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Parish Pastoral CouncilIt has been a busy first half year for the present PPC. We have had two unprecedented programmes involving direct consultation with parishioners, the worldwide SYNOD process, followed immediately by the BUILDING HOPE programme of consultation within parishes about their own local attributes and future. The response and participation was heartening. We have been discussing ways of sharing the load of our priests, including the development of lay teams for Baptism and Funerals. It is also recognised that existing Teams and Ministries are depleted following the COVID interlude and need new blood. It is hoped in September to invite applications to join teams offering various services. Another item under review is the sustainability of the number of Masses we currently hold and piloting a new schedule to see how best to meet needs. After the beautiful ceremonies of Easter we had further joy in celebrating Fr. John’s Golden Jubilee, followed more recently by Corpus Christi.
Click on Button Below for Responses from Synod Meetings
The Synod Prayer
Vacancy for a Parish Secretary – Star of the Sea Parish, SandymountStar of the Sea Parish has a vacancy for a part-time Parish Secretary (15 hours per week). If you are interested in this position, please post your letter of application and current CV to Fr. John McDonagh, 15 Oswald Road, Sandymount or by email to johnmcdonagh68@gmail.com. Closing date 5.00pm on Friday, November 19th 2021.
Please click on Link below to review Church Secretary Job Description 
DCU Theology CoursesScholarships are available for incoming students wishing to pursue studies in Theology and Religious Studies at the beautiful DCU All Hallows Campus in Drumcondra, where there is a part-time BA course on offer and an MA programme in Theology and World Religions. Visit https://www.dcu.ie/your-guide-to-student-application-portals/.
Sacramental Preparation for children in non-Catholic schools
The preparation for the sacraments in Catholic schools takes place over two years, both for First Communion and Confirmation. Correspondingly, children in non-Catholic schools are asked to complete a two year preparation programme also, although their classes are held only once a week. Parents of children in the non-Catholic schools should accordingly contact the parish 2 years in advance if they wish their child to prepare for the sacraments.
Under our GDPR Policy a request for Baptism certs must be accompanied by a completed form either by the adult person requesting his or her own Baptism cert or by the parent requesting a son or daughter’s Baptism certificate. Parents of children preparing for First Communion and for Confirmation will accordingly need to complete that form when seeking , as is required, their child’s certification of Baptism. This applies to every parish in the Diocese.
The Iris Charles CentreIRIS CHARLES CENTRE MAP
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RCN: 20016166
Welcome to St. Mary's Star of the Sea, Sandymount
A warm welcome to the website of St Mary’s, Star of the Sea Parish, Sandymount. Our parish was constituted in 1851 to meet the needs of a growing population in Sandymount – Irishtown. The foundation stone of a new church was laid in that year and in August 1853 the church was officially opened. Designed by J.J. McCarthy, of the Pugin neo-Gothic school, Star of the Sea has served the people well in Sandymount and Irishtown over the years and they in turn have looked after it in its beauty and prayerful atmosphere. The gatherings for the liturgy are creative of a community in touch with God and with each other. We hope you’ll find our website interesting and helpful. Don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further assistance to you. Yours sincerely, Fr. John Mc Donagh P.P 
Mass and Confession Times:
Sunday
9:00 a.m. 10.30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Weekday 7:30.a.m. 10.00 a.m. Saturdays: 10.00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Vigil First Fridays: 10.00 a.m. Confessions Saturdays: After 10.00 a.m Mass (Suspended for now due to Covid Restrictions) And at 5.30 p.m (Suspended for now due to Covid Restrictions) Open Hours: Weekdays: 7:15am to 5:30pm Saturday: 9:15am to 7:00pm Sunday: 8:45am to 7:00pm Sacrament of Marriage: Please contact the Parish Office at 668-3316. Click on the blue buttons below for more information
World Youth Day Lisbon 2023, Aug 1 to 6
Interest is invited from our young people to attend WYD Lisbon or also to form a parish based group to participate.
We’re invited to register our interest on either or both of these possibilities with the diocese. So we’d welcome indicators of interest from young who will be aged between 16 and 29 in August 2023.
A programme for our teenagers?The diocese is establishing a Laudato Si’ Award for teenage groups in parishes who engage in a programme to explore and inform
fellow-parishioners around issues of ecology, sustainability, climate change and the spirituality invited to care for the earth. Laudato Si’ was the title of Pope Francis Letter on Caring for the Earth. This September is a starting point for such groups with training around the programme’s operation for those who lead. We’d love to hear from teenagers (13 to 17) who might be interested in knowing more about this project and from people interested in assisting the project as animators/leaders or whose knowledge and advice might inform the undertaking. It would unfold as a meeting point for teenagers with a mixture of social, education, research and prayer dimensions. Give it thought. We’d love to facilitate it.
Building HopeIn April 2021, Archbishop Dermot Farrell established a Task Force called Building Hope. The Task Force was asked to assess the needs of the people of the Archdiocese emerging from Covid-19 and to work to support parish communities as they undertake a radical renewal, looking to the future with creativity. 3,000 people, mostly lay faithful, responded to the invitation to share their views.
In October the Task Force reported and highlighted four dimensions valued by people which provide a framework for pastoral renewal. This framework gives a focus for the discussion and discernment around pastoral renewal Our Parish Leadership Team has identified two dates, Wednesday May 25th at 7.30pm and Sunday May 29th at 4pm for parishioners to meet in reflection and discussion of these four areas.
Affirmation of priestly ministry, Co-responsibility of clergy and Lay Faithful, Active Lay Ministries, Role of Women, Youth involvement, Pastoral Outreach, Administration
Advocacy, Active Outreach, Solidarity, Accompaniment, Care of Creation
After a time of reflection on these four areas we will be asked to answer a series of questions in respect of each of these areas as they pertain to our parish. Further questions will relate to local parish partnerships. Subsequently, these and further questions will be answered in an online form submitted to the diocese.
Baptism CelebrationsOn the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month we currently celebrate baptism with four families at a time. Covid impacted heavily on parents trying to organise the baptism of their children and understandably, too, we are baptising two babies of a family together quite frequently. Over the first two years of Covid our numbers baptised were down 70 below the annual expected number but slowly we’re catching up again on the backlog. Last Sunday saw the baptism of six little children. Whereas previously we held a meeting once a month with all parents coming in celebration of their child’s baptism, we do so now in anticipation of each baptism whether on the two Parish Baptism Days each month or when on other days a visiting priest is coming to celebrate. We ask all parents to attend a preparation meeting.
There may be a Primary School Teacher in our community who would like to be involved in the classes for children attending St Matthew's School and preparing for First Penance, First Communion and Confirmation. Classes are held on Thursdays, from around 3.45 to 5.15. If so, please contact the Parish Office or Fr John.
A Jesuit Publication for your homeWhy not have a look at one issue. You might find it’s like a spiritual “Readers Digest”. There’s something for everyone: chatty articles, accessible theology, out-loud thinking on spiritual questions and serious issues, comforting news, art appreciation, a kid’s page (with puzzles and jokes) gardening hints, seasonal recipes and a challenging crossword.
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General Data Protection Regulation
The new European Data Protection law, the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), is being introduced on 25th May 2018. This new law applies to any organisation, including our parish that manages and processes people’s personal information. We are now working on ways of ensuring that what we do with your information is compliant with this new law. It is a work in progress and over the next few months we will keep you informed through the parish website and in the newsletter as policies are put in place. Click on the Button below to view the Parish Data Privacy Notice: