Ballygall Legion of Mary meets on Mondays. Full details here
Parish Shop
Open Tuesday to Friday after 10.00am Mass for all Mass Cards & religious goods.
We are currently looking for volunteers to open the shop after Masses at the weekend. If you are available, please contact the parish office
Safeguarding Sunday
Archbishop Farrell’s Letter for Safeguarding Sunday 22nd September here
This year Archbishop Farrell has asked us to focus on all the things we do to make our parish a safe and welcoming place for children and vulnerable adults. The new child safeguarding policy for the Catholic Church in Ireland, launched in June of this year, is called A Safe and Welcoming Church. It replaces an earlier policy which was called Safeguarding Children.
The reason for the new title is that we have come to a point where we recognise that safeguarding can no longer be seen as a response to a crisis, brought about by abuse within the Church and the failure of many Church authorities to adequately address this abuse. Now we understand safeguarding as
deeply rooted in gospel values, scripture and church teaching. Further, we commit ourselves not just to the prevention of harm but to the promotion of good, to the creation of the material and spiritual conditions for children’s full development, as described by Pope Francis.
St. Bernadette Relic
Exam Congratulations
Congratulations to all the Boys and Girls who received Exam results last weeks.
Special mention to Rafael Dale, a pupil at our Parish Secondary School, St. Kevins, who achieved the maximum number of Leaving Certificate Points available. Rafael, along with his mum Maria, is a Minister of the Word here in our Church and a regular reader at our Liturgies.
We congratulate Rafael and all the boys and girls and wish them good luck and God speed as they start on the next phase of their Life Journey.
Welcome Fr. Kevin
We are delighted to extend a very warm Ballygall welcome to Fr. Kevin Bartley and wish him every success.
A Phibsboro native, Fr. Kevin initially served Glasthule, Baldoyle and Sutton Parishes as curate. He has very special memories of his time working with disabled children in St. Mary’s Hospital, Baldoyle. He was appointed Parish Priest of Clonskeagh Parish in 2009, and before moving to Rush in 2017, served briefly in DCU and Newman University Church, Stephen’s Green.
A member of the Dublin Preparatory Committee for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, Fr. Kevin has also been a member of the Dublin Diocesan Council of Priests.
With a long-standing interest in the history of his city and diocese, Fr. Kevin was asked by Bishop Raymond Field to undertake an editorial role on the Veritas publication, “Penal Places, Artefacts and People in the Archdiocese of Dublin.”
Please remember Fr. Kevin in your prayers as he embarks on his role as Moderator of our Partnership of Parishes with responsibility for Ballygall & Iona Road.
Summer Dues 2024
The Summer Dues has become an important initiative in recent years, helping to return the Common Fund to a healthy position, supporting priests in parishes, and sick and retired priests throughout the diocese. The Summer Dues has played a central role in restoring the priests’ stipend back to the level it was pre-COVID. Envelopes are available in the porch and can be returned over the summer period. This is also being supported through the ‘Tap & Go’ machine at the back of the church
60th anniversary
Archbishop Dermot Farrell celebrated 11.30am Mass in Ballygall on Sunday 16th June to celebrate the parish’s 60th Anniversary. 60th Anniversary Prayer
11.30 Mass was followed by a social gathering in Sacred Heart school. Refreshments were served.
Many thanks to the Legion of Mary in our neighbouring parishes who took on the task of delivering invitations to every house in the Parish. The banner has been put up outside the church to remind passersby that our parish is celebrating this great milestone. Thanks to all who helped in any way with the preparations for the day, which was a lovely occasion.
We launched the 60th anniversary of our wonderful parish of Ballygall over the weekend of 27th/28th April. Members of the anniversary Committee addressed the congregation at all Masses. This video chronicling 60 years of parish life was played before all Masses.
Many of our parishioners identify with the old tin church, which came to us in 1960 as a Chapel of Ease to Glasnevin Parish. It was 1964 before Our Mother of Divine Grace was officially constituted as a parish.
Early comers to each Mass will have seen a history of Ballygall with archives going back to the early days of the parish. We are blessed to have a Parish Archivist/photographer Noel, who shared his wealth of history with us, and who, together with the website team has made this beautiful Gallery. You will have plenty of opportunities to see it over the coming months.
The tin church was always intended to be a temporary structure. However, it was 1988 before our wonderful new Church was opened. In our video, you will see the construction and opening of the Church. So many great events have been celebrated here, Year of Mercy, Special Olympics, ordinations and many of your special occasions, your weddings, the baptisms of your children, the funerals of your loved ones.
And so we commence celebrating 60 years of parish life. Some may think, “that’s no biggie!” but if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to celebrate and appreciate. You will hear a lot about this over the coming weeks – 60 years of faith, 60 years of sacraments, 60 years of volunteers, 60 years of community.
The Jubilee Mass in June was a wonderful event. Your family and friends, who may no longer live in Ballygall, returned and helped us celebrate. After Mass, there were refreshments, another chance to view the video and parish memorabilia along with an opportunity to meet old and new friends.
Ballygall has never been just about the building. It is now and always has been about you, our congregation and community. The people, past and present, have been the heartbeat of our parish and have made Ballygall great.
Ballygall Abroad
Diamond Jubilee 2024
Greetings to the following families and friends away from home this special occasion as we celebrate the 60th Jubilee of Our Mother of Divine Grace parish.
To Geraldine and family in Jordan, love from Sarah & Charlie
Best wishes 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
Andrias and Bernice O’Shaughnessy in Bristol
Saoirse O’Shaughnessy and Aidan Giles in Sydney.
Greetings to the Nestor “Quilty” family in London, New York, Salmon Arm and Vancouver in Canada and various family members throughout Ireland.
Glenn & Elise Cunningham & family in Boston
Dorothy & Francis Vollmer & family in France
Audrey & Colm Corcoran & family in Australia
Mary Killalee-Schubert, Virgin Islands.
Parting Gift
In recent weeks we learned that Fr Joe will be leaving Ballygall. This will be happening at the end of June. In appreciation for his work and dedication in our parish the PPC are inviting parishioners who would like to contribute to a parting gift to do so. Envelopes are available in the church porches and can be returned to the parish office or either post box in the porches.