Weekly Bulletin 11th & 12th May

Bags of wind
One could be forgiven for believing that the manager of a certain football club was actually dead. Virtually all Thursday, we’ve had the top of the News reported that Joe Blogs has said this and Mary Murphy has said that! There have been lists of His achievements and the different people he treated well or badly. What would the Football world look like had he not been there? Will there ever be the like of him again? The list of achievements seems to be enormous. It’s been like a long Eulogy (a song of praise for the deceased)

I’m not even an ABU (Anyone but United) person. I don’t even have the interest to argue any point. In fact on several occasions I’ve been reported as defining a football game as ‘grown men kicking around a leather bag of wind’. The reaction is great, and quite often brings out the pro and anti-football feelings that may be hidden. I often feel that the Catholic Church is like a football match- there are 50,000 supporters in the stands needing some exercise and a team of 11 (?) on the pitch needing some rest!

Back to eulogies, when I mention eulogies at funeral masses, it too brings out the pro and anti-feelings from people. Of course the correct place for a eulogy is at the graveside. It’s an issue that raises its head from time to time. The Dublin Diocese seems to have no particular policy on Eulogies to date.

I was recently given a booklet (Praying a farewell) from the Diocese of Cork and Ross which includes many resources for ’Praying a farewell’. There are readings and sample prayer of the faithful, and it concludes with a number of questions re Cremation, Mass verses Memorial Service etc. I’ll bring them to you in future editorials. Watch this space!
Fr. Philip Adm (hope I got the right pitch!)

Thank you for the €1,129, which you donated to last Sunday’s collection for the Support of Priests of the Parish (& Dioceses) and for the Share Collection which amounted to €813.

Welcome to the pupils from Alexandra College who will receive their First Holy Communion in our church at today’s 10am Mass.

The Holy Rosary Missionaries, Killeshranda Sisters will have their annual church gate collection after all Masses this weekend.

Thank you to those who have already returned their Easter 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 Parish Office.

Your Trocaire Boxes may be returned to the Parish where they will be collected by Trocaire.

PARISH CENSUS
Please collect a Census Pack, (one for each household) and return your completed Census Form to the Parish. Returning a completed form will mean that a parish representative will not have to call to your home in the autumn.

PRAYER WITH SCRIPTURE:
This group have decided to have a weekly meeting until Pentecost. These meetings take place at 8pm on Tuesday evenings in the Parish Pastoral Centre. For further details please contact Sile at 2028263 after 7pm.

Adult & Toddler Group meets in the Parish Pastoral Centre at 10.30am on Friday morning.

Festival of the Peoples
Each year those from abroad who have come to make their home in Ireland are invited to a celebration of the Eucharist at St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral. This year the gathering will take place on Saturday May 18th at 6pm – the Vigil of Pentecost. A Massed Choir from many different countries will join with the Dublin Diocesan Music Group to lead the music on the day with songs in many languages and traditions. Those who would like to be part of this Massed Choir of the Peoples are invited to attend one practice in Clonliffe College on Monday May 13th at 8pm.

Saint John Of God Hospital, Public Lectures Series 2013:
Minding the Mind. The fourth lecture in this series will take place at 8pm on Monday, 13th May, in St. John of God Hospital Stillorgan. The title of this lecture is ‘Dementia and the Family’. Further details of this series of lectures are on the Parish Notice Boards.

Clonskeagh Parish has arranged a series of evenings called “Amazed and Afraid:
The Revelation of God become Man”. The fifth evening in this series will take place in Clonskeagh Parish at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 15th . The videos, which will be shown on these evenings, are presented by Fr. Robert Barron. A discussion will follow the screening.

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul is seeking your help with their annual appeal for second hand clothing. The Appeal is for clean, good-quality clothes, bedclothes, curtains, shoes etc. The Society will leave empty collection bags for you to take home next weekend and they will collect your returned filled bags on the weekend of May 25th & 26th. The Society is very conscious of the tremendous support given by the parishioners of this parish for their charitable works over the years. They thank you most sincerely on behalf of those you have helped.

Milltown Residents Association will have their AGM in the Milltown Parish Pastoral Centre at 8pm on Monday May 13th. Further details are on the Parish Notice Boards.

Students sitting exams this summer will be especially remembered at next Sunday’s 10 am Mass. Cor na Nog choir will be singing.

The Sisters of St. Peter Claver will have their Annual Sale of Work on Sunday next, May 19th in St. Joseph’s Parish Hall from 10.30am – 3pm. Further details are on the Parish Notice Boards.

Members of the Milltown Parish’s Active Retirement Group are travelling to Killarney on Sunday next for their 4 night annual break. If you are interested in going on this break , please contact the Malton Hotel in Killarney at 064 663800.

ARC Cancer Support Centre has two Centres in Dublin, and are seeking volunteers to help manage these ‘drop-in centres’. They mainly require 'floating' volunteers who can fill in while others are on holidays/sick leave. Volunteers are also needed who might commit to one day a week for a certain period of time. For further details please contact Jane Ketterer on 01 7830 7333 or by email to jane@arccancersupport.ie

Vacancy for Parish Secretary:
The Parish of St. John the Baptist Blackrock is currently recruiting a Parish Secretary. This role is offered initially on a one year, fixed term part-time basis. Letters of application with enclosed curriculum vitae should be received, no later than, Monday 20th May 2013. The role involves providing an administrative service to the Parish including payroll, accounts and administration. Applications to Very Rev. John Delany Adm. 24, Barclay Court, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Full details on diocesan website or from the parish office 01 2882104