During May, we invited people in the Pastoral Area of Greystones and Kilquade to create a May Altar in their home to honour Our Lady.
May is the Marian month when Catholics give special praise and honour to Jesus’ mother Mary, gifted to us as our mother too.
Many people created a small altar dedicated to Mary, the mother of God. See some of these in the video below.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the making of this video.
As our gatherings in person are restricted at the moment, we can still take this opportunity to gather together in Spirit.
Please email all contributions of a spiritual nature to [email protected] so we can share it with others (using Community in Spirit in the subject line.)
It would be nice to acknowledge the person who sent it in, but if you prefer not please state this on your email.
Let’s make this an opportunity to build further connections with each – if not physically, we can certainly do so virtually and spiritually! Connected in Spirit.
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Entry contributed by Paul Thornton
Entry contributed by Ann Corrigan
Entry contributed by Corrymeela Community
Entry contributed by Elaine Flynn
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
Entry contributed by Valerie Murray
Entry contributed by Catherine Clarke
Entry contributed by Róisín Long
Entry contributed by Ann Corrigan
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Entry contributed by Áine Lp
Tuesday 23rd June 2020
Entry contributed by Catherine Clarke
Monday 22nd June 2020
Entry contributed by Maura Walsh
Sunday 21st June 2020
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien.
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Saturday 20th June 2020
Entry contributed by Anon.
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Friday 19th June 2020
Entry contributed by Sr. Sheila McNamara RSCJ
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Thursday 18th June 2020
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Wednesday 17th June 2020
Entry contributed by Mary Ó Murchú
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Monday 15th June 2020
Entry contributed by Róisín Long
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Sunday 14th June 2020
Entry contributed by Máire Ní Shiodhail
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Saturday 13th June 2020
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Entry contributed by Róisín Long
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Entry contributed by Elaine Flynn
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Entry contributed by Sr. Sheila McNamara RSCJ
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Entry contributed by Ann Corrigan
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Entry contributed by Mel Murphy
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Saturday 6th June 2020
Entry contributed by Róisín Long
Entry contributed by Anon
Entry contributed by Maura Walsh
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Entry contributed by Damon McCaul
Entry contributed by Maura Walsh
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Entry contributed by Josephine Dowd
Entry contributed by many who saw it!
See background to this initiative: https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0531/1143647-ancient-irish-hymn/
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Entry contributed by Eamonn Foley
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Entry contributed by Damon McCaul
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Entry contributed by Róisín Long
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Entry contributed by Máire Ní Shiodhail
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Entry contributed by Chris Needham
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Entry contributed by Sr. Sheila McNamara RSCJ
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Entry contributed by Damon McCaul
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Entry contributed by Ann Corrigan
Entry contributed by Máire Ní Shiodhail & Newcastle Bridge Club
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Entry contributed by Roisin Long
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Entry contributed by Frances Stephenson
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Entry contributed by Siobhán Parsons
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Entry contributed by Fr John Daly
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Entry contributed by Anon
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Entry contributed by Marie O’ Byrne
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Entry contributed by Anon
The Lord Is My Shepherd – Musical Reflection
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Entry contributed by Anon
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Entry contributed by TCG
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
Entry contributed by Sr. Noreen Gallagher, O.S.B.
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Entry contributed by Damon McCaul
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Entry contributed by Frances Stephenson
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Entry contributed by Mel Murphy
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Entry contributed by Ann Corrigan
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Entry contributed by TCG
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Entry contributed by Rachel Kerrigan
Dear God,
We rejoice and give thanks
for earthworms, bees,
ladybirds and broody hens;
for humans tending their gardens,
talking to animals,
cleaning their homes
and singing to themselves;
for the rising of the sap,
the fragrance of growth,
the invention of the wheelbarrow,
we give thanks.
We celebrate and give thanks.
Amen!
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Entry contributed by Fr. Gerard Tyrrell
Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis To The Faithful for The Month Of May 2020 – click here
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Entry contributed by Mary Napier
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Entry contributed by Paul Thornton
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Entry contributed by Lorcan Bourke
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Bike Ride To Work:
“Fresh as the Morning, as sure as the Sunrise, the Lord is all I have, and so I put my hope in Him.” (Lamentations 3: 22-24)
Entry contributed by Rachel Kerrigan
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Entry contributed by Sr. Noreen Gallagher, OSB
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Entry contributed by Maura Walsh
Entry contributed by David Walsh
Entry contributed by Frances Stephenson
Entry contributed by Ann Corrigan
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
Podcast: Another Name for Every Thing Universal Christ Values (Part 2)Richard Rohr, in conversation with Paul Swanson and Brie Stoner, continue the discussion on the values inherent to the The Universal Christ and how one might be able to live them out in their day to day life.
Entry contributed by Paul Thornton
To access and listen to the Podcast click here
Podcast: Another Name for Every Thing Universal Christ Values (Part 1)Richard Rohr, in conversation with Brie Stoner and Paul Swanson, discuss the values inherent to the The Universal Christ and how one might be able to live them out in their day to day life.
Entry contributed by Paul Thornton
To access and listen to the Podcast click here
Entry contributed by Frances Stephenson
Entry contributed by Sr. Noreen Gallagher, OSB
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Entry contributed by Tina Bambrick
And people stayed home
and read books and listened
and rested and exercised
and made art and played
and learned new ways of being
and stopped
and listened deeper
someone meditated
someone prayed
someone danced
someone met their shadow
and people began to think differently
and people healed
and in the absence of people who lived in ignorant ways,
dangerous, meaningless and heartless,
even the earth began to heal
and when the danger ended
and people found each other
grieved for the dead people
and they made new choices
and dreamed of new visions
and created new ways of life
and healed the earth completely
just as they were healed themselves.
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
Entry contributed by Various People
(The image is from the Garden of Olives in Jerusalem, Jan, 2020)
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Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
Entry contributed by Lorcan Bourke
Entry contributed by Róisín Long
Entry contributed by Mel Murphy
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Entry contributed by Barbara Thomas
Be with us Lord, in times of darkness: may you be our light;
In times of isolation, may we support each other,
In times of illness, heal each one.
Be with our nurses, doctors and all medical staffs,
And all who keep life going at this time,
Those who care at home for the elderly
and look after our children,
And those who look out for the poor.
Remember Lord in your kindness, all I remember this day,
Especially those away from home.
Father God, Brother Jesus, Mother Mary,
Let me not lose hope in your love, now and always.
Holy Spirit fill us all with serenity and hope. Amen.
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
Entry contributed by Mel Murphy
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
Entry contributed by Róisín Long
Entry contributed by Maura Walsh
Entry contributed by Ann Corrigan
Entry contributed by Rachel Kerrigan
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
Entry contributed by Marian Farrell
Friday 27th March 2020
Entry contributed by Fr. Eamonn Clarke
Thursday 26th March 2020
Entry contributed by Paula McNamara
Entry contributed by Damon McCaul
As the Covid-19 virus continues to cause chaos around the world, Belgium Jesuit and author Nikolaas Sintobin SJ has been reflecting on what wisdom St. Ignatius might want to share with us regarding our response to this pandemic.
Click here to read what Nikolaas thinks the founder of his order would write in a letter from heaven which contains down-to-earth advice.
Entry contributed by Paula McNamara
Entry contributed by Karen Purcell
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Entry contributed by Barbara Thomas
Musical Video: The Kingdom of Heaven is like this
Entry contributed by Marie O’Byrne
“Christians have a power because we have a presence who is always with us.
We are happy because we possess the only source of real joy.
We are serene because we live in the changeless one.
We are strong in our weakness because we give room for
Infinite strength to work through HIM.
Amen”
Entry contributed by Róisín Long
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Entry contributed by Cecilia O’Neill
“Tonight before falling asleep
think about when we will return to the street.
When we hug again,
when all the shopping together will seem like a party.
Let’s think about when the coffees will return to the bar, the small talk, the photos close to each other.
We think about when it will be all a memory but normalcy will seem an unexpected and beautiful gift.
We will love everything that has so far seemed futile to us. Every second will be precious.
Swims at the sea, the sun until late, sunsets, toasts, laughter.
We will go back to laughing together.
Strength and courage
Entry contributed by Elaine O’Brien
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Entry contributed by Ann Corrigan
Last night after sunset
I put my flowers to bed
Covered their cheery pink faces
With blankets towels and sheets.
Said I to them…..
Goodnight… stay warm
Don’t let the frosty bugs bite
Hoping when I arose today
The cold night had not nipped
Their spring noses and
Frightened them to death
How carefully I care
For my flower garden.
Protecting all I can from harm.
Yet
When the green shoots of my own inner growth push their way out
I seem to leave all to chance
And little to care.
Keep warm take care of yourself through these strange days.
Entry contributed by Anne McElheron
These 3 minute retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.
https://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer
Entry contributed by Anne McElheron
Fr. Seán Canon Smith celebrates his Diamond Jubilee on 29th May.
We are delighted to have an interview with Fr. Seán about his ministry during those 60 years.
Congratulations to him on this great occasion, from everyone in the Pastoral Area.
Every year Trócaire asks for your help during Lent to fund lifesaving programmes around the world. This year, of course, it was not possible to return Trócaire boxes through schools or parishes in the usual way.
This is the worst possible timing coming just as the world’s poorest people need us most. Therefore, Trócaire are appealing to you to return your Lenten donation. Simply count or estimate what is in your box and donate in the following ways:
The contents of each and every Trócaire box, no matter how small, come together to make a significant difference. This virus knows no borders, but neither does our compassion.
Thank you.
Beginning on Friday 22nd May, we offer you a resource page each day to follow a Novena to the Holy Spirit.
“Where the Spirit is there is creation and new life. Where the Spirit is, there is the living Christ. The Spirit is the breath of God’s creative love, so that whoever lives in the Spirit lives in the ever newness of God.” Sr Ilia Delio OSF
We offer you a resource page each day to follow a novena to the Holy Spirit.
We invite you to follow it at 3pm each day so that as a community we are praying it together
However, if 3pm does not suit then choose another time.
Click here to follow it.
All of the churches where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved will open from Wednesday 20th from 11am until 5pm, These are:
On Sundays: all of the churches will open from 1pm to 5pm.
The later opening of The Holy Rosary Church is to allow for continued streaming of morning Mass at 10am, praying the Rosary at midday and funerals at 1pm.
Full details of Phase 1 are available here.
4 simple messages to keep each other safe:
The pastoral area is working on a roadmap for reopening our buildings and resuming our church services in line with the government roadmap.
Phase 1 for the Pastoral Area, begins on Wed. May 20th.
Details of Phase 1: “Opening the church buildings for private prayer” is documented here.
(This will redirect you to the Kilquade Parish Website)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Book of Ecclesiastes, 3, verses 1-8
Ecclesiastes reminds us so well about the nature of change, and the inevitability of change in all our lives.Each major transition in our lives requires our undivided time and attention for successful passage. Each one also presents a gift—if we’re open to receiving it.
Some of these gifts are easy to identify: right now we can clearly see the spring moments of new beginnings all around us.
Other gifts are not so easy to identify, such as the transitional storms that often usher in a new season, the oppressive heat of summer, or the bitter cold of winter. These other gifts require us to look beyond the appearances and peer much deeper for their significance.
Although new beginnings are usually preferred over endings, we should remember that every new beginning requires an ending—sometimes even a death.
The flow of life is a process of change. We must learn to accept the process and go with it. There’s no stopping it anyway.
We all prefer our life changes to occur smoothly and naturally. But when they come at us with all the force of a perfect storm, we can remember that these are intense opportunities for transformation. If we respond to each storm from the “eye” of God’s presence within, where perfect peace and wisdom dwell, we will emerge even stronger, wiser, and freer than before. We will be transformed.
GAELIC BLESSING
God be in my head and in my understanding
God be in my eyes and in my looking
God be in my mouth and in my speaking
God be in my heart and in my thinking
Our family is our first church and where our faith was nourished.
Our faith community is where we can sustain this.
These days offer us a great opportunity to come together and pray.
See some of the resources available through this website.
A prayer to start the day. Click here.
To help us in our prayer and solidarity as a faith community daily Mass will be streamed each day at 10am Monday to Saturday and 11.30am on Sunday morning. It is available to view on the Greystones Parish website by clicking here.
Each day we will gather at noon to say the Angelus and The Rosary together via our webcam.
We will have night prayer of the church taking place each evening from at 8pm using Zoom Video Conferencing. You are invited to join and listen each evening at 8pm. Details here.
Resources for Reflection on Sunday’s Gospel, for Children and Grown-upsEach weekend we offer you resources for reflecting on the Gospel either individually or as a group. Here you will find resources provided by the Children’s Liturgy of the Word group for parents to use with their children. In addition you will find resources aimed at ‘grown-ups’. Click here.
In a special edition of “The Pope Video”, the Holy Father asks us to pray for the sick and the suffering, while thanking all those who, united and regardless of their religious tradition or convictions, pray for those affected. Click here
Community Connected in Spirit:As our gatherings in person are restricted at the moment, we can still take this opportunity to gather together in Spirit. For each day that we cannot gather together physically as a faith community, a new spiritual contribution will be posted here.
Being mindful as we engage in everyday tasks, duties and events is a practice where we enjoy the awareness of our actions and are open to God’s revelation. See some here.
Pray As You Go is a daily prayer session, designed to go with you wherever you go, to help you pray whenever you find time. Click here.
Triduum Resources for Children are available by clicking here.
There are many online video depictions of the Stations of The Cross available. We offer a selection to choose from here.
Loving God,
At the beginning of Creation, You calmed the chaos of the world. Be present now to those whose lives are suddenly filled with chaos. Grant them the grace of calm in the midst of confusion.
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
You have always shown us the way from darkness into the light. For those struggling now to see the light, we ask that You shine it a bit brighter in our world. Grant us all the grace to see a way forward through the present darkness.
We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
When I call, answer me, O God of justice;
from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!
O men, how long will your hearts be closed,
will you love what is futile and seek what is false?
It is the Lord who grants favours to those whom he loves;
the Lord hears me whenever I call him.
Fear him; do not sin: ponder on your bed and be still.
Make justice your sacrifice and trust in the Lord.
‘What can bring us happiness?’ many say.
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord.
You have put into my heart a greater joy
than they have from abundance of corn and new wine.
I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once
for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety
Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’
Jesus said:
‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.
If you know me, you know my Father too.
From this moment you know him and have seen him.’
“Lord, makes me an instrument of your peace….:
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light.
Come to visit us, Lord, this night,
so that by your strength we may rise at daybreak
to rejoice in the resurrection of Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
(086) 236 51 94Fr Gerard Tyrrell (087) 286 07 04
Parish Office
(01) 287 40 25
Kilian House
(01) 201 78 96
Mass Times in Our ParishSome people have asked us how they can contribute in some financial way at this time.
Your financial support at any time is greatly appreciated.
With the resumption of liturgies in our Churches, we need people, to help gather others and to prepare the space for people.
Join our faith community through the Web streaming from The Holy Rosary Church, Greystones, Co. Wicklow.
For each day that we cannot gather together physically as a faith community, we gather virtually here.
Our e-Letter!
We want to connect with as many of the community, within the geographical area and beyond. Please sign up for the “Stay Connected!” communication.
