FROM THE RECTOR Tours of the church and grounds continued over
the summer with a school tour at the end of June followed by various tours over
the summer organised by Tallaght Library and led by Thomas Maher including
tours for Heritage Month. We also had the Church and grounds open for Tallafest
and thank you to Vivienne Bright, David Gibson,
Gail Sheridan and Hazel Walshe for stewarding the event.
Thank you to Billy Gould for organising the cutting of
the hedges in the graveyard on Monday 26th June. We had a bigger
work party than ever before, thank you to all who came along on the day, many
hands make light work!
On 2nd July, a lovely Sunday afternoon, we had
the annual Dominican blessing of the graveyard followed by Mass in the
Church (The Priory has a Polish Mass on the same afternoon) which as always,
was well attended.
On Saturday 26th the now
annual, ‘Light up the sky’ took
place in the park opposite our Parish School in Jobstown. It is a supportive event for anybody who has lost a baby or
child through miscarriage or otherwise. Chinese lanterns and helium balloons
were released and it allows parents and their families to remember lost babies.
‘Light up the Sky’ is organised by Melissa Lutrell, who sadly lost a baby
through miscarriage and found a lack of support, and her dad Mark, a
parishioner.
I attended the memorial for Maurice McConnell on 31st
August, a leading member of Tallaght Community Council. Maurice was one of
those volunteering men who began his community involvement helping to set up
his residence association and the youth club in Old Bawn. The two main events
that Tallaght Community Council run are Tallaght Person of the Year in the
winter and Tallafest in the summer. Maurice will be sadly missed in Tallaght.
Unfortunately I couldn’t attend his funeral as it was induction week in the
Institute of Technology Tallaght where I was introducing myself to the new
students in my role as part time chaplain to the college but I read the Gospel
at his removal service.
Nunns Cross
Church held a Flower Festival over the weekend of 3rd September. Some of our
own ‘flower festival’ ladies displayed a beautiful arrangement in the Balcony
with the musical theme of ‘All God’s creatures have a place in the choir, some
sing low and some sing higher’ arranged like a musical score. The arrangement
featured in the back the October edition of the Diocesan Church Review
Magazine.
As September began I attended The Church in Chains
conference on Egyptian Christians which I found particularly interesting as one
of our parishioners is married to a Coptic Christian. On 10th
September I was at Christchurch Cathedral for the installation of Canon Sonia
Gyles of Miltown Parish and for Canon Ray Byrne as he was installed as
Presenter.
The wheels of motion of parish life are well underway as we
return to another session. We look forward to God’s blessings for fellowship in
our parish community.
As we go to print we are looking forward to our Harvest
Service on Sunday 8th October at 3.30pm followed by refreshments
in the Hall.
God bless William
FUNERALS It was with great
sadness that we had the funeral for Pam Stroughair on 18th August,
Pam passed away suddenly on 14th August. We extend our deepest
condolences to her husband Eric and to their sons Christopher, Stephen and Richard
and to her wider family and friends.
On Tuesday 19th September the
funeral of Maud Patton took place (wife of the late Norman), our sincere
sympathy goes to her children Fred, Alan, Kenneth, Robert, Leslie and Norma and
to her extended family and friends.
BAPTISMS
On 20th August we had the Baptism of Chihindu
daughter of Keme and Ada Ikdise and on 26th August we had the
Baptism of Fionn, son of Paul Kerr (a parishioner of my former parish who now
lives locally) and Lisa Canney. At our Family Service on 24th
September we had the Baptisms of Tilly
and Orla Oshisanya daughters of Femi and Florence and on 30th
September Mila Edith daughter of James Byrne and Paula Kenny was baptised. We
welcome these children into God’s family and pray for them as they begin their
Christian lives.
CONFIRMATION At our Confirmation
Service in Christchurch Cathedral on Sunday 4th June our eight
candidates were confirmed. Please pray for Adam Bugler, Chimarokem (Chiboy)
Eriobu, Adachukwa (Ada) Erioubu, Emma Okafor, Kaosisochukwu (Kaosi) Okafor,
Ganiru Ikedife, Chidalu Ikedife and Chukwuebuka (Ebuka) Ikedife.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Christmas
Sing Along will take place in the Main Hall on 1st December from 7pm , a great
night is planned to get you into the festive spirit!
CHRISTMAS SHOE BOX
APPEAL The
launch of our appeal for Team Hope’s Christmas Shoe Box’s will be on Sunday 22nd
October at our Family Service. Team Hope’s deadline for returning the boxes is
10th November therefore we would need the filled boxes by Sunday 5th
November. Please have a look at Team Hope’s website to check for suitable items
to be included www.teamhope.ie or to find any other info you may require.
TALLAGHT
PERSON OF THE YEAR Nominate
your community heroes for these esteemed community awards - closes on Monday
23rd of October. Sport coaches, youth leaders, tidy towns groups,
environmentalists, carers, community minded individuals, those who give to others. Email tallaghtperson@gmail.com with your
suggestions
SCHOOL NEWS We are now
well back into the term after our summer break and were delighted to welcome to
our staff Ms Gwen Steenson and also to welcome back Ms. Gillian Martyn back
from maternity leave.
The
school has seen considerable changes over the Summer months. We are delighted
with the transformation of the Old Library into the new Kitchen and Parent‘s
Room. It is a warm and inviting space and some of the children have already
availed of the facilities in Ms. Murphy’s cooking lessons. The old Parent’s Room got a make over and is
now the Learning Support Room, while the old Learning Support Room is currently
in use as Mr. Kehoe’s Classroom for this year’s Third Class. The old Kitchen is
still awaiting its transformation and we are hoping that we will shortly be
able to use it as a library hub.
TABLE TENNIS We
reopened on Thursday 21st
September and will run every week in the Parish Centre at 8 pm. We hope
to see all our old friends back as well as new people who would like to play.
We are open to everybody, no experience necessary! Regina
MOTHER’S UNION / FAMILIES FIRST Before I start I would like to send our sincere sympathy to Eric
Stroughair and his sons on the very sad passing of his wife Pam who along with
being a loyal member of our branch for many years, was our branch treasurer for
well over twenty years for which we are extremely grateful and also helped
organise our annual bring and buy. We will miss Pam very much.
Our opening
service of Holy Communion was on Monday 11th September was well attended with Conon
William celebrating and Rev Avril preaching giving an interesting
sermon on women in St Marks Gospel and how involved they were in
Jesus ministry and tied it in with this year's Mothers Union theme of ‘Faith in
Action’, so thank you Avril.
Our next event
will be on Sat 7th October
meeting at 10am at the church gates and going in to visit Dublin Castle. If you
would like to come please let me know. Everybody welcome.
I would like
to welcome our new committee Vivienne Bright, Eileen Dunne, Hillary Armstrong,
and Yvonne McGlynn and say thank you to Hilary Armstrong for taking on the role
of secretary and thank Mirriam Gibney for all her hard work as our Secretary
over the last few years. Vivienne Bright has kindly offered to take on the
role of Hon. Treasurer following the sad passing of Pam Stroughair.
Saoirse are looking for toilet rolls in October. Looking forward to
seeing you all in October.
Valerie
BOWLS CLUB We are enjoying our new mats at times finding them difficult.
During the summer some of our members gave up their time to prepare for the new
season with making new roller, painting chairs and fenders. We thank
thank you all. Two new members joined our club Ivan Rafter and Noel Gorman and
they our most welcome. The fixtures will be out soon looking forward to
our league matches starting soon. Heather
GIRLS BRIGADE Girls
Brigade started back again on Wednesday 13th September at 7pm for Juniors,
Seniors and Brigaders (ages 9 and up) and Saturday 23rd September at 10.30am
for Explorers (under 9 years).
Please contact Captain Fiona Monahan
(086-8519163) if interested in joining. Visit
our website at www.girlsbrigadeirl.ie
Fiona
BOYS BRIGADE BB started back last Friday 29th September. We will be
hosting a coffee morning fundraiser after the Family Service on the 22nd October
to raise some much needed funds. We are
looking for new boys to join Boy’s Brigade so if anyone has any boys who are
interested please feel free to come along on any Friday evening. Evan
WHIST DRIVE The October Whist Drive take place on 16th at 8.00pm, all
welcome!
CRAFTY CHATTERS
Crafty Chatters will be meeting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays
of the month from 2 - 4pm in St. Maelruain's Small Hall. You will
be made very welcome, come and visit us to see what we are all about! Janet
PARISH COFFEE We got off to a
good start in September and we are looking forward to our next Coffee Morning
on Friday 27th October, as usual 10.30am to 12.30pm in the Old Hall. Drop
in for a cuppa and a chat. All welcome.
PRAYERS FOR THE PARISH
have
resumed after the summer break, meeting on Monday evenings at 8.00pm.
BIBLE
STUDY of the readings for
the following Sunday continue on Tues evenings at 8.00pm upstairs, Parish Hall.
