A Word from William..
When I arrived in Tallaght two diocesan priests took over St. Martin De Porres, Aylesbury, from the Dominicans. The curate, Fr. Derek Farrell who is a gifted musician, had helped with many Christian unity services left last year to work as a ‘parish priest’ among the travelling community. Now Fr Liam Lacy PP will be moving to Kilmacud. During his time in St. Martins he was also given responsibility for Bohernabreena and Holy Rosary although he had a curate in each of the three parishes. I attended his leaving mass on Sunday 30th and then went into town to the service to see the first woman to be ordained in the Church of Ireland, Rev Katherine Poulton of St. George and St. Thomas (next to the Gresham Hotel, O’Connell Street) being made a canon of Christchurch Cathedral along with our own parishioner Rev. Patrick Comerford of the Church of Ireland Theological College.
We recently had Hard Gospel Sunday. Some people nowadays ask “Has the Gospel gone soft with all the talk of love?” but there is nothing soft with loving God with all your heart, soul and mind and loving your neighbour as yourself. The Hard Gospel came out of the Drumcree situation ten years ago when the Church of Ireland was seen, unfairly, as aligned with sectarianism. As time has moved on it is still relevant in modern Ireland as it addresses the issues of racism and helps us to deal with areas of difference that we are called to deal with.
We are looking forward to Harvest and to welcoming our visiting preacher Rev. Darren McCallig. Darren is the new Chaplain to Trinity College and is originally from Claremorris in Co. Mayo. He became involved in the church while a student at Trinity so it should be interesting to hear how he makes Christianity relevant to young people. He spent his curacy in my home parish of Monkstown and I am looking forward to his visit to St. Maelruain's.
God bless. William.
