​​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

The Explorers

​The Explorers, an interchurch scripture reading group will meet this
evening, Monday, 17 February at 7.30 p.m. in Mount Tabor Care Centre on Sandymount Green. Glenn Jordan from the Corrymeela Community
near Belfast will lead the discussion on 'Reading the parables as
adults'.
We shall focus on the story of Abraham being prepared to sacrifice
Isaac. All are welcome.

Clothing Collection for St. Vincent de Paul

​The Society is seeking your help in its Annual Clothing Appeal in this Parish.  The Appeal is for clean, good-quality clothes, bedclothes, curtains, shoes etc.  Bags will be available outside the church on the weekend of 16th and 17th February and the Society will collect the bags outside the church on the following weekend, 23rd  / 24th February at the Vigil Mass and Sunday morning Masses.
 
The Society is very conscious of the tremendous support given by the parishioners of this Parish for their charitable works over the years.  They would like to thank you all most sincerely on behalf of those you have helped.

 Confirmation

With less than a month to go the young people preparing for Confirmation have been encouraged to pray each evening with the assistance of a scripture passage for each day and prayers of petition for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We ask parishioners also to pray for all of them during these weeks.  Our celebrant on March 12th will be Very Rev. Donal Roche, who is the Episcopal Vicar for parishes between Ringsend and Arklow and is also Administrator of Wicklow Parish.  We look forward to welcoming him. 

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.  

Baptism Certificate Request​

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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.

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.
Click on the blue buttons below for more information

Parish Pilgrimages to Lourdes and to Knock

At our recent meeting of our parish pastoral council it was agreed that we should advance the invitation to parishioners to participate as a parish group in the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes from Sept. 9th to Sept. 14th this year. 
The invitation is extended at two levels; the first is to those who may wish to travel as invalids.  Invalids reside at the hospital adjoining the grotto area during their stay and the necessary paperwork and medical assessment should be completed before the end of March.  
The second is to those travelling as ordinary pilgrims.  We’d like to establish the list of those interested in the coming month (say by St. Patrick’s Day) so that block booking of a parish group for a suitable hotel can be  made in good time. 
Please let us know if you wish to be a parish pilgrim, either as an invalid or as a regular pilgrim, by contacting the parish office 
The diocesan pilgrimage to Knock will be on Saturday, April 25th.  We’d welcome the interest of parishioners, both young and old, in a day’s pilgrimage.  Again, let us know in the parish office if you’re interested.  When the level of interest is established we can look to working out the details.  Let us know again before St. Patrick’s Day, to enable a decision on the feasibility of this pilgrimage to Knock with the diocese.

World Day of the Sick 2020
​The World Day of the Sick will be celebrated on Sunday February 9th, the nearest Sunday to the World Day which is on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11th.  The diocesan celebrations will be held at Newtownpark Avenue, Guardian Angles Church.  The Archbishop will lead the celebration of Mass there at 3.30pm.   Anointing of the sick will take place during Mass.
On the previous day, Saturday February 8th, between 9.30am and 1.00pm a Seminar will take place in the Newtownpark Parish Pastoral Centre.  This year’s theme will be on Hope in the Face of Suicide.

Pre-Marriage Preparation

​Over 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’

Next Sunday, 9th February, the First Communion 2020 classes and their parents meet for our next ‘Do this in Memory’ Mass.  Besides Grapevine 5 sent out last week we ask parents to share the contents of pages 18 and 19 of Thumbs with their child and to oversee the work to be completed on pages 54 and 55 of Thumbs.  At this stage of the programme the children should have the exercises between pages 40 and 55 completed.  We’re grateful to those who have paid €20 towards the cost of materials and would very much appreciate if those who haven’t done so might contribute ASAP.

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

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:
​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 home

​Why 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 Centre

The 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.
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IRIS CHARLES CENTRE MAP