Newsletter
March 2017
From the Rector
Since the start of the
year we are back into the full swing of Parish Life and are looking forward to
the brighter evenings. On 11th January I was invited to the home of
the RC Auxiliary Bishop (for the greater Tallaght area) Eamon Walsh along with
his priests from the area for “Christmas dinner”. It was a lovely evening and
an opportunity to meet with the other clerics of Tallaght. I am also included
in their quarterly Deanery meetings (lunch) in the Dominican Priory.
Following on from our
local Alpha course, which was held in An Solas Methodist Church, Jobstown at
the end of last year, we held a reunion on 19th January. We have
decided to meet up every seven weeks to continue the fellowship amongst those
who attended the course.
Congratulations and best wishes to parishioner
Canon Patrick Comerford who was instituted as priest in charge of Killaloe and of Rathkeale
Group of parishes on 20th January and who will also take up the role
of Director for Education and Training in the Diocese Limerick in April.
On Sunday 22nd
January I attended, along with parishioners, a service in St. Dominic’s Church,
Old Bawn, for Christina Unity Week. Our former Archbishop of Dublin Right Rev.
John Neill preached on ‘Crossing Barriers’.
We will be using the
Bible Association for the Church of Ireland’s Lenten Course on refugees at our
Wednesday morning services during Lent.
In my role as Canon to
Christchurch Cathedral I completed one of my twice yearly weekly slots as
preacher in residence starting on… On
Sunday … I preached on the Beatitudes where I tried to demonstrate that it
wasn’t the blessed who are (financially) poor but those who were poor
spiritually and it is the meek that shall inherit the earth as they are
spiritually humble. I argued that the Beatitudes may be more practical then
they initially appear, the spiritually humble are those who don’t think they
can earn their way to heaven but are grateful for what Christ did for them on
the cross. Perhaps what might be the new heaven and new earth that we read
about in the Book of Revelations?
The evensong was moved
to 5pm for Candlemas, ending Christmas and Epiphany with Christ’s presentation
at the Temple. After the Candlemas Service I attended the welcoming of Priest
in Charge of Rev Owen Heaslip to St. Catherine’s (CORE) with whom I sit on the
National Pioneer Committee (Fresh expression of Church). I was delighted for
both Eoin and CORE especially as he is one of their own having led the music
there before he completed his ministerial
training. I was also delight e to see so many of his colleagues
supporting him, old friends in a full church.
I spent Wednesday
evening attending the Girl’s Choir Evensong and then attending Rev Abigail Sines
‘City of Sanctuary’ meeting (welcoming refugees to Dublin). On the Thursday
evening I was back in the Cathedral for Evensong on Candlemas day. Complements
to all involved with the music in the Cathedral on all occasions of my visits
to the Cathedral that week the music was out of this world.
God bless William.
Funeral
The funeral of Alys Alexander (wife of former Rector of St. Maelruain’s
Canon Frank Alexander) took place on Thursday 16th February. We
extend our sincere condolences to her sons John, Stephen and Patrick and to
their extended family and friends.
Canon Alexander, who was Rector here in St. Maelruain’s for thirty
years and who retired in 1980 is still fondly remembered in the parish and in
the wider community of Tallaght,
especially for his ecumenicism. Canon
Alexander was also Rector of Clondalkin and Rathcoole and was sitting ready for
the expansion of the area when the inner city moved out to the ‘country’.
Mother’s Union
We had a very interesting talk by
Caroline Morrissey on the St John’s Ambulance and First Aid. Caroline gave us a
bit of the background and history of the St John’s Ambulance and some very
helpful tips on first aid and what to do in an emergency. It's good to know but
hope we won't have occasion to use them!
Sr. Bernadette, the Chaplain in the
I.T.T. College will be coming to speak to us about her work on Monday 13th
March at 8.00pm in the Small Hall.
Whist
Drive
The
February Whist Drive take places on Monday 20th March in the small
hall, all welcome!
Girl’s
Brigade
The Girls Brigade
celebrated great success at the GB District Competitions last weekend. We
were delighted to win 1st place
for both our Brigader team dance and our Junior/Senior team dance. We
also won 3 solo medals – Rachel Cummins came 3rd place in the Brigader solo
competition, Olivia Monahan came 2nd place in the Drilldown competition,
and Abby Phelan came 1st place
in the Drilldown competition winning a medal and the District Drilldown
shield. It was a very proud day for 26thCompany St Maelruains
Girls Brigade!
Crafty
Chatters
For
March Crafty Chatters is on the 7th and 21st. March from 2 - 4pm in St.
Maelruain's Parish Hall. Looking forward to seeing everyone and if
anyone would like to come and join us you will be made very welcome. If
you don’t want to do any craft work just come for the chat.
Bible Study
Bible
study of the readings for the following Sunday continue on Tuesday evening at
8.00pm upstairs, Parish Centre.
Parish
Coffee Morning
Our next
Coffee Morning will be on Friday 31st March 10.30am - 12.30pm as
usual in the Old Hall. All welcome to join us for a cuppa and chat.
Date for your Diary
Our Summer
Sale will take place on Saturday 27th May at 10.00am, all the usual
stalls, tea / coffee, raffle, come on the day and bring your family and
friends!
