Places are still available for the grouping pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi in September. Places are no longer reserved for our parishes but members of the public are now invited to join with us. See the previous post for more details.
Fr. Joseph Ryan, Spiritual Director.
Pope Francis is coming to Ireland to join in the World Meeting of Families celebrations being hosted in Dublin in August 2018. He will be presiding over a vigil/festival of families in Croke park on Saturday 25th August and celebrating Mass in the Phoenix Park on Sunday 26th August.
As a grouping of Parishes we are organising 5 buses to travel together to the Phoenix Park. (1 from each parish). Tickets have been booked and if you are interested in traveling with us please contact the parish office as soon as possible. These are on a first come first served basis. There will be more information shortly. To date the main note is that the bus will be leaving Ballygall at 9am and returning 9pm approx. There will be a lot of walking and standing so it is recommended to be fairly fit.
We will keep you updated as soon as possible. Below is a rough guide of time-line from where the bus will be parked. For more details log on to www.worldmeeting2018.ie
In order to facilitate the priests in the various parishes in our Grouping covering one another during the holiday period, the following arrangements will apply throughout July and August:
Pilgrimage to Knock in June 2018.
Booked for Sunday 24th June overnight. Staying in St. Mary’s newly refurbished centre.
Price to be confirmed (approx €100, full board and minibus donation) but this trip has been a very relaxed gathering in the peaceful surrounding of Knock Shrine. The basilica has been completely refurbished and as we go to print the Apparition chapel and parish church are recently revamped in preparation for Pope Francis’s visit next August. Making it a place of dignity and a centre of prayer.
Thanks to all who have booked. We will be leaving Ballygall on Sunday 24th at 10am and return Monday 9pm approx.
There are still a few places available now that we are bringing a second minibus.
We invite you to join us in September for a 7 night pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi
Brochures are available with full details in the Parish Office. 3 nights B&B in Rome and 4 nights half board in Assisi.
Cost €995 per person sharing
To confirm numbers deposits need to be paid before end of May. This deadline has been extended but you need to get in quickly. Contact Marian Pilgrimages directly at 01 8788159
Glasnevin Grouping of Parishes invites you to a series of conversations based on themes from Pope Francis’s “The Joy of Love” in preparation for the World Meeting of Families this August.
The conversations take place in THE MARGARET AYLWARD CENTRE, Glasnevin Hill on Wednesday 25th April, Wednesday 2nd & 9th May, from 7.30 – 9pm. Each week there is a different focus which means that people can dip in and out as they wish without being under pressure to attend all sessions.
Admission is free and all are welcome.
An evening of Music and Reflection
Ballygall Church Friday 20th April @ 7.30pm
This evening is planned as part of our celebrations of the World Meeting of Families 2018 that is due to take place in August this year. The evening will be led by Sr. Marie Dunne with past pupils from the Holy Faith schools and members of St John of God choir as well as some of our own pupils from Mother of Divine Grace school and Sacred Heart school.
All are welcome
After a week of various Family mass group ceremonies beginning with Palm Sunday through Holy Thursday and Good Friday, our Easter celebration came to an end with a lovely vibrant Easter Sunday Mass celebrating Christ’s resurrection. The children as always were at their best as they led us in prayer through words actions and song. They all began by processing into church waving their ribbons with enthusiasm, while singing with the choir led by Elizabeth ‘This is the Day.’ Fr Joe welcomed everyone to our celebration and Ellen and Miriam introduced our Mass for us. Orla, Jamie and Eoghan acted out a wonderful, simple and fruitful dramatisation of the bible story of what happened on Easter morning. This helped us to focus and listen to the Word of God and reminded us as Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed, “We are an Easter people, and alleluia is our song!” During our prayers of the faithful we prayed for those in need and that Jesus would be our friend. Our Mass concluded with Fr Joe getting a lovely Easter Egg as we all know he loves chocolate! and a blessing.
I came across this painting by the French Artist James (Jacques) Tissot some years ago and was struck by its scope and power. It gives us a unique opportunity to put ourselves into Christ’s place and consider his thoughts and feelings as he gazed on his friends and enemies who were witnessing or participating in his death.
On the faces of those at the foot of the cross Jesus sees every passion known to humanity. Some are scornful, almost leering, others are curious, disgusted , relieved and some are sorrowful, resigned and distraught.
Some Roman soldiers are looking on, including a centurion who is clad in red. He has a downcast expression on his face which reminds us of the passage in Luke’s gospel which says ‘Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, certainly this was a righteous man.’ (Lk 23:47). The men on horseback are Jewish scribes. They seem satisfied with the situation – after all, they were the ones who had pressed Pilate into having their rival crucified.
In the background, Tissot has painted a tomb where the body is to be deposited the same night. The pots in the foreground may contain edik (vinegar) that some joker offered Christ for water.
The women and the Beloved Disciple are at the foot of the Cross: distraught, resigned, sorrowful. Among the women is his beloved Mother, Mary. She is gazing upwards, clutching her breast. John is the only one who records Mary’s presence at the cross in his gospel. It is here at the foot of the cross that Jesus says to his mother ‘Woman, here is your son.’ (Jn 19:27) and to his disciple, ‘Here is your mother’ (Jn19:28). Mary at that moment becomes the mother of the disciples and so becomes a model of belief and discipleship for us all.
Finally at the foot of the cross Mary Magdalene is placed clinging onto the cross. She is placed in the immediate foreground with her long red tresses swirling down her back, grasping at Jesus’ feet, which are just visible at the bottom centre of the painting. The effect created by the artist by positioning Mary Magdalene is that she is raising the viewer up to heaven as she goes through her devotion to Jesus at his death. She represents the penitent and grateful, dedicated believer at the cross. She is the loyal and faithful disciple.
In this painting all eyes are fixed on Jesus, as I explore this painting, I wonder is the artist asking the viewer – who would you be in the crowd?
On Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday. We welcomed the children and their parents who will make their First Communion in May. They joined with the Family Mass group in the blessing of the palms by Fr Harry. Everyone processed into the Church to celebrate Mass waving their palms with enthusiasm, while singing along with the choir ‘Sing Hosanna.’ Once again the choir were in fine voice and the children and adults were at their best as they led us in prayer. In our prayers we referred to our good deeds for Lent and prayed that we will continue to try to be better people, that we will love and be kind to each other and know that Jesus will always be our special Friend.
PRAY FOR HOLY WEEK
Dear God. We are remembering some very important things in the life of Jesus this week. Help us to remember when the children and all the people praised Jesus with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna.” Help us to remember how he asked us to remember him in the Bread and the Wine. Help us to remember how he washed his disciple’s feet as an example to us of being a servant. Help us also to remember how he died for us on the cross – how he gave his live so that we might have life. In Jesus’ name. Amen
click the following for Holy Week activities: http://www.catholicicing.com/holy-week-craft/