Starting up AgainAs we ease our way back into bringing life to the faith community that gathers in Star of the Sea, we know only too well that we’re not back to normal life for awhile yet. We return in this coming week very much reliant on everyone’s sense of responsibility, on the support of volunteers to act as stewards and church cleaners, on high regard for each others’ safety and ready to accept whatever limitations are imposed by the HSE and Government regulations.
Be resolved to maintain the hand washing discipline, to avoid touching of the face, to maintain the 2 metres distance from all but those in your own household. Wear a mask, if possible. The virus is out there still, lurking like a sniper and it’s a deadly virus but with careful precaution we can keep it at bay and keep one another safe. When you come to Mass, after sanitizing, go to where the steward invites you to sit. It will be helpful to fill up the available seats in a way that enables an easy count of spaces available. When the church is full to the permitted level accept that as a fact with understanding. Consider coming on another day and know that the webcam offers a connection for all who have internet facility at home. We ask you to stay in the assigned seat and not move to light candles or purchase newspapers / magazines, for example. It may be possible to come at another time in the day to do so. At communion time, our movement will be different in that one Eucharistic Minister will distribute communion at the top of the centre aisle and another half way down the centre aisle where a gap opens between seats on both centre and side aisles to allow ease of movement. To avoid meeting others coming and going, there will be a circular movement made in four different areas of the church which will be explained when we gather and will rely on stewards’ directions. Such changes are in the interest of everyone’s greater safety. We won’t sing hymns as yet. To do so risks a situation where 2 metres distancing may not be sufficient for safety. The main door will be the only entrance if the total number allowed entry remains at 50. The two side aisle doors towards the front will be our only exit doors. Baskets will be left at both exit doors inviting contributions for both the Common Fund and Share Fund collections. As people leave they might have donations ready so as not to delay proceedings. Keep the 2 metres distancing as you leave and maintain the flow onwards. The church will close after each Mass to allow the team of cleaners to sanitize the seats. We anticipate two persons cleaning when attendance is capped at 50. When the number increases at the Government’s discretion we’ll need more than two. It is anticipated that we’ll need five stewards at each Mass initially to assist the new discipline and welcome the return of the congregation. We thank all who have kindly volunteered. The daily Mass at 7.30am and 10.00am resumes this Monday. Don’t forget how vitally important it is to our hopes of resumption that we find willing volunteers to be ushers, cleaners, stewards and part of the team needed at every Mass as we seek to go forward. Please let us know if you are available as soon as possible. Our Weekly Parish Bulletin is Back
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During this COVID 19 crisis calls to SVP for the first quarter of 2020 were at their highest level for over a decade. Many low income families have become no income families overnight.
At the same time, our church gate collections and other local fundraising efforts are currently on hold also due to the COVID 19 crisis. Therefore, SVP has launched an URGENT FUNDRAISING APPEAL with a simple message: During this crisis more people are falling into poverty, and when this is all over, many people will still be trapped by poverty. Star of the Sea, Sandymount Conference of SVP, is asking parishioners - please donate as generously as you can, if you can, to this urgent appeal. Donors can choose to direct their donations locally when they donate online or by phone. Online: If a donor chooses to donate online and would like to direct their donations to our local conference, you simply need to type in Star of the Sea Sandymount in the field on the donation form: ‘Reason for donating/specific location to help’. Phone: SVP has introduced a new local donation number 0818176176. When a donor calls this number, you will be asked where you would like to direct your donation. You can direct your donation to our local conference Star of the Sea, Sandymount.
We really appreciate our parishioners and other friends of St. Vincent de Paul taking the time to read this notice. A sincere thank you for your continued support of the St. Vincent de Paul Conference in Sandymount and the work of St. Vincent de Paul. Please take care of yourselves at this difficult time. Finian Loftus President 
Well Deserved
Many of our parishioners over the years have merited a ‘well done’ accolade. We are in debt to all who voluntarily commit themselves to serve the parish community in a host of different ways.
When Paddy Kavanagh reluctantly, and with doctor’s direction, reached a time to ‘step back,’ it brought to a close a service which Paddy had given over a span of seventy years. Apart from a short time spent outside his parish, Paddy was altar server, church collector, assistant sacristan and latterly assisted at every Baptism in the parish. Anxious to mark his long years of service the pastoral council decided to petition the Benemerenti Medal for him. Bob Harewood has been our wonderful sacristan since the death of a great servant of the parish, Margaret O’Doherty, nine years ago but over many years, like Paddy, he has been consistently present to help, counting and banking Sunday collections and ready to stand in whenever and wherever there was a need. We greatly appreciate Bob’s great commitment to the parish in a totally voluntary capacity with kindly cheerful disposition. We readily sought that he also should be honoured with the Benemerenti Medal. It’s a Pontifical medal requested by the Archbishop on behalf of each recipient and a limited number are awarded yearly. We are delighted that both Bob and Paddy have been honoured and were presented with Benemerenti Medals at the end of the 12 o’clock Mass on Sunday, 9th June. 
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.
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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
Vigil: 6.00 p.m (Saturday) 9:00 a.m. Mass 10.30 a.m Family Mass 12.00 noon Choir Mass (Choir away during July and August) Weekday 7.30 a.m. Mass 10.00 a.m. Mass Saturdays: 10.00 a.m.: Mass (6.00 p.m. Sunday Vigil) : Mass First Fridays: 7.30 a.m. Mass 10.00 a.m. Mass Confessions Saturdays: After 10.00 a.m Mass And at 5.30 p.m 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. 
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Pre-Marriage PreparationOver the coming weeks we’ll outline the specific requirements for couples planning a church wedding to cover firstly, couples getting married in Ireland who live in Ireland; secondly, couples getting married in Ireland who live outside Ireland and thirdly, couples living in Ireland who seek a church wedding abroad. It’s the time of year when engaged couples are in need of such information . Watch this space and pass on the information if and when you can.
Classes for students preparing for Sacraments
Pre-Sacrament classes for children attending St. Matthew’s school (and for any who live in the parish and attend non-Catholic school) continues this week.
The preparation period is over two years towards First Communion and also towards Confirmation. The classes are scheduled as follows and are held in the parish meeting rooms in the church. 1st class meets Tuesday evening at 5.00pm 2nd class meets Thursday evening at 4.00pm 6th class meets Thursday evening at 4.00pm 5th class meets Thursday evening at 4.45pm
‘Do This in Memory’At the 10.30am Mass next Sunday, 5th April, we hope again to link up with the children and parents in the First Communion classes. Palm Sunday was to be our next ‘Do this in Memory’ Mass. Meanwhile the children could work on pages 56 to 59 of the Thumbs book and parents might share with them pages 20 to 23 of Thumbs.
Grapevine 6 and Grapevine 7 will be held in safe keeping until the children come back to school. 
Church Notice Board
Details of two new courses beginning in October are on the Church Notice Board:
Faith for Life – Deepening the connection between Faith and Life is a course run over four weekends to help you discover new ways to live out your faith in the reality of today’s world through relationships in family, parish, workplace, and the events of daily life. The course costs €200 and places are limited. For further information- Tel: 01-8373732 ext 247/239 or email: evangelisation@dublindiocese.ie. Active8 – 8 sessions over 8 months 8 new ways of sharing Good News, in Holy Cross Diocesan Centre on 2nd Oct, 6th Nov, 15th Jan, 12th Feb, 11th Mar, 1st April, 6th May, 10th June all at 7.30-9.30pm. For those who are 30-55 years old who want to grow in skills of sharing faith. Price €80 and places are limited. Contact: mary.dent@dublindiocese.ie 
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:
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.
The Iris Charles CentreThe Iris Charles Centre re-opens after the Christmas break on Tuesday next, 7th January with Chair Exercises, Lunch and Bridge. All Welcome!
Chair exercises have been extended to two days a week – Tuesdays and Fridays at the Centre on Newbridge Avenue, from 11.45am to 12.45pm at a cost of €2 per class. Afternoon Bridge will also resume on Tuesday at 2.30pm. New members are always welcome – with or without a Bridge partner. If you would like to make yourself available as a volunteer on an occasional basis, please contact Phyllis 087-6225471 or Claire 087-2368548. The Iris Charles Centre is one of our local gems with a dedicated group of people running it. Senior Citizens can meet and enjoy a great lunch or participate in a range of organised activities. The Centre also hosts a Bridge evening every Thursday beginning at 7:00pm for both experienced and novice players. All are welcome. IRIS CHARLES CENTRE MAP
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