As humans we are fascinated by dreams and stars. This has roots in the fact that each of us is called into existence and gifted by a God who loves us individually. God has created us to do something special for Him, in a word each one of us has a built-in dream, God’s plan for our happiness, ‘that we may have life and have it in abundance’. This dream is irrepressible and will keep coming up in consciousness no matter how much we try to ignore or suppress it. In order to be true to myself I must take responsibility for the fulfilment of my dream, of God’s dream for me, really one and the same thing.
Christmas and New Year are times to ‘review and renew’. What ‘star’ has led us to where we are today? Are we being true to ourselves and to God’s dream for us? Have there been times when our star disappeared, as happened the Magi; were we prepared to seek and accept guidance as they did? They were asked to go home by another route - are we open to change our ways and life styles, if our ‘inner voice’ says that is appropriate? ‘We are God’s work of art created to live good lives as he meant us to’ Ephesians 2,10.
Lectio Divina
Praying with the Gospel of John - will resume on
Thursday, January 19th 2006 in the Oratory at 8pm. All welcome.
New Church Roof
After six months Mass is once again being celebrated in the main Church. Work on
the new roof is almost complete so we are now once again comfortably accommodated. During the
disruption, which effectively turned the Church and surrounding area into a building site, we
were lucky that arrangements were capable of being made to hold Mass celebrations in the Oratory
with the overflow accommodated nearby in one third of the main Church.
he Priests and Parish Pastoral Council would like to take this opportunity to thank all those
who continued to attend Mass in the parish. Also thanks to those who contributed so generously
to the collections throughout the year towards the cost of the new roof and associated works.
A particular word of thanks to the cleaners who did a tremendous job in ensuring that the
Oratory and the available Church area were spick and span at all times. Thanks to the sacristan,
altar servers, choirs, organists, collectors and all others who helped to keep the "show on the road".
The parish now has a fitting house of God to which we can come to pray for our wants and to
give thanksgiving for our many blessings. It is also a most comfortable location for our church
ceremonies - baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals.
The Pastoral Council wish to compliment Fr. Battelle, P.P., who so energetically and
enthusiastically oversaw this huge project. As he prepares for his retirement as parish priest
next year, Fr. Battelle can do so in the knowledge that he contributed so much to the upkeep of
the Church and Schools while at the same time ensuring that the spiritual faith of parishioners
was not neglected.
To date over E50,000 has been contributed to the Roof Renovation Fund - mostly through the
outdoor Church collections, with a contribution of E5,000 from Centra Supermarket who ran a
promotional campaign. On 24th November St. John’s GAA Club organised an evening of food, music
and dance raising E2,400. Thanks to all.
There is still a debt of E860,000 remaining of the overall cost of E1.8 million. You may wish
to help reduce that debt by making a contribution to Ballinteer Parish Account No. 15031038 at
the Ulster Bank, Dundrum, Dublin 14, sorting code 98-50-55 or handing it to one of the priests.
Alternatively you may wish to contribute to the weekly family offering - forms are available at
the back of the Church and Oratory or in the Sacristy. All donations gratefully received.
Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius in Daily Living
For further information contact Fr. Jim
O'Sullivan at 4944163. Made in a Retreat House this is known as the 30 Day Retreat. In daily
living it involves a period of prayer everyday and a weekly visit to to a spiritual guide over
30 weeks or so.
Ballinteer Parish on the Internet www.ballinteer.dublindiocese.ie
We are very please to let you know that the number of people accessing our
parish internet site has greatly increased during the past year. This time last year we had
10,000 visitors to the site and this has increased to over 15,500 in the past twelve months.
We first put up the newsletter on the web in November 2000 and you can now read every Newsletter
since that date in our Newsletter Archives page. We make every effort to keep the parish website
up to date with all aspects of our parish but we need your help. If you wish to have details of
your Group, Club, Social Event, Birthdays, etc displayed on the website please send your details
by e-mail or drop them into the Sacristy and remember the service is completely free.
E-Mail Address: editor@ballinteer.dublindiocese.ie or Jimmy Finlay, c/o The Sacristy.
World Youth Day: Cologne 2005
Ballinteer Parish was represented at the World Youth Day by two of our young
parishioners, Marie and Conan Breathnach. Here is their report:-
We left Dublin on 14th August for a true pilgrimage to Cologne. The theme of the world youth
day was taken from St. Matthew’s gospel. We come to adore him. This was a very apt theme as the
relics of the Magi (the three wise men) are in the magnificent cathedral in Cologne. With great
excitement and a little trepidation we set our footsteps towards Cologne.
Our trip was overland so our first stop was in Belgium at the Benedictine Maredsous Abbey.
This monastery has special links with Ireland because Blessed Columba Marmion, a Dubliner who
served in Dundrum parish, became Abbot of the monastery. We had the marvellous experience of
being served breakfast by the monks of Maredsous and visiting the tomb of Dom Columba Marmion.
We celebrated a beautiful Mass with the monks and Cardinal Desmond Connell and the sense of
holiness and spirituality present gave us great stimulus for our trip to Cologne.
On arrival in Cologne we were warmly welcomed by the parish of St. Nicholas which was our
host parish. It was lovely to celebrate daily Mass with the German people and to see how the
rhythm of their parish life was similar and different to ours.
A short train ride away and we arrived in the centre of Cologne. The cathedral dominates the
entire city and you can see it from the river Rhine. It was like a meeting of all the peoples
of the world in the square facing the cathedral. Italian, Polish, Spanish, Phillipian, American,
Australian, Irish etc, were all gathered with the one aim, i.e., to meet Pope Benedict on his
first major public engagement as Pope in his own country. Also, in a deeper way we came to hear
what he had to say to us about Jesus, another way of relating with God and our community, a
deeper and more authentic way of living our faith.
Ballinteer Family History Society
The Society looks forward to resumption of its lecture programme for 2006.
The next meeting will be at
The Conference Room on Thursday February 16th. 2006 at 8pm.
Topic: "Dublin Fire-fighters at the Belfast Blitz" (1941)
Speaker: Mr. James Scannell, Historian.
A sincere appreciation to all those who supported us in the past and looking forward to seeing you in 2006.
Any further details:
Christopher Ryan, Tel: 2988082
Parish Walking Groups
We meet in Kilmashogue Wood car park on Saturday mornings at 9.30 and 11a.m.
We walk for approximately one and a half hours - all welcome but a reasonable level of fitness
is recommended. If planning to go on 9.30a.m. walk please phone 01-4945397 (evenings) to check
availability. All other enquiries to 01-4941948
Penitential Services
Monday 19th Dec - Meadowbrook
Tuesday 20th Dec - Ballinteer
Wednesday 21st Dec - Dundrum
Confessions Saturday 24th December 10-11a.m. and 3 - 4p.m.
Ballinteer Church Repository Shop
Open after Saturday evening Mass and and all Sunday morning Masses
Keeping Christ in Christmas!
Candles • Cards
Calendars • Cribs • Sheds
Children’s Books
Small Gifts
Ballinteer Parish Cell Community
Our parish is one of many in Ireland (North and South), U.K. and worldwide
where Cell Communities come together in small ‘home’ groups once a fortnight for a time of
prayer and praise. We strive to live the Christian life with the help and support of each other.
Cell meetings are happening in our Parish for the last fifteen years. There can never be too
much prayer and it is now widely recognised that parishes benefit greatly from dedicated prayer
efforts. Cell Community is an open forum where all are welcomed. If you are new in our parish or
would like to ‘Come and See’ a cell meeting please call 01 4953182 without delay.
We wish all in our parish an abundance of God’s Blessings at Christmas and for 2006.
Intercessory Prayer Team
meet regularly to pray for all in our parish and for the particular needs of
those who ask for prayer.
They can be contacted on 01-4953182
Baptisms, Deaths & Marriages Section
Baptisms
Welcome to our Christian Community
Dmytro Dónal Griffin
Ciara Anne Grant
DEATHS
November, 2005
Sincerest sympathy to the families, relatives and friends of
Mary Cotter, Marlay View
Sylvester Mearns, Broadford Close
May they and all who sleep in Christ find in His presence light, happiness and peace. Amen.
Next Issue 26th February, 2006. Items in by 12th February, 2006
