Greetings from Father Jim
I am delighted to greet you and thank you for the warmth of your welcome ( despite the masks) .
After five wonderful years as a monk in America I feel truly blessed to be your new priest here in Balally.
Doubly blessed to be with my great friend Fr Dermot who has laid such groundwork for the future.
The Spirit is doing something new in our Church . Rather than lamenting the lack of priests, we are, I believe called to enhance the call of lay people to service and leadership. Thanks to Fr Dermot our parish is well down this road.
The challenge is to continue on this path.
It’s a strange time to be starting in the parish. Over the next few months we will be catching up on the many Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmations delayed because of Covid. I hope to meet all the parish groups at the end of October. Already I have planned meetings with the Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Committee, the Parish Centre Board of Management, the Secretariat and the schools. All of this is happening with the support and encouragement of Fr Dermot.
It will be at least 6 weeks before I can move into my house. Work commenced there last Monday. The men employed by the Finance Committee also worked with me when I was PP in Iona Road. I have great confidence in them. A word of thanks also to Martina, Chair of Finance Committee for her help and support.
Gradually we will get to know each other. It’s great being back in Dundrum again. I loved my time in Meadowbrook . Please pray for me.
God Bless,
Father Jim
