th at 8pm in the Parish Pastoral Centre.
The Milltown Parish Active Retirement Group is rescheduling their proposed Film Show which was planned to take place in the Parish Pastoral Centre on next Wednesday afternoon. This film will now be screened on Wednesday 16th, all welcome!
PARISH LENTEN PROGRAMME
Lent commences on this Wednesday. Blessed ashes will be distributed after the 10am Mass
Trocaire boxes are available for collection at the church doors. As we acknowledge God’s generosity towards us this Lent, let us remember and reach out in concrete ways to people who, for one reason or another, are hungry, isolated and without hope.
On Thursday March 24th Dr. Eileen Kane, a member of the Dublin Diocesan Commission for Sacred Art & Architecture will return to the Parish Pastoral Centre to present a series of 4 lectures. These lectures will commence on Thursday 24th March.
A local photographer, Michelle O'Sullivan (MOS Photography, www.mosphotography.com) will be taking part in the annual 'Happy Faces Day" which is organised each year by the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA).
Each year, the IPPA have harnessed the goodwill and the photographic skills of its members for the benefit Irish Charities, and they have selected The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland as their charity of the year for 2011, anyone can have their picture taken for just a minimum donation of €25.
100%of all proceeds on the day will benefit The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland. Every donation will help to provide much needed isolation facilities for people living with Cystic Fibrosis.
The event will take place on Saturday March 12th 2011 in the Milltown Parish Pastoral Centre from 11am until 5pm. €25 per person will go entirely to the Cystic Fibrosis Association. To book your portrait session, please call Michelle on 086 6025297 or feel free to drop in on the day.
Milltown Institute Dublin: 6th to 9th April 2011 “Broken Faith- Re-visioning the Church in Ireland” The publication of the Ryan and Murphy Reports in 2009 has been the catalyst for much soul-searching by members of the Catholic faith community in Ireland. There are a number of issues that now require the faith community to examine itself in order to see how best it can continue to serve society and carry out its mission to the world in a way that contributes to the common good. For further information see www.milltown-institute.ie or email brokenfaith@milltown-institute.ie
2012 Eucharistic Congress
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me,
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down
Christ when I arise, Christ to shied me,
Christ in the heart of everyone
who thinks of me,
Christ in the heart of everyone
who speaks of me,
I arise today!
Valerie Mc. Coy will be giving her ‘Gentle Activity to Music Classes’ at 10.30 am on next Tuesday, March 8th and the following week on March 15th. All welcome to attend,
The Parish Pastoral Centre is open for Tea/Coffee every weekday and Sunday morning. Do drop in to meet some of your fellow parishioners
Slow Down! Make time for God this Lent: Explore God’s loving presence in our busy world this Lent. On each Tuesday evening of Lent from 7.30pm to 9.00pm, Manresa invites you to a time of quiet Lenten prayer and reflection (8, 15, 22 and 29 March and 5, 12 and 19 April). Directed by Fr. Ciary Quirke, S.J. No need to book - just come along. For more information contact Eileen or Valerie at (01) 833 1352 or manresa@jesuit.ie or visit www.manresa.ie [Manresa, Jesuit Centre of Spirituality, 426 Clontarf Road,, Dublin 3.]
Men and families are invited to celebrate St. Joseph’s Sunday by taking a springtime journey to Knock Shrine in Co. Mayo on the 20th March. Further details are available on Parish Notice Boards, or contact Sean on 0862590747 or Margaret on 0863891595.
Lenten Reflections in St. Mary’s Parish Centre, Haddington Road, Dublin 4 by Rev. Dr. Patrick Claffey, SVD, Parish Chaplain and Milltown Institute. The first Lecture “From Babylon to Zion and back” will take place at 8.00 pm on Monday 14th March 2011 The venue is the Parish Centre which is located in the church grounds at Haddington Road.
