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Parish Pastoral Letter Number 1 6/9/09 |
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This autumn will see significant changes in our parish. I have been appointed Moderator of the Lucan parishes and I hope I will be of some assistance in furthering communication, cooperation and sharing of ministries and resources. I would like to thank you for the support and encouragement you gave me when the Archbishop announced my new appointment. Your friendship is a great blessing and I will rely on your honest communication in regard to any changes that may take place. The Parish Pastoral Council is at the pastoral and spiritual service of the parish and a forum for debate and dialogue. I have now finished in my role as Administrator of Palmerstown parish and Fr. Tony has taken up his new appointment as Parish Priest in that parish. I wish him well and hope it will be a ministry that brings him happiness and fulfilment. He was committed to St. Patrick’s over the past eight years and I would like to acknowledge his faithful service to the parish.The Lucan parishes are blessed in that the Archbishop has appointed Colette Kavanagh, who has completed her theological, spiritual and pastoral formation, as a fulltime Parish Pastoral Worker for the next three years. Colette will bring great enrichment to our parish ministries and as a mother of two teenage daughters she will have a rich life experience to enhance her ministry.It is with sadness that our sacristan, Joe Byrne, has retired. The dedicated service Joe gave to the parish is beyond measure. His commitment was seven days a week. In due course I hope we will organise a fitting occasion of gratitude for Joe.In addition to my role as Moderator I am also the Dean of the Maynooth Deanery (a grouping of eighteen parishes). This generates a considerable work load for me and some parish changes will be necessary. It is important to be aware that six months ago there were three active priests in the parish. There is now myself who is fulltime and Fr. Denis who is semi-retired. We are most fortunate to have his joyful and understanding presence among us for so many years.It will not be possible to continue with the Sunday evening Mass, evening Mass on Holy Days or evening Mass on the First Fridays. The Saturday 7pm Vigil Mass will continue for Sundays and at 7.30 for Holy Days. I realise that these changes could cause upset for some people but whatever structural changes take place they must cater for the possibility of sickness, holidays and the needs of the other Lucan parishes (please see notice board for Mass times at the three Lucan Parishes). These changes will become operative on 01 January, 2010 for Sundays and Holy Days. The evening Mass on the First Fridays will cease from October, 2009. We will have some chaplaincy services from Fr. Michael Drumm over the next few months. Michael has a full time job at Maynooth College but he will generously assist the parish when he has the time. I am delighted that Michael will reside in the parish as he is an extremely gifted and talented man. I will learn a lot from him.Please send back your thoughts and ideas to the parish website at www.stpatrickslucan.ie , or to Anne, the parish secretary or directly to myself. I realise that change does not come easily but with generosity and consideration we can work towards a united, Gospel filled parish community.Fr. John
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