Author: John

Glasnevin Grouping Pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place from August 19th to 23rd. Check out the posters & more details in the Church Porches, phone Our Lady of Dolours Church Office, 01 797 9153 or contact Marian Pilgrimages, www.marian.ie

Emmanuel is a project of the Dublin Diocesan Liturgical Resource Centre and promotes the use of Sacred Music in Secondary Schools. A unique collaboration of deaf and hearing students will raise their voices and hands on the stage of the Helix on 11th/13th March as part of the Emmanuel concert series. 

Book now from the Helix 01 700 7000 or www.thehelix.ie Bring your family, your friends, your music group

We would like to say a huge “thank you” to John O’Dea, who has recently retired from our Family Offering Team of Counters. John has been an integral part of this team for many years and has been a huge support, as a volunteer, to our parish. We wish both, John & Angela, continued good health and happiness.

Belated Birthday greetings to our parishioner and former longstanding volunteer, Ena Condell, who celebrated her 100th Birthday on Christmas Day.  A marvellous occasion to celebrate!

Due to the red level weather warning, there will be no 7.25am Mass or 10.00am Mass on Friday 24th January.

The Church will remain closed.

Due to CODE RED Weather Warning

The Parish Team would like to wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.
Thank you to all who support our work in the Parish of Ballygall and
May the kindness of God be your strength in the year ahead.
Christmas times here

Fr. Kevin, Fr. Harry & Fr Paul. 

Greetings to the following families and friends away from home this special occasion as we bring to a close our 60th Jubilee of Our Mother of Divine Grace parish.

To Geraldine and family in Jordan, love from Sarah, & Charlie

To Jackie & John Heron, Long Lake New York

Greetings to the Tevlin family and the Whelan Family

Paddy & Monica Carr and Anne-Marie Gregory and family in Scotland.

Sadie Farrelly in England

Triona Lonergan, Denver, Colorado late Ferndale Ave

Greetings to the Nestor “Quilty” family in London, New York, Salmon Arm and Vancouver in Canada and various family members throughout Ireland.

Saoirse O’Shaughnessy and Aidan Giles in Sydney.

Glenn & Elise Cunninghan & family in Boston

Dorothy & Francis Vollmer & family in France

Audrey & Colm Corcoran & family in Australia

Mary Killalee-Schubert, Virgin Islands.

Sean Mulhall & Aoife O’Grady, Sydney.

– Archbishop Dermot Farrell

 (Also available at https://dublindiocese.ie/general-election-2024/)

 It has been said that politicians campaign in poetry and govern in prose. It is certainly true that extravagant promises and self-promoting claims are the order of the day. That said, there are two slogans you will hear in these days, whose cynical falsehood is not only dis-energising, but more importantly risks degrading our democracy and political health: they are: ‘voting doesn’t make any difference’, and ‘they are all the same’.

 First of all, voting does make a difference. Every vote counts. Your vote counts. Imagine living in a society with no elections, no democratic accountability, no contest of ideas, programmes, or vision. History shows that such societies are run by the powerful for their own benefit, while freedom of belief and expression are restricted, or even suppressed. Voting matters because it is how we hold our leaders to account and mandate what we believe to be important.

 Voting also matters because all politicians are not the same: individual politicians, and political parties, differ in their values and beliefs, their ideas and priorities, their capabilities and judgement. It is true that powerful forces may constrain some policy choices. But governments exercise influence and control over vast areas of community life, and of the land we share. Their judgements and priorities do make a difference, through the legislation and policies they choose to pursue. They are those on whom we rely, not only to act wisely when crises occur and the unexpected happens—as it always does, but to plan prudently and with vision for a shared future in our common home.

 The democratic system aligns with the Christian vision of the dignity of each person and our duty to serve the common good. To be effective, democracy needs people who are willing to put themselves forward, outline their policies, and accept the judgement of the people in the ballot box. Recent months have seen efforts to intimidate and threaten public representatives. We have seen many politicians choose to step back from politics as a result. We should be grateful that there are many women and men who, despite this frightening and dangerous turn in public life, are willing to offer themselves in public service at these elections.

 Christians legitimately differ in their political views: there is no Christian party that can lay claim to the Christian community as a bloc. There is no obligation on Christians to support any particular party. But there is a duty on every Christian to support the common good to the best of our ability. Voting in the General Election on November 29th is a feasible and responsible act of citizenship to support the common good. Taking the trouble to consider who offers the best prospect of advancing the common good rather than personal interest or advantage is an important exercise in solidarity with our sisters and brothers who are most affected by public policies. Identifying candidates who have the personal qualities and experience to be effective public representatives is an important judgement. The Irish electoral system ensures that personal qualities and characteristics do matter, since multi-seat constituencies and the PR system mean we can judge personal qualities, as well as party policies.

 Like every aspect of life, voting is open to the work of the Holy Spirit to guide our judgement. To vote is an exercise in hope, and hope is a mark of authentic Christian faith—the great gift of the Holy Spirit. To express our hope by voting is to overcome the negativity and cynicism that result in political propaganda, and the devaluing of those who are different. It is to take a stance against the fear and lack of courage which generate resentment, hatred, anger, even violence.

 

Let us pray for all those who have offered themselves for election, that they will engage with the public and with each other with respect, and will in turn receive the respect of those they canvas. Let us pray too that our society will vote into office leaders who will govern the people with integrity and wisdom and serve the common good with dedication and commitment.

 

+Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin

 20th November 2024

Our Church will close this Sunday 24th November after 11.30 Mass (approx. 12.30pm). Apologies for any inconvenience.

Hallelujah Christmas is a classic Christmas concert aimed at the whole family. Our goal is to bring some old-fashioned Christmas spirit and cheer to all who join us.

The music has been carefully chosen to create that nostalgic, ambient Christmas mood, some of us remember so well.
Hallelujah Christmas will have the vocal talents of Barbara Galvin, Jeremy Morgan and Kenneth O’Regan, with musical director Pádraig Kilbride on piano.

He be accompanied by violin and cello, so it is guaranteed to be an unforgettable night’s entertainment. Join us in Ballygall Church on 4th December.

Tickets here

Mass Cards, The Irish Messenger, The Irish Catholic, St Martin Magazines along with other religious items are available in the Church Shop. Christmas cards will be available from the weekend of 16th/17th November.