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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 
If any of our parishioners who are ill or infirm would like to travel as invalid pilgrims with the Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, we would be happy to facilitate their doing so. The Pilgrimage takes place from September 4th to September 9th 2019. Application forms are available from the Parish office or from the Lourdes Pilgrimage Office, Holy Cross College, Clonliffe Road. The invalids travelling with the Pilgrimage will be accommodated in the Accueil Notre Dame which is a residence close to the Grotto. To meet the requirements of the Medical Bureau in Lourdes a form, available in the Parish office, must be completed.
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.
New members are always welcome in our Choirs and this would be a good time for anyone who likes singing (you don’t have to be able to read music) to join. Choir membership involves a practice one Monday night per month and half an hour before 12 o’clock Mass on Sundays. New members welcome for both choirs. (children over 7 years).
Parish Pastoral Council AGM Minutes 2018
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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
Comings and GoingsThe life of our parish is enriched by the presence of the religious congregations among us; the Sisters of Charity, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters, Sisters of Mercy and Marist Brothers.
Recent weeks have seen the Chapter meetings of the Franciscan Sisters and of the Sisters of Charity, with the emergence of new leadership teams to meet the challenge of coming years and with opportunity now to express appreciation and gratitude to those who, with work done, move on to pastures new. Sr. Mary Christian has been congregational leader for the Sisters of Charity for the past twelve years. With members of the leadership team she has overseen her congregation around the world and at the same time shared in the local faith community of our parish. In attending Mass with us and in the commitment of sisters to the ministry of the Word and of Eucharist and in participation in the parish choir we rejoice that our parish enjoys the company of sisters whose congregation has such a great record of faithful service. The bicentenary celebrations of the Sisters of Charity were a highlight during the term of office of Sr. Mary Christian and we are grateful that our parish community was one of the chosen settings for that celebration. We wish Sr. Mary and her team every blessing as a new congregational team will soon come to Caritas House. Likewise we gratefully salute Sr. Bridgette and her leadership team in the Franciscan Community, where Bridgette has served twelve years on the team and in the latter six years as congregational leader. We will miss the company of Srs. Bridgette, Felicia and Marie while happy that Sr. Cecilia will be with us another while. Like the Sisters of Charity in leadership, they had an administrative and leadership role across continents but still found time to be actively engaged in our parish. We understand too, that Sr. Susan, her studies here completed, will soon return to Africa. The sisters opened their house to welcome the Explorers (inter-church Scripture study group), Sr. Felicia served a term on our Parish Council, the sisters, too, organized Evening Prayer of the Church in Advent and Lent for us and generously shared their Franciscan spiritual way with us. Their presence among us was an immediate link with the church in Uganda, Kenya and Zambia and with their communities in the U.S. We thank you, sisters, for your lovely contribution to parish life and wish you every blessing into the future. Some too will have noticed that Bro. Wilfred has left the Marian College community in recent weeks to return to his native Glasgow. We wish him well in retirement there. 
We congratulate and thank Martin Coonan, Charlotte O’Neill and all the members of the Golf Classic committee for what was a very successful and enjoyable day last Friday.
We thank all who participated on the day and all who supported us through sponsorship, advertising in the booklet or who joined us for the evening meal. We hope that the day was enjoyed by all. It makes an important and valuable contribution to our Parish, both socially and financially. Thanks again. 
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:
Seeking a Catechist
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 CentreJoin us for an afternoon of chat, music and dancing on Friday 10th May at 2.00pm in the Iris Charles Centre, Newbridge Avenue.
Admission is free and light refreshments are available. Music as usual, is by the ‘Pastimes Band’. All Welcome! Enjoy a friendly game of Bridge on Tuesdays from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at Iris Charles Centre, Newbridge Avenue. All welcome. 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. Have you ever been to the Centre? Just on the corner of Newbridge Ave. Please know you’re welcome and transport can be arranged. Lunch is served on Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri at 12 noon. If you would like to make yourself available as a volunteer on an occasional basis, please contact Phyllis 087 6225471 or Claire 087 2368548. IRIS CHARLES CENTRE MAP
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