Parish Webcam
Click on the Image Above
On May 8th, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., of the United States and Peru, was elected the 267th pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo was born September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Before his election as pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost served as the Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, and briefly as Apostolic Administrator of Callao. A member of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), he brings to the papacy decades of experience in missionary service, especially among the poor and needy. He has been a vocal advocate for ecclesial reform and deeper dialogue within the global Church. His prior roles include serving as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops from 2023 to 2025, where he played a key role in shaping episcopal leadership worldwide. Earlier, he was Prior General of the Augustinians (2001–2013), and before becoming a bishop, he worked in Peru as a seminary professor, judicial vicar, parish pastor, and diocesan official. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis on September 30, 2023. As Catholics worldwide welcome Pope Leo XIV, we lift him up in prayer. The weight of the papacy is immense, and our Holy Father will need grace, wisdom, and strength to shepherd the Church. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide and sustain him as he begins this mission. 
Pray for Pope Leo XIV“O God, who in your Divine Providence have bestowed on us Pope Leo XIV as the shepherd of your Church, we ask that you guide his hand in leading and unifying the faithful, keeping us always under your watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen."
Your Parishioner Voice-Thank You!Sincere thanks to our parishioners who participated in our Parish Voice gathering on Sunday, 9th March. We appreciate your feedback on how best we can strengthen the experience of being a parishioner of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea. Your feedback will help us shape the Parish in the coming years.
Click on the Button Below to see the Parishioner Voice Summary
Pockets of Hope-A PilgrimageWhile reflecting on where to find glimmers of hope in our world today, the team of Fr Alan Hillard & Mary-Aoife Ong came together. What emerged was an imaginative presentation entitled Pockets of Hope inspired by Pope Francis’ message Spes Non Confundit (Hope Does Not Disappoint).
This presentation is the focus for a Pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, hosted by four of the Churches in Dublin City: St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough Street; Our Lady of Lourdes, Sean McDermott Street*; Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, City Quay**; and St. Andrew’s Church, Westland Row. There is a further display in St. Kevin’s Church, Glendalough. You are invited to journey the pilgrim path and reflect on the message of Hope this Jubilee Year. The desire is that many people in Ireland can be filled with the gift of Hope during this Jubilee Year and, more importantly, that all can become ‘bringers of hope’ to those we meet. Scan the QR code to access all resources for the Jubilee Year of Hope. 
*2025 celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the death of Matt Talbot whose shrine is in Sean MacDermott St. Church. **City Quay Church is listed for refurbishment. When works start alternative arrangements will be made. There are brochures at the back of the Church. For more information, contact Mary-Aoife Ong: Call 0858289573 or email: [email protected]
Pope Francis reflecting from hospital:
"The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches... They have witnessed far more sincere kisses than those in airports... It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor. A privileged doctor saving the life of a beggar... In intensive care, you see a Jew taking care of a racist... A police officer and a prisoner in the same room receiving the same care... A wealthy patient waiting for a liver transplant, ready to receive the organ from a poor donor... It is in these moments, when the hospital touches the wounds of people, that different worlds intersect according to a divine design. And in this communion of destinies, we realize that alone, we are nothing. The absolute truth of people, most of the time, only reveals itself in moments of pain or in the real threat of an irreversible loss. A hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are, in their purest essence. This life will pass quickly, so do not waste it fighting with people. Do not criticize your body too much. Do not complain excessively. Do not lose sleep over bills. Make sure to hug your loved ones. Do not worry too much about keeping the house spotless. Material goods must be earned by each person—do not dedicate yourself to accumulating an inheritance. .You are waiting for too much: Christmas, Friday, next year, when you have money, when love arrives, when everything is perfect... Listen, perfection does not exist. A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here. Here, we are given an opportunity to learn. So, make the most of this trial of life—and do it now. Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path, and let go of the path others have chosen for you. Respect: do not comment, do not judge, do not interfere. Love more, forgive more, embrace more, live more intensely! And leave the rest in the hands of the Creator." —Pope Francis 🙏
Sacramental RegistrationFirst Communion preparation for 2025 (usually 2nd class):
First Communion preparation for 2026 (usually 1st class):
Confirmation preparation for 2025 (usually 6th class): Confirmation preparation for 2026 (usually 5th class):
St. Matthews and Educate Together:
Sunday, 11th May 10:30am Star of the Sea Boys: Sunday, 18th May 12:00pm Scoil Mhuire: Sunday, 25th May 12:00pm
The next meeting of the Sandymount Explorers is scheduled for Monday 28th April at 7.30 p.m. in Christ Church Hall, Sandymount Green. Dr. Kieran O’ Mahony will continue with his elucidation of the letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians, which he will continue through April 24th.
The Sandymount Explorers is a a local ecumenical initiative, bringing various Christian traditions together around the Word of God. This year, we are reading together St Paul’s great Letter to the Galatians, a passionate and even feisty document — in any case, not boring and full of potential for today’s church.
Sandymount Community CentreThe Sandymount Community Centre is thrilled to be participating in this year’s Age Action Positive Ageing Week from 30th September- 6th October. In line with this year’s event theme of Anti-Ageism we feel it is important to highlight the valuable contribution that people of all ages make to our community. We hope to demonstrate this with a week-long schedule of exciting activities commencing on 30th September 2024.
You are cordially invited to: Sandymount Community Centre Positive Ageing Week 2024 and Google Digital Drop-In Launch Event with Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan followed by coffee and treats 30th Sept 2024 13:00-13:30 in the Sandymount Community Centre The Monthly Google Digital Drop-in space will also be open from 11:00-13:00 and participants are welcome to come along and have their technology questions answered by volunteers from Google as well as local Transition Year Students. Please RSVP to: [email protected] COMMUNITY CENTRE MAP
Home from Home
Sandymount Community Centre, formally the Irish Charles Centre, on Newbridge Ave is very excited to announce their new Home from Home initiative. Every Thursday from 10-12 the centre will be open to the community offering a warm cuppa, newspapers, cards and games as well as loads of chats! 
|
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 1876 to meet the needs of a growing population in Sandymount – Irishtown. The foundation stone of a new church was laid in August 1851 and 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 
Mass ScheduleWeekly Mass:
For the week commencing 7th April,2024, and until further notice we will have one Mass per day. 7.30am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10am on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Weekend Mass: Saturday: 6pm Sunday: 10:30am, 12 Noon Cuppa after 12pm Mass- 1st Sunday of the Month
Please join us for a cuppa after the Sunday 12pm Mass on the First Sunday of the Month. We gather in the back of the Church. All are welcome!
Parish Celebration of First Holy Communion
This Sunday, at the 10.30 a.m. Mass, we welcome families from our Parish whose children attend St. Mathew’s and Shellybanks National Schools and who will receive their First Holy Communion in our midst at that joyful celebration.
Further celebrations of First Holy Communion will take place this month as follows: 10.30 a.m. Sunday, 11th May, children from St. Matthews NS and Educate Together 12.00 noon, Sunday, 18th May, children from St. Mary Star of the Sea BNS; and 12.00 noon, Sunday, 25th May, children from Scoil Mhuire, Lakelands GNS
Click on the blue buttons below for more information
We are in the process of renewing the Parish Pastoral Council. We want to thank those who so generously served in the course of the past few years. We would ask you to pray and reflect on who might serve the Parish community as a member of the next Council. An information leaflet on the purpose and functioning of the Parish Pastoral Council is available at the back of the church to assist in your consideration. Nomination forms for new members are available below.
Child Safeguarding Newsletter February 2025
DUBLIN DIOCESAN JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGECanon John Flaherty, writing from Lourdes on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, sends greetings and
“Some early details of our 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrimage: The dates are 4th to 9th September 2025, led by Archbishop Farrell. The Pilgrimage is a fully escorted tour including: direct return flight from Dublin to Lourdes, airport transfers and assistance between Lourdes Airport and the hotels, five nights’ accommodation, meals, 20kg check-in luggage plus one small personal item in the cabin and full services of Joe Walsh Tours guides and representatives throughout.FURTHER INFORMATION [email protected] or phone : 01 241 0800. About 100 Sick or Assisted Pilgrims will form a very important section of our Pilgrimage. Accueil Notre Dame, the special place of welcome for the Sick located in the Shrine opposite the Grotto, will house our Sick Pilgrims. A dedicated Team of Doctors, Nurses, Chaplains and several hundred Helpers of all ages will travel with us from Dublin to care for our Assisted Pilgrims from their arrival at Dublin Airport, during their time in the Lourdes and until they depart the airport on our return. Enquiries about travelling as a Sick/Assisted Pilgrim should be made to the Pilgrimage Office, 51 Home Farm Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, D09 W5W4. Deirdre Daly, Administrative Secretary, [email protected] / 01 8087555 or to John Flaherty, [email protected]”
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen<
Synod PrayerWe stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather in Your name.
with You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son forever and ever. Amen
Reflections on our Christian Understanding of Hope
What is Hope?
Hope is the power by which we firmly and constantly long for what we were placed on earth to do : to praise God and serve God to find our fulfilment and true happiness in God. Hope is trusting in what God has promised us in creation in the prophets but especially in Jesus Christ even though we do not yet see it. Hope is directed, it is humankind’s encourager, it sustains us in times of abandonment, it opens our heart to expect eternal life. Hope energises us, preserves us from selfishness and leads to the happiness that flows from charity. 
Pastoral Letter-Archbishop Dermot Farrell
|
