Parish Matters
Newsletter of Douglas Union of Parishes with Frankfield
Lent and Easter 2015
The Rector writes……
By now I’m sure most parishioners will have heard that the Revd. Sarah Marry has been appointed as priest in charge of St. Anne’s Church, Shandon and as chaplain to St. Luke’s Home in Mahon. While we are sorry to be losing Sarah as curate in this parish, we are delighted that she will be remaining in the Diocese and that she is only moving to a neighbouring parish. Sarah has made a very positive contribution to the life and witness of this parish since her arrival nearly three years ago. We wish her, Declan and their daughters Ella and Sophie every blessing as they prepare to move to a new home and parish. The Service of Introduction in St. Anne’s Church will be on the afternoon or evening of Sunday 19th April. I hope that as many people as possible from this parish will join the parishioners in Shandon for this occasion. The previous Sunday (12th) will be Sarah’s last day with us. We will therefore be having an Easter Songs of Praise in St. Luke’s Church at 7pm followed by a reception in the Canon Packham Hall. Please make every effort to be there as we say farewell to Sarah, Declan, Ella and Sophie.
Looking ahead more immediately to Holy Week, this year I am personally delighted to welcome a former parishioner and now cleric back to the parish. Twenty years ago when I was your curate, Trevor Holmes was a churchwarden in St. Luke’s, Douglas when he was working with Apple. Since then he has had a varied career. He has worked for Intel Ireland and was the Head of Corporate Communications at IDA Ireland. Later he moved into the academic world. Until last year he was Vice President for External Relations at UCC and now holds a similar position at Dublin City University. Trevor was ordained last year to serve in the Diocese of Meath in the non-stipendiary ministry and so now he combines part time ordained ministry with a busy career.
While there will be evening services throughout Holy Week, the Revd. Trevor Holmes will be preaching in St. Luke’s Church between Wednesday and Good Friday. He will focus on the theme of anguish and so look at the anguish of Mary on Wednesday, of Peter on Maundy Thursday and the anguish of Christ on Good Friday.
I hope parishioners will make it a priority to attend worship in Holy Week and in addition to join with our ecumenical friends on Easter morning at 7am for our celebration of the resurrection. This year it is being hosted by The Church of the Incarnation in Frankfield. We thank Fr. Christy Fitzgerald and his parishioners there for what we know will be a warm welcome and generous hospitality.
Yours in Christ, Adrian.
In the Community of Douglas-Frankfield-Rochestown.
As in the past number of years, (we are grateful to those who helped in the past) our parish will participate in Holy Week and Easter Community Events with our local Methodist and Roman Catholic neighbours:
Praying in Puccino’s at 11am on Fridays, 13th, 20th and 27th March: With the kind support of the management, meet for coffee and prayer for our community in the back of the café.
Palm Sunday 29th March at 3 pm in Douglas Community Park: meet to start our Palm Sunday walk, with music and liturgies, via St Columba’s and St Luke’s churches to Douglas Village and Douglas Court shopping centres to dedicate our display stands for Holy Week. There, passers-by can find a friendly face from the local churches or request prayer for their concerns that will be included in Holy Week liturgies.
Monday 30th –Thursday 2nd and Saturday 4th April: displays in the shopping centres to draw attention to the important events we commemorate this week.
Easter Sunday: Christ is Risen! Begin the celebrations in the grounds of the Church of the Incarnation, Frankfield at 7am, with breakfast to follow.
All of these events depend on your support, either to pray, to attend the displays in the shopping centres, to come to the Palm Sunday and /or Easter events, to show that in Douglas and Frankfield faith is alive and shared ecumenically with our neighbours. Volunteer by filling in one of the rotas at the back of your church/ turning up on the day.
Did you know…..??
4 minutes after the heart stops the brain starts to die?
An ambulance takes approximately 11 minutes. The arrival of a Cardiac First Responder within the first few minutes can dramatically increase the chance of survival in cardiac arrest.
WE CAN BE THERE……YOU CAN HELP
What this will mean is that when a 999 call goes into Ambulance Control for an unconscious patient or a patient with breathing problems, a simultaneous text is then received by the Cardiac First Responders on call from the Ambulance Despatch System. The Cardiac First Responders then travel to the scene and commence appropriate treatment, including defibrillation if applicable, while awaiting the imminent arrival of the HSE ambulance when care is then handed over. There is a plan to try and set up a Cardiac First Responder Group in the Douglas community. A meeting will be held on Thursday, 12th March at 8.30pm in the Canon Packham Hall for anyone who is interested in becoming a Responder themselves or would like to get more information about this very important voluntary group. We encourage parishioners in particular to attend.
St. Luke’s School News Our Senior classes took part in a very interesting “Science and Engineering Show” in CIT as part of Engineering Week when they tested out hovercrafts, launched rockets and inflated marshmallows. Great fun was had by all! We have had plenty of “music” in St Luke’s this term .Our school choir ably led by Miss Guinane represented us very well in Feis Maitiú this year. The choir then enjoyed an outing to the Bowling Alley. All our classes took part in a workshop performance of opera singing from Redmond O’Toole on guitar and Kim Sheehan, a soprano from West Cork Music recently. Our PA organised a very successful “Coffee to Go” morning again before half term. Thank you to all involved. We were very happy to welcome back a past pupil, Emma Kavanagh on her Transition year work experience. Four members of our Green Schools Committee, together with Mr O’Shea and Miss O’Rourke attended a Water Forum, where they learned about water-saving measures. We are currently working on “Water” as the theme of our third Green Flag. Our Senior classes attended an excellent production of Annie produced by Ashton School Transition year students. We look forward to this event every year. S. Colton
On 2nd February Gordon Snow began his placement with us under the Tus initiative. Over the next twelve months Gordon will be working across the parish properties working on maintenance and repairs. He has a professional background in construction specializing in roofing so we are looking forward to putting his skills to good use while he is with us. We welcome him and hope he enjoys his time with us. Thank you again to Gordon (Jermyn) who will be supervising Gordon (Snow)! And thanks also to those who coordinate with Gordon in each location and ensure he has the materials and support he needs. This scheme is of huge benefit to the parish enabling us to complete work we would not otherwise consider undertaking. If you see Gordon working away, take a minute to say hello! Revd. S. Marry
Lent Study Group: This year as a parish we are looking at the theme of prayer in Lent. On Sundays a famous or indeed not so well known prayer is the theme of the sermons. As the clergy will be preaching, they choose the prayer which is reproduced for distribution on the Pew News sheet. Hopefully parishioners will find this series stimulating and perhaps will point them to prayers which they may choose to learn and use themselves.
The topic of prayer will also be the basis of our Lent Study Group which will meet each Wednesday evening in the Rectory at 8pm. We will be using discussion material from the Emmaus Course to aid or thoughts each week. Those who attend the parish Bible study and prayer groups are encouraged in particular to attend this series but it is open to anyone to come along and enjoy a time of study, prayer, discussion and fellowship.
George Boole 200 Programme cordially invites you to the launch of the George Boole Chronicles followed by a drinks reception in the Lord Mayor’s Chambers, City Hall on Wednesday, 11th March at 6pm. RSVP.georgeboole200@ucc.ie
Easter General Vestry Dates The Easter General Vestry is our Annual General Meeting for the parish. At it the Select Vestry for the next year is elected and a financial report is presented as well as a review of the parish year of events and activities in our churches. Please come along to listen and contribute to the discussion and voting. The dates for these meetings are as follows:
Frankfield – Wednesday 15 April at 8pm in the Sunday School Room.
Douglas Union (Douglas, Blackrock and Passage) – Tuesday 21 April at 8pm in the Canon Packham Hall. Each meeting is preceded by a service of Holy Communion at 7.30 in the Church.
Youth Matters: On Saturday 7 March the nineteen young people who are members of our confirmation group will be attending the annual Bishop’s Confirmation Morning. It is a good opportunity for them to meet others from across the diocese who will be confirmed this year. Later that evening the Canon Packham Hall will be the venue for the CDYC Table Quiz and we hope that several teams from Douglas will challenge for the prize this year.
On Sunday, 8th March the confirmation group will host their annual ‘Soup and Rolls Lunch’ in aid of charity. This takes place in the Canon Packham Hall after services that day. We hope that parishioners will enjoy fellowship together and donate what they would normally pay for Sunday lunch to our collection. Generally local business and parishioners are generous in terms of sponsoring the food and so 100% of the proceeds go to good causes.
St. Luke’s P.A. will run a fundraising disco for the children of St. Luke’s School on Friday, 13th March in the Canon Packham Hall at 6.30pm – 8.30pm. Tickets will be available nearer the time.
The Douglas Union of Parishes Ladies’ Lunch will be held again this year in the Maple Suite, Rochestown Park Hotel, on Saturday, 21st March at 12.30pm. The guest speaker this year will be the Rev. Eileen Cremin. Cost is €25 and tickets may be had by contacting Janet Dillon (086 2651960). Other ticket sellers are Finola Burke (Frankfield), Sharon Kerr (Blackrock), Shirley Clarke Swanton (Marmullane), Judi McCarthy, Vicky Coomber, Sue Doherty (Douglas). As this event was sold out last year, early booking is advisable to avoid disappointment. Janet Dillon
On display in the Crawford Art Gallery until the end of March is the Watson Archive, featuring cartoons (i.e. preparatory charcoal drawings) of stained glass windows executed by the Watson Studio (Youghal) between c.1880 and c.1960. Prominently displayed among the many exhibits are cartoons of the memorial windows in St Michael’s. The east window in Marmullane is also by Watson. Recommended! Stephen Daunt
A Public Seminar on George Boole the life and the man will take place on Monday, 23rd March in the Aula Maxima, UCC at 7pm. Admission is free. All welcome. This talk is for anyone who likes to hear a good story about a complex man. A man who, against all the odds, achieved great things. This talk will bring George Boole, University College Cork’s first professor of mathematics to life. It will include narratives around the people who make-up George Boole’s family and unravel the intriguing characters and amazing accomplishments associated with the family.
Templebreedy Parish Fundraising Lunch 3-course lunch at Carrigaline Court Hotel, Friday 20th March, 12 noon for 12.30 p.m. Tickets €35 from the Templebreedy Parish Office, tel.: 021 4831236. Everyone welcome.
Lenten Lunch: This month promises to be a busy time in the kitchen of the Blackrock Old schoolhouse. The ‘last Wednesday’ Lunch on March 25 will be the annual occasion when all proceeds are given away to a cause of the Rector’s choice. This year he has suggested that COPE be the supported charity. As in previous years the meal, though meatless, ensures that no one needs to go away hungry. The price (€7) remains the same and there will be the usual sales table.
Just three days later – on Saturday March 28 – Blackrock’s annual Coffee Morning will take place. This is St. Michael’s main money making effort for parish funds and an opportunity to greet supporters from the local community. The event runs from 10 to 12, concluding with a raffle. Annie Stephens
Forthcoming Retirement. This month we note the forthcoming retirement of our Diocesan Secretary, Mr. Wilfred Baker. Wilfred has been working in the Diocesan Office for over forty years. During all that time he has been a constant source of support and contact to both the bishops, clergy and laity in the Diocese. We wish Wilfred a long, active, and fulfilling retirement. St. Luke’s Church is hosting a special service of Choral Evensong to mark his retirement on Friday 27 March followed by a reception in the Canon Packham Hall. Parishioners are welcome to join with others from across the Diocese to attend this service.
In writing this I looked up the paragraph I wrote for Parish Matters September 2012 at the beginning of my curacy. My hope was that I would soon find my way around the parish, or at least successfully navigate my way to each church on a Sunday. I’m happy to say Sunday routes were soon mastered even if I discovered that the rest of my travels offered more of a challenge. The Bible Study group is to this day amused by my long circuitous route that September from Blackrock to Ballintemple on a dark rainy night, by way of Turners Cross, involving a long confusing conversation with a couple who argued about which way to direct me and several calls to Hazel! I couldn’t believe when I arrived that I could have walked there ten times over in the time I took to drive!
Our other adventures since have thankfully been much more enjoyable! You have made us so welcome here. As a family we feel very settled in Cork which is why I am so delighted to have been appointed Priest-in-Charge of St. Anne’s, Shandon and Chaplain to St. Luke’s Home. It was only after my appointment I realized that in order to go there I would have to leave here, even if we’re only going down the road. We’re sad to leave, deeply grateful and will always remember the welcome you have given us. Thank you from all four of us, we’ll be waving from the Northside! With every blessing, Sarah
Finance: The chart below makes very interesting reading. It compares the difference in our income stream between 2007 and 2014. You will note that the total figures are almost identical demonstrating financial prudence over this volatile period. Our investment income has fallen dramatically since the crash but thanks to your generosity, and new income streams we have kept afloat. Thanks to John Kershaw, our treasurer for all his work on this. Come to the Douglas Easter Vestry to hear more and see the full financial report. A. Wilkinson
CHURCH SERVICES
Lent, Holy Week and Easter Day 2015
Sun. 1st March 8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
2nd Sun. in Lent 9.45 Service of the Word Passage
White 10.00 Service of the Word Frankfield
11.15 Service of the Word Douglas
11.30 Service of the Word Blackrock
Mon. 2nd March 11.00 Morning Prayer Blackrock
Wed. 4th March 11.00 Holy Communion Douglas
Fri. 6th March 9.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Sun. 8th March 8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
3rd Sun. in Lent 9.45 Holy Communion Passage
Violet 10.00 Holy Communion Frankfield
11.15 Holy Communion Douglas
11.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Mon. 9th March 11.00 Morning Prayer Blackrock
Wed. 11th March 11.00 Holy Communion Douglas
Fri. 13th March 9.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Sun. 15th March 8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
4th Sun. in Lent 9.45 Holy Communion Passage
Violet 10.00 Morning Prayer Frankfield
11.15 Holy Communion Douglas
11.30 Morning Prayer Blackrock
Mon. 16th March 11.00 Morning Prayer Blackrock
Tues. 17th March 11.00 Holy Communion Douglas
St. Patrick’s Day-white
Wed. 18th March 11.00 Holy Communion Douglas
Fri. 20th March 9.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Sun. 22nd March 8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
5th Sun in Lent 9.45 Morning Prayer Passage
Violet 10.00 Holy Communion Frankfield
11.15 Morning Prayer Douglas
11.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Mon. 23rd March 11.00 Morning Prayer Blackrock
Wed. 25th March 11.00 Holy Communion Douglas
Fri. 27th March 9.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Sun. 29th March 8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Palm Sunday 9.45 Service of the Word Passage
Red 10.00 Service of the Word Frankfield
11.15 Service of the Word Douglas
11.30 Service of the Word Blackrock
HOLY WEEK
Mon. 30th March 8.00pm Evening Service Blackrock
Tuesday 31st March 8.00pm Evening Service Douglas
CHURCH SERVICES – April 2015
Wed. 1st April 11.00 Holy Communion Douglas
8.00pm Evening Service Douglas
Preacher – Rev. T Holmes
Maundy Thursday 8.00pm Holy Communion Douglas
Preacher – Rev. T. Holmes
Good Friday 12.00 ‘Hour by the Cross’ Blackrock
12.00 Children’s Service Douglas
2.00pm ‘Hour by the Cross’ Frankfield
8.00pm Choral Evensong Douglas
Preacher – Rev. T. Holmes
Sun. 5 April 8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Easter Day 9.45 Holy Communion Passage
White 10.00 Holy Communion Frankfield
11.15 Holy Communion Douglas
11.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Sun. 12th April 8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
2nd Sun of Easter 9.45 Morning Prayer Passage
White 10.00 Morning Prayer Frankfield
11.15 Morning Prayer Douglas
11.30 Morning Prayer Blackrock
7.00pm ‘Easter Songs of Praise’ Douglas
Sun. 19th April 8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
3rd Sun of Easter 9.45 Holy Communion Passage
White 10.00 Holy Communion Frankfield
11.15 Holy Communion Douglas
11.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Sun. 26th April 8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
4th Sun. of Easter 9.45 Morning Prayer Passage
10.00 Holy Communion Frankfield
11.15 Confirmation Douglas
11.30 Morning Prayer Blackrock
Parish Contacts:
Ven. Adrian Wilkinson, Tel: 4891539. E-mail: amwilkinson@eircom.net (Day off Monday)
Rev. Sarah Marry, Tel: 4358226. Email: sarah_marry@hotmail.com (Day off Saturday)
Rev. Hazel Minion, Tel: 4361924. E-mail: hminion22@hotmail.com (Only contact if above unavailable)
Parish Office Tel: 4369578. E-mail: douglasofficecork@gmail.com (Friday mornings only)
Parish Website: www.douglas.cork.anglican.org
Follow us on Twitter: @DouglasUnion