Parish News

Parish Newsletter

RECENTLY DECEASED: We remember in our prayers Dan O’Sullivan, late of Grange. We extend our sincere sympathy to his loved ones, relatives, neighbours and friends; may he rest in peace.

BAPTISMAL TEAM: The parish would like to re-establish the baptismal team to host the monthly baptismal meetings with parents in preparation for their children’s baptismal ceremony. If you are interested please contact Fr Ray 087-6732541.              

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: Every Friday exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in our church from 10.30am until 2pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and spend some time in private prayer. 

Anam Cara Cork, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Wednesday 4th October at 7:15pm in the Maryborough Hotel, Maryborough Hill, Douglas, T12 XR12. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or whether their death was recent or not. We also offer an online service. For more info call 01 4045378. 

FRANKFIELD/GRANGE ADORATION COMMITTEE would like to thank everyone who helped them last weekend with their renewal.

APPEAL FOR ALTAR SERVERS: The parish is looking for altar servers, from 3rd class up to 5th class, to serve at the weekend Masses. If your son or daughter would like to serve on the altar, please contact the Sacristy after the weekend Masses.

PARISH CONTACT NUMBERS: Please note the new contact number for Parish Priest and Parish Emergencies is 087-6732541

The Pope’s Monthly Intention – For people living on the margins: We pray for those persons living on the margins of society, in inhumane life conditions, may they not be overlooked by institutions and never considered of lesser importance. Intercom

PARISH CHURCH CHOIRS: We welcome back the Parish and Gospel choirs, our organist and signer after their summer break. We thank them for the enrichment they bring to our weekend Masses.

CORK CATENIAN CIRCLE meet on the 1st Thursday of each month at 11.30am in the SMA Parish Centre,Wilton. Meetings are usually followed by lunch. Contact Brian Crumplin 087 2471478 or corkcatenians@gmail.com for further information.

ACTIVE RETIRED PROGRAMME: MONDAY 2pm – 3pm: Gentle Exercises Relaxation, cuppa and chat. 3pm – 4pm: Line Dancing. TUESDAY 2pm Art Group  WEDNESDAY – Cuppa and chat after 10.30 Mass. All events in the parish centre.

MASS BOOKINGS for October, November and December may now be booked in the parish office; opening days/hours Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 10.30am – 12.30pm. 

FRANKFIELD / GRANGE SCOUT GROUP: The group meet in the Community Hall, Grange. New members are welcome and there are  spaces available in all sections. Beavers: ages 6-9, meeting from 7pm to 8.30pm on Friday evenings, Cubs: ages 9-12, meeting from 7pm to 8.30pm on Friday evenings. Scouts: ages 12-15 meeting from 7pm to 8.30pm on Thursday evenings. Find us on Facebook and message with any queries                                                     https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id =100064764244059 

ALPHA 3: A new Alpha course, organised by the Douglas Parish Assembly, starts on Thursday, 12th October, from 7.30pm to 9pm and continues each Thursday night in the parish rooms, St Columba’s; it runs for 10 weeks. Alpha is an opportunity to explore your faith in an informal and friendly environment. If you’re asking: Who is Jesus? Why did he die? What relevance does Jesus have for our lives today? How can I make the most of the rest of my life?, then Alpha is for you. To register, contact the parish office parishofdouglas@gmail.com / Tel 021- 489 4128 or Brian O’Kane alphateam2023@hotmail.com /086 244 1633.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION for last weekend amounted to €1085, 2nd collection for the Church Refurbishment Fund came to €680. Second collection this weekend (26/27th September) is for Priesthood Education; thank you for your continued generosity.

CORK SCRIPTURE GROUP would like to invite anyone who is interested in Scripture to join us for the following course. Cork Scripture Group Title: “When you pray… (Matthew 6:5): Exploring Prayer in the Bible. Presenters: Pauline Byrne, Marian Mortell, Fr John Newman and Phil Mortell. Mondays 25^th September, 2nd, 9th and  16^th October from 7.30 – 9.30pm. in Scala Centre, Blackrock.  Saturday Workshop: Praying the Psalms with facilitator Ciaran O’Callaghan CSsR Saturday 7^th October from 10am to 1pm in The Sacred Heart Hall, Western Road. Cost: €50 – for the 4 nights and Saturday workshop. For those who wish only to attend the workshop, the cost will be €10. To book a place or find out more please email corkscripturegroup@gmail.com

Annual Mass of Remembrance St John’s Cemetery, Ballinrea.

Death creates a heartache which in time will heal, love creates memories which death cannot steal.

Novena to the Sacred Heart

Easter Message from Fr Kevin

Dear Parishioners,

When I wrote the Easter message last year little did I think that many of the topics I mentioned would still be making headlines. Covid is still with us and we still have to take precautions. Our world continues to follow the war in Ukraine, and we are all feeling the economic knock on effects of this war. While things are returning to the way they were pre-Covid, changes are also happening.

Each Friday the parish is delighted to be able to welcome the different classes from Scoil Niocláis at the morning Mass. The extended family and friends can once more celebrate with the children as they receive the sacraments during the school year. The parish community along with the school community are looking forward to welcoming Bishop Fintan for the celebration of Confirmation after Easter.

Ongoing change is happening in parishes across the diocese with the establishment of the Family of Parishes by the bishop. This summer our parish of Frankfield/Grange together with Turners Cross and Douglas/Rochestown will become a Family of Parishes. This new structure will see a team of priests with a moderator and co-parish priests working together. Each priest will be appointed as a co-parish priest to minister across all the parishes in the Family of Parishes. The formation of this Family of Parishes will bring a certain amount of change; these will be worked out in the Family of Parishes by all collaborating together.

Easter brought about change in the world with its message of joy and hope. It is this same joy and hope that we have to share with the world today in a new way.

I once more take this opportunity to thank you for your continuing generous support. The Easter Dues can be returned in the provided envelope, or online by clicking on the donate button on the parish website www.frankfieldgrange.ie and selecting the option for Priest’s Income collection.

I look forward to welcoming you all to the celebration of the Holy Week Ceremonies and Easter. I wish you and all your loved ones all the joy and peace of this special season.

Fr Kevin

Christmas Message

Annual Bereavement Mass

Perhaps they are not the stars, but, rather openings in Heaven where the love of our departed ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy  (Eskimo legend)

There was a great attendance at the annual parish bereavement Mass. The Mass was offered for all those in our parish who departed this life in the previous twelve months, and for their families who mourn their passing and grieve their loss.

The choir sang the entrance hymn Be Still

Fr Kevin began the Mass by welcoming one and all to the church, and also the online congregation. He said we were there primarily to support the recently bereaved and to pray for their loved ones who had died since November 2021, but also to remember and pray for the happy repose of the souls of all our own loved ones who had died. During the Mass we were to especially remember all those whose names were called out after the homily, and those who mourn their passing.

The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah was read by Mary O’Connell.

Fr Kevin read from the Gospel of St John – Do not let your hearts be troubled…

In his homily Fr Kevin said forty-six people had died from the parish in the past twelve months. Some of them died early in the twelve months and some more recently; some died suddenly, while others died after a short or long illness. We, in Ireland, have a great tradition of remembering our dead. We have our annual parish cemetery Mass. As is the norm this Mass is celebrated in August in St John’s cemetery, Ballinrea. Every year the crowd of mourners attending grows as more of our loved ones die and are laid to rest. We also pray for our deceased loved ones during the November Novena of Masses for the Holy Souls; we place their names on remembrance branches in the church to the left of the sanctuary. 

Fr Kevin then went on to speak about the different stages of grief. The grieving and sense of loss which might never leave, but then acceptance comes with time and this enables a person to reach a stage where they can move on with their life again. No two people grieve alike, it’s so important for people to be allowed to grieve in their own way and in their own time. Some people need help in coming to terms with their loss and grief, while others are able to move on with their lives themselves. There are many triggers that remind us of our loved ones, some of these can be so strong they prevent us going to a certain place where we had spent time with them. With the recently bereaved there is still heartache, still pain, and tears continue to be shed for the loss of our loved ones. Fr Kevin assured all present of the support and sympathy of our community.

We need to realise we are never alone in our grief, Christ is always with us and he is here with us now this very evening. We are a people of faith and we place our trust in God, in Jesus. We will indeed see our loved ones once again when we too go to our eternal rest.

Fionnuala read out the names of the forty-six people who died in the parish in the last twelve months, since November 2021. Fr Kevin invited their families to come forward as their loved one’s name was called out, and to place the lighted white candle on the middle table.

The congregation was then invited to come forward and place their lighted red candles on the other tables while remembering their own loved ones who had died.

During this time the choir sang In the Shadow of your Wings.

Mary O’Connell read the Prayer of the Faithful in which we asked God’s mercy on our deceased love ones, comfort for the bereaved who mourn them, healing for those who are sick in body, mind or spirit in our community, support for carers who look after the sick.  Lastly we prayed for our own personal intentions.

The choir sang Eat This Bread at the Offertory and Be Still My Soul at Communion time.

Following Communion Maelíosa read the reflection Remember.

Fr Kevin thanked all who helped to organise the Mass, parish office secretaries, sacristans, parish choir for enhancing the Mass with their music and singing, Ministers of the Word and Eucharist, the outgoing parish assembly, and the people who looked after the refreshments. He then extended an invitation to everyone to partake of these refreshments in the parish centre.  

Before the final prayer Fr Kevin invited everyone to bring home their candles.

As the congregation excited the church the choir sang the recessional hymn Beautiful Isle of Somewhere.

Hail Holy Queen Conference 2022

HAIL HOLY QUEEN CONFERENCE 2022 is live on Radio Maria Ireland from 2pm on Saturday, 15th October. 

Radio Maria Ireland can be listened to by downloading the Radio Maria Ireland APP, Saorview Channel 210 or listen live at (01)4373277

Bishop Fintan’s pastoral visit to our parish of Frankfield/Grange

On the 10th and 11th September there was great excitement as Bishop Fintan made his first pastoral official visit to our parish church, and concelebrated the Vigil and Sunday Masses with Fr Kevin.

During his homily, Bishop Fintan spoke about the recent pastoral letter “Putting Out Into Deep Waters”. He said twelve of the sixteen Families of Parishes had come into being that weekend.

Next year Frankfield/Grange joins the parishes of Douglas and Turners Cross in forming a Family of Parishes.

At the conclusion of each Mass, Fr Kevin thanked Bishop Fintan on behalf of all in the parishioners.

Bishop Fintan greeted and met with parishioners as well as Ministers of the Word and Eucharist and representatives from the Parish Assembly, Parish Finance Committee, The Church Choir, Social Media Coordinator, Baptismal Preparation Team and Parish Safeguarding Representatives.

The bishop also met members of the Frankfield Men’s Shed and The Frankfield/Grange Active Retired Group.

Thanks to Bismark Photography for the images

Bishop Fintan’s visitation

Bishop Fintan will visit our parish church this coming weekend 10/11th September.

He will celebrate Mass at all three Masses – 6.30pm Vigil Mass on Saturday, and 10am and 11.30am Masses on Sunday.

Bishop Fintan Gavin was born in Dublin in 1966 and baptised in Saint Andrew’s Parish, Westland Row, Dublin.  Son of Angela and Michael Gavin, he is the second eldest of seven brothers and sisters.

His family roots are in Marino, Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, on the Northside of Dublin.  His primary and post-primary education were at CBS, Marino, Dublin. Before going to Clonliffe College, Dublin, where he trained to be a priest, he began training as a residential social worker for a year.

He was ordained to serve as a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin by Bishop Éamonn Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, on 7 June 1991.

Bishop’s Fintan’s first appointments were as teacher/chaplain at schools in Bray and Tallaght as well as assisting in the local parishes.

In 1996 he undertook post-graduate studies in Rome.

He was awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law from The Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, in 2003.

In between and during the academic years, he ministered in Rome, Florence, New York, Buenos Aires and Alicante. He speaks Italian and Spanish.

In 2003, Bishop Fintan was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Dublin and was appointed Chancellor in 2017. (The chancellor of a diocese is the chief record-keeper, certifies documents and manages the administrative offices on behalf of the bishop.)

Up to the time of his appointment to the Diocese of Cork and Ross, Bishop Fintan was Chancellor in the Archdiocese of Dublin, Parish Chaplain in Our Lady of Victories, Ballymun Road, and the grouping of parishes of Iona Road, Drumcondra, Glasnevin, Ballymun Road and Ballygall, Dublin, Chaplain to the Italian speaking community in the Archdiocese and Chaplain to the annual Dublin Diocesan Children’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Bishop Fintan was ordained bishop at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork on June 30th, 2019. Bishop John Buckley was the Principal Consecrator and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly were co-consecrators. His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, was among the concelebrating bishops.

Irish Catholics voice concerns and hope about church in document to Synod in Rome.

“Important questions have been set out for deeper reflection and pastoral action at every level of Church life and there will be many more opportunities for people to get involved and help shape this process” – Dr Nicola Brady

Today marks a significant milestone in the synodal process currently underway in the Catholic Church in Ireland with the publication of the national synthesis of the local listening that took place in dioceses and other contexts between October 2021 and May 2022.  

This national synthesis has now been submitted to the Synod Secretariat in the Vatican as part of the global synodal process announced by Pope Francis for the Church, to run from 2021 to 2023. 

The national synthesis can be read or downloaded here.