Dear Parishioners,
I made an important announcement at all Masses this weekend that may come as a shock. The Irish Jesuit Province intends for Gardiner St. Parish to become part of our neighbouring Pro-Cathedral Parish, as of 1stAugust 2024.
Gardiner St Parish was established in 1974 but circumstances have changed a lot in 50 years. There are much fewer active Jesuits now and the Catholic population of the area has also declined significantly. We Jesuits are certainly not going anywhere and we are as committed to this area as ever, but we feel that the time is right to focus our efforts and resources on what is most essential and core to our particular mission.
By reverting to being a public church, as was the case prior to 1974, we will continue to serve the area alongside our lay partners by doing all the things that we are known for—Masses, confessions, novenas, funerals, Bl John Sullivan, youth ministry, faith formation, social outreach—but without the added responsibility of baptisms, first Communions and confirmations. These will move to the Pro-Cathedral which will be the parish church.
I suspect that a lot of people won’t notice any difference, but news like this affects different people in different ways. So there will be two public meetings on 1st May (Gardiner St) and 16th May (Pro-Cathedral) to allow people to express their thoughts and feelings. I hope to see many of you there.
For more information please read the statement in the news section of our website.
Finally, if you have time on Friday evening then I recommend that you come to Austen Ivereigh’s public talk entitled Pope Francis: humanity’s spiritual director. All details below. Austen has written a number of excellent books about Pope Francis and he is as good a speaker as he is a writer. Please spread the word.
Every blessing,
Fr Niall
POPE FRANCIS, HUMANITY’S SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR - A TALK BY AUSTEN IVEREIGH
Friday 26th April 2024 -7.00 pm. St. Francis Xavier’s Church
Francis, the world’s first Jesuit pope, has been profoundly shaped by the spirituality of St Ignatius, not just in his own life but in the way he leads the Church. Drawing on both his wisdom as Pope but also the talks he gave to Jesuits on retreats back in Argentina — most of them never translated into English — his biographer Austen Ivereigh will give us some Ignatian “keys” to the journey he has taken the Church on these past 11 years. Ivereigh's insights come from his new book, "First Belong to God: On Retreat with Pope Francis", which will be available on the night. We hope to see you there!
THE JCFJANNUAL LECTURE – "ENABLING DEATH? EUTHANASIA, FROM A DISABILITYPERSPECTIVE"
Thursday 25th April 2024 at 7pm
The Joint Committee on Assisted Dying has recently published that it recommends Ireland introduce legislation that permits assisted death under certain circumstances. We at JCFJ want to offer another perspective. Professor Brian Brock's talk "Enabling Death? Euthanasia, from a disability perspective" will broaden this conversation. Are we caring for the common good? What is at stake in having doctors and nurses administer death? How will this affect the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society? These questions of profound importance will be explored with sensitivity and deep learning by one of the world's experts on the disability ethics.
LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR
8th April to 20th May 2024
We continue with the Life in the Spirit Seminar on Monday,22nd April at 7pm in Ignatian Chapel. The topic for the third week is a New Life in the Spirit. Our speaker, Fr. Patrick Cahill is a priest of the Work of Jesus the High Priest and is the co-founder of Holy Family Mission based in Glencomeragh House, Kilsheelan, Co. Tipperary. He was ordained in 2009 and has a passion for the faith of the youth which he shares through leading retreats and his online homilies. You can listen to his homilies on “Paving the Way Home” YouTube channel. We will have “Finding new life in the Spirit” booklets available for €5 per copy, with Scripture readings for each day.
Please NOTE: Our 5th evening will be on Tuesday, 7th May at7pm (NOT on Bank Holiday Monday).
Do join us this coming Monday, even if you missed any of the previous weeks!
All are welcome
DO YOU ENJOY SINGING?
The Sunday 11 am choir meets at 10:00 in the John Sullivan Room. We could really do with a few more singers up there so if you’re thinking about it then please do give it a go!
OUR RECENTLY DECEASED
We remember in prayer those who have died recently:
James White
Mary Reynolds
Loretta Lowe
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
LAST WEEK COLLECTION
Church: € 840
Share: 148
IDonate & card readers: € 357
Thanks!
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