​​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

 Month of the Rosary
​This Monday, October 7th, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.  The words are so beautiful and monotonous that they make a space of a quarter of an hour in which one can be quiet before God.  It was, of course, never intended that we should think of all the words.  We can think of the mysteries – Joys, Sorrows and Glories in the saving journey of Christ Jesus, our Saviour.  We can think too of a troublesome child, a dying neighbour, a newly-married couple for whom we wish to pray. 
In this month of the Rosary, what a good time for a parent to teach a child how to pray the rosary.  Once a boy or girl has learned to pray the ‘Our Father’, the ‘Hail Mary’ and the ‘Glory be ...’, there is a fascination for them in linking them together on a beads, counting them between fingers until the next decade.  There is lovely opportunity also in relating the stories of each of the Mysteries, beginning for a beginner child with the Joyful stories of Jesus childhood.  And then pray it together ... 
Whenever we pray the Rosary it’s always in the company of Mary who knew first hand the Birth, the Suffering and Passion as well as the Glorious Resurrection of her son.  We enter her prayer space to contemplate her Son with her. 
It’s a form of prayer that became popular in medieval times, over a thousand years ago.  It developed as a popular substitute for the Liturgy of The Hours, a substitute which people could readily share.  Because of Mary’s singular cooperation with what we call ‘God’s will,’ the ‘Church loves to pray in communion with the Virgin Mary, to magnify with her the great things the Lord has done for her and to entrust our earnest petitions and praises to her.’ (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, par 2682). 

Explorers

The Explorers are an inter-church scripture reading group, who always welcome new members. Attendance at individual meetings is open to choice. Our first session this year will be held this coming Monday, 16th September at 7.30 - 9 p.m. in the Community Room of the Mount Tabor Centre next to Christ Church on Sandymount Green. For the first four sessions we shall look at key parables in The New Testament. We will be led by Seamus O'Connell, Professor of Sacred Scripture, St Patrick's College Maynooth. Join us and bring a friend.

Sandymount Matero Friendship Programme

We thank people who have responded to the Matero appeal and have returned their boxes today.  If you have forgotten to bring your box you may leave it in the Parish office this week to be collected by the Matero committee.

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.

Our Parish Choirs
​First rehearsal for the children’s choir is on Monday 9th September at 6.00pm.  New members very welcome.
The same welcome will be there for new members in the adult choir.  They practice for a half hour before Sunday Mass and for an hour once a month, usually on the first Monday of the month.  However this month it will be on the 9th at 7.00pm.

Parish Pastoral Council AGM Minutes 2018

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

Mission Sunday       


Mission Sunday is approaching on the 20th of October 2019, The Parish Pastoral Council are hoping to create a visual project highlighting any links the parish, and more specifically, parishioners, may have with the Missions anywhere in the world - keeping in mind that we in the West, specifically Europe, are now considered to be part of missionary territory ourselves in these increasingly secular times.
 
With this in mind we would be most grateful if anyone who can give any sort of witness or account of a Missionary testimony or experience (however simple) that has affected your life or that of someone you know would write a short account of the experience and forward it to the Parish Secretary, Mary O’Neill or email sandymountparish@eircom.net ) to be considered for inclusion in this project.  Written accounts should be submitted not later than October 4th, for inclusion and will be most gratefully received by the PPC. It will help if it’s possible but not necessary that you make your account on A4 size paper.
​ Fr. Brian McLoughlin from CSSP will speak at all Masses this weekend.  We welcome Fr. Brian.  As we mentioned last week each year a representative of a Missionary Congregation comes to each parish to deepen our awareness of Missionary work.  We are aware too that Missionaries are now sent to us in Ireland to support the life of the Church.

First Communion Enrolment

The Enrolment Ceremony for First Communion classes will be held in the church on Tuesday October 8th at 7.00pm.
A meeting of parents in Scoil Mhuire and in Star of the Sea schools intending to present a child for First Communion in 2020 will be held in the church on Tuesday October 1st at 7.30pm.  Registration will take place that evening.

Sacramental Preparation

Pre-Sacrament Classes towards First Communion and Cofirmation are held over a two year period.  Children attending non-Catholic schools, who wish to celebrate the sacraments, are invited to enrol in classes when they enter 1st class (First Communion) and 5th class (Confirmation). 
Children in non-faith schools (e.g. Educate Together) should be enabled to celebrate the sacraments with the help of their parents in their own home parishes and make contact with their parishes two years in advance of celebration.  Accordingly children resident in Sandymount parish and attending a non-faith school may wish at entry to 1st class or to 5th class to make contact with us to enable appropriate arrangements of preparation to be made. 
A meeting with parents of children in St. Matthew’s School, who wish to prepare for sacramental celebration in 2020 and 2021 will be held on Monday September 23rd at 7.30pm in Star of the Sea Church.

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 Centre will re-open on Tuesday next, 3rd September.  Dinners will be served at 1.00pm.
Chair exercise will continue from 11.45 to 12.45pm.
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