News
News
- Balally Parish Website: A Welcome Update!
Fr. Peter has composed a beautiful new message of Welcome for the Parish website, on behalf of the Parish Pastoral Council. It may be viewed here; https://www.balallyparish.ie/welcome/
Welcome to the Church of the Ascension. Through this Parish Website, we hope to tell you a little bit about ourselves and give you the information you might require.
The Parishioners of Balally built this Church with great effort and generosity. It was finished in 1982. Many of the first Parishioners are still active in the community, and many have gone home to God.
The Church structure is unusual as Churches go, but its building was inspired by the Second Vatican Council. Its layout highlighted the belonging to the family of God. From the tapestry of the Burning Bush (at the very centre behind the Tabernacle) the walls extend like open arms and embrace all who enter and immerse them in the Divine Presence. That Divine Presence is underscored by each of the windows which are dedicated to the opening verses of the Book of Genesis.
The configuration of the building facilitates the participation of each and every member in the liturgy. No one feels far away or distant from the Altar, and all can be seen. At the middle of the Altar, there is the icon of the Washing Of The Feet inviting all who enter to serve others as Christ has served us.
Since its foundation, the Parish has tried to be welcoming and inclusive. The ownership of the Parish by the Parishioners has been highlighted through the Parish Pastoral Council, which represents the parishioners in all critical decisions; by the Finance Committee which guarantees the safe administration of the funds of the Parish; by the Board of Management which oversees the use of the Pastoral Centre and by several other teams and groups who ensure the continued operation and vitality of the Christian Community. Besides these groups, many volunteers selflessly contribute to the life of the Parish with their talents, their time and their treasures. Many go unrecognised, many work in silence and anonymity.
As you browse through the pages of this website you might feel inspired to send us a comment or a suggestion, or there might be something amiss .. don’t hesitate to send us a note.
Fr. Peter F. Byrne ,Co-PP
On Behalf of the Parish Pastoral Council.
- WMOF 2018 Highlights And Resources
A wonderful set of resources are available on the Internet, capturing the highlights of the World Meeting Of Familiies 2018;
https://mailchi.mp/worldmeeting2018/access-videos-and-texts-from-wmof2018?e=8d8485712c
https://www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/Programme/Speakers-and-Contributors
In summary, here are ten great ‘takeaways’, including our own top three;
“Faith is passed on in everyday speech! The speech of the home, everyday life, life in the family.”
“Families are the glue of society.”
“In families we need to learn three words: ‘Sorry‘, ‘Please‘ and ‘Thank You‘ “
What’s your ‘takeaway’ from WMOF 2018?
p.s. Don’t just ‘take it away’! ‘Take it away’ and SHARE with everyone you meet, today! Your life is not about you!
Photo Credit: Maxwell Photography for WMOF2018
- Church Notice, October 2018
*Church Notice:*
“God may call you while you are here in Church … but rest assured it
won’t be on your mobile” - Annual Mass For Deceased Parishioners, 12pm, Sunday 4th November, 2018
“All I ask, that wherever you may be, you may remember me at the Altar of the Lord”
St Monica.
The Annual Mass for the members of our community who have died since last November will take place on Sunday 4th of November at 12.00. A candle will be lit for each name and be placed before the altar. Families are invited into the Parish Centre for hospitality after the Mass.
“In the darkness of our sorrow, Christ is our Light“
- In November, We Remember
“All I ask, that wherever you may be, you may remember me at the Altar of the Lord”
Saint Monica
November is the month of Holy Souls when we remember our deceased loved ones in prayer. You are invited to compile a list of names for the Altar List of the Dead, which can be placed in the envelopes, available in the Church porch. These can then be left into the sacristies or Parish Office. On the first Friday of every month, for the next year, Holy Mass will be offered for those whose names are on the Parish Altar List of the Dead.
Some Tips:
1. Invite children, grandchildren, family members or friends to participate.2. Gather around and light a candle and say a prayer (see below).
3. Bring out the family photo album and the memory Cards.
4. As the name is written on the list something is shared about the person (memories, funny moments, favourite things, good actions, a special prayer).
This tradition reminds us that our community is connected to those who have died and reinforces our hope in the Resurrection.
“We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always attentive to our prayers.”
Pope Paul VI
Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.Amen.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
“Shed no more the bitter tear
nor give the heart to vain regret.
Tis but mere ashes that lie here.
The gem that filled it sparkles yet.” - New Sunday Mass Times @ Balally From Sunday 7th October, 2018
Sunday Mass times change at Balally Parish from Sunday 7th October, 2018
onward.The 11.30am & 12:45pm Masses will not be celebrated any longer.
Instead, both Masses are replaced with a 12:00pm Mass.
The 10:00 Family Mass is unaffected.
The full Sunday Mass schedule between both Sandyford and Balally Parishes
is now as follows;Saturday (Vigil): 6:00pm (Sandyford)
Sunday: 9:00am (Sandyford)
Sunday: 10:00am (Balally)
Sunday: 11:00am (Sandyford)
Sunday: 12:00pm (Balally)
Sunday: 6:00pm (Sandyford)
- Saint Michael, The Archangel, Defend Us In Battle.
Holy See Press Office Communiqué, 29.09.2018
Pope Francis has decided to invite all the faithful, of all the world, to pray the Holy Rosary every day, during the entire Marian month of October, and thus to join in communion and in penitence, as the people of God, in asking the Holy Mother of God and Saint Michael Archangel to protect the Church from the devil, who always seeks to separate us from God and from each other.
In recent days, before his departure for the Baltic States, the Holy Father met with Fr. Fréderic Fornos, S.J., international director of the World Network of Prayer for the Pope, and asked him to spread this appeal to all the faithful throughout the world, inviting them to conclude the recitation of the Rosary with the ancient invocation “Sub Tuum Praesidium”, and with the prayer to Saint Michael Archangel that he protect us and help us in the struggle against evil (cf. Revelation 12, 7-12).
The prayer – the Pontiff affirmed a few days ago, on 11 September, in a homily at Santa Marta, citing the first book of Job – is the weapon against the Great Accuser who “goes around the world seeking to accuse”. Only prayer can defeat him. The Russian mystics and the great saints of all the traditions advised, in moments of spiritual turbulence, to shelter beneath the mantle of the Holy Mother of God pronouncing the invocation “Sub Tuum Praesidium”.
The invocation “Sub Tuum Praesidium” is recited as follows:
“Sub tuum praesidium confugimus Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo Gloriosa et Benedicta”.
[We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin].
With this request for intercession the Holy Father asks the faithful of all the world to pray that the Holy Mother of God place the Church beneath her protective mantle: to preserve her from the attacks by the devil, the great accuser, and at the same time to make her more aware of the faults, the errors and the abuses committed in the present and in the past, and committed to combating without any hesitation, so that evil may not prevail.
Pope Francis has also asked that the recitation of the Holy Rosary during the month of October conclude with the prayer written by Pope Leo XIII:
“Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio; contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute, in infernum detrude. Amen”.
[Saint Michael Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen].
- Balally Parish Meetings 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th September 2018
A series of meetings, to chat about the future of Balally Parish, will be held as follows;
24th, 25th & 28th September, after the 10am Mass
24th, 25th & 26th September, 7.30pm in the Parish Centre Coffee Dock
You are all welcome to come along and participate.
Items to be discussed include;
1. Where do we go forward now in the challenge of renewing the faith we carry in our own hearts and renewing the life of the Church?
2. Why are we no longer captivating so many of our young people for the message of Jesus Christ?
3. Which models of pastoral activity and reflection are most likely to win the hearts of young people for the message of Jesus?
4. How do we teach young people about prayer?
5. How can our parishes respond to these challenges?
6. Which aspects of our dominant culture make it harder for people to understand the message of Jesus?
- DIOCESAN SAFEGUARDING DAY: Sunday, 23rd September 2018
We in the Archdiocese of Dublin value and encourage the participation of children and young people in parish liturgies and in Diocesan activities. Safeguarding is about creating an environment which facilitates such involvement so that children can grow strong in their faith as they experience the love of Jesus in his Church. Everyone who ministers in the parish is a representative of the Church and must observe safeguarding practices and guidelines. Good safeguarding practice is integral to ministry. It is not an optional extra.
We know from sad and bitter experience that the Church in Dublin has not always been a safe place for children. Archbishop Martin is deeply grateful to all the priests, parish sisters, deacons, parish pastoral workers, staff and volunteers in our parishes who have worked with great dedication to change this and to make our parishes and diocesan agencies safer places for children and vulnerable adults. If we want the future to be different from the past, we accept that changes must be made. Change is not easy. It has been hard, for example, for some to accept the need for Garda vetting of parish volunteers, especially for those who have occupied positions in the parish for many years.
This year saw the introduction of the new updated Diocesan Safeguarding Policy, which was launched at Deanery meetings throughout the Dioceses. This document clearly outlines the policies and procedures that all parishes must have in place to safeguard children. Should anyone want a copy of this document, it can be downloaded from the Dublin Diocesan Child Safeguarding & Protection Service website;
Alternatively, you can contact any member of the Parish team, who in turn will email you a copy.
The measures that we put in place in this parish, as in all parishes in the diocese, to keep children and vulnerable adults safe are the following:
- Adopting a child centred approach, which involves valuing children and demonstrating our respect for them
- Obtaining the consent of parents for the involvement of their children in parish activities
- Choosing carefully those who work with children and vulnerable adults in our parish
- Ensuring parish workers and volunteers behave appropriately towards children and vulnerable adults
- Making proper arrangements for activities involving children, including ensuring adequate adult supervision of such activities
- Keeping good records of parish activities involving children
We can be contacted through the parish office if anyone wishes to find out more or would like advice and information about a safeguarding matter.
Anyone who has a concern for the safety or welfare of a child or vulnerable adult should contact the diocesan Child Safeguarding and Protection Service. People can also take such concerns directly to the civil authorities:
- Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, if the concern relates to a child
- HSE, if the concern relates to a vulnerable adult, or
- An Garda Siochana, in an emergency.
- Balally Parish Accounts 2017
The Balally Parish 2017 Accounts are available for viewing here;
Welcome
Welcome to the Church of the Ascension. Through this Parish Website, we hope to tell you a little bit about ourselves and give you the information you might require.
The Parishioners of Balally built this Church with great effort and generosity. It was finished in 1982. Many of the first Parishioners are still active in the community, and many have gone home to God.
The Church structure is unusual as Churches go, but its building was inspired by the Second Vatican Council. Its layout highlighted the belonging to the family of God. From the tapestry of the Burning Bush (at the very centre behind the Tabernacle) the walls extend like open arms and embrace all who enter and immerse them in the Divine Presence. That Divine Presence is underscored by each of the windows which are dedicated to the opening verses of the Book of Genesis.
The configuration of the building facilitates the participation of each and every member in the liturgy. No one feels far away or distant from the Altar, and all can be seen. At the middle of the Altar, there is the icon of the Washing Of The Feet inviting all who enter to serve others as Christ has served us.
Since its foundation, the Parish has tried to be welcoming and inclusive. The ownership of the Parish by the Parishioners has been highlighted through the Parish Pastoral Council, which represents the parishioners in all critical decisions; by the Finance Committee which guarantees the safe administration of the funds of the Parish; by the Board of Management which oversees the use of the Pastoral Centre and by several other teams and groups who ensure the continued operation and vitality of the Christian Community. Besides these groups, many volunteers selflessly contribute to the life of the Parish with their talents, their time and their treasures. Many go unrecognised, many work in silence and anonymity.
As you browse through the pages of this website you might feel inspired to send us a comment or a suggestion, or there might be something amiss .. don’t hesitate to send us a note.
Fr. Peter F. Byrne ,Co-PP
On Behalf of the Parish Pastoral Council.
