PARISH NEWS

Joe Miller has retired as Sacristan in the Church of St. Laurence O’Toole. We marked the occasion and said thank you to Joe with tea and cake after Mass.

Baldoyle Parish Lotto, Sunday 2nd March winning numbers 8, 16 and 19. No winner, Sunday 9th March Jackpot €800

Parish Coffee Mornings in the Parish hall after the 10.00 am mass every Tuesday.

Family Mass will be on Sunday 9th March

Parish Accounts for the years 2024 and 2023 are contained in newsletter dated 9th February 2025

Raffle In aid of Church Roof Fund

Unwanted Gifts

As part of the fund raising for the repair of the roof of St Laurence O’Toole’s, the Family Mass Committee will hold a raffle in March (date to be confirmed) to raise funds for the repair of the roof.

If you have any unwanted gifts, would you consider donating them to the raffle please? These, with other prize donations, can be dropped into either Churches after Masses or to the Parish Office on Main Street.

 EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IN THE CHURCH OF ST LAURENCE O’TOOLE EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT 6:00pm to 6:40pm (Before evening Mass)

Baldoyle Family Resource Services

Co-Anon drug addiction meeting 27 th February 7.30-8.30 pm

Parenting Programme Emotion Focus Skills 5 weeks programme starting 12 th March 7-9pm € 20 registration once off fee

Parent & Toddler Group Mondays 11.30-12.45

General Counselling, Play Therapy, Adolescence, Gambling Addiction, Systemic Family Therapy

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK – APRIL 26 This year the theme of the pilgrimage will focus on the Jubilee year, and we are inviting partnerships of parishes to join us from throughout the Archdiocese. The pilgrimage takes place on Saturday, April 26, and will include workshops, outdoor walks, the Sacrament of the Sick and our pilgrimage Mass, which will be celebrated by Archbishop Farrell. The Choir of Many Voices from throughout the Archdiocese will be back for a third year under the direction of Ciaran Coll. If you would like to join the choir or have any queries about the pilgrimage, please email knockpilgrimage@dublindiocese.ie.

Dublin Diocesan 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Lourdes 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, five nights’ accommodation, meals, and full services of Joe Walsh Tours guides Further information info@joewalshtours.ie or phone 01 2410800.

RADIO MARIA IRELAND Irish-run Catholic Talk-Radio Station commercial-free broadcasting - Prayer, Catechesis, Uplifting music, Talks, Interviews and Testimonies. Here’s how you can listen: 1. Via Digital TV -Saorview Channel 210 2. Download our FREE App “RADIO MARIA IRELAND” 3. Streaming on our WEBSITE - www.radiomaria.ie 4.Via our ‘Listen Live Radio’ link on Facebook Page. 5. Via PHONE– get live radio feed by calling 01 437 3277 (no extra charges apply).

Jubilee Year 2025 Pope Francis has launched the Vatican's 2025 Jubilee Year, encouraging Christians to use the milestone occasion to dream of a "new world where peace and justice reign." "The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to the transformation of our world, so that this year may truly become a time of jubilation," said Francis. This is a moment, said the pontiff, "to recover lost hope, to renew that hope in our hearts, and to sow seeds of hope amid the bleakness of our time and our world."

Jubilees trace their origins to the Old Testament tradition of a special year dedicated to forgiveness and renewal. We are called to:

● undertake a pious pilgrimage, to Lough Derg, Our Lady’s Shrine Knock or Croagh Patrick.

● participate in works of charity, mercy or penance, such as visiting prisoners, sick or elderly people or undertaking corporal works of mercy "to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, and heal the sick.."

● abstain, in a spirit of penance, for at least one day of the week from "futile distractions," such as social media, or fasting; or donating the proportionate sum to the poor or to help migrants.

National Synod 2025/2026 The Universal Synod on Synodality concluded in October in Rome. The Final Document set out a roadmap for renewal, for a synodal Church that listens, learns and acts in communion.

Meanwhile, we continue on the Irish Synodal Pathway. Diocesan Synodal Teams are being prepared to host local conversations on the original themes from the Irish National Synthesis, now informed by the final document from the Universal Synod.

The purpose of these gatherings is to identify key priorities to bring to the pre-synodal assembly in October 2025. From this assembly in 2025, we are committed to walking together as the Pobal Dé, the people of God, with some of these priorities towards the first national assembly for the Catholic Church in Ireland, scheduled for the following year in October 2026.

Dates for your Diary 2025

Ash Wednesday 5th march

First Sunday of Lent 9th March

St. Patrick’s Day 17th March

Good Friday 18th April

Easter Sunday 20th April

The Ascension of the Lord Sunday 1st June

Medugorje Pilgrimage 4th to 11th June 2025 with Marian Pilgrimages , 7 nights , Direct flight from Dublin to Mostar, then only 30 minutes coach drive to Medugorje , staying close to Church in Ines house . For more information on joining our group contact Derek + Anne Farrell on 0862573824 and 0879224077 . Spiritual Director Fr. Anthony Hou . Price 875 per person sharing with Early booking discount of 50 euro per person sharing if deposit paid by 31st January latest making price 825 per person euro sharing

Volunteering Opportunity 2025 SeniorLine, Ireland’s telephone service supporting older people, is inviting contact from over-55s who would like to be involved. You would take calls from older people. Full training is provided in central Dublin and you work from home with staff support. Training days are January 21 & 23, 10am-3pm. For more information,contact Anne at 087-7450721

Study Theology Online, is this for you? The Priory Institute provides online Theology courses to degree level. Attend Saturday lectures in Tallaght or from the comfort of your own home. Register before February 11. Find out more on our website, prioryinstitute.com

Men’s Group in Baldoyle

We are a Men's Group, that meets every Tuesday evening 7 to 9pm in The Baldoyle Family Resource Centre. We would welcome new members. Please contact Noel Kelly @ 0831269305.

Church of St. Laurence O’Toole Roof Repair Appeal

We would like to thank everyone for their continuous support for our Roof Repair Appeal. The Finance Committee will be discussing the initiatives that were proposed at the meeting on the 11 th November and will be making a decision, this week, on what projects to commence now to maximise the raising of funds without constantly calling on parishioners.

We would encourage people to consider increasing the number of times they buy the lotto even when the prize is low. Funds raised in this way go straight to the Building Fund.

One initiative we will consider is the holding of a raffle. So, if you received any unwanted gifts over the Christmas period would you consider donating them to the raffle? These can be dropped into either Churches after Masses or to the Parish Office on Main Street.

Building work is due to commence in early March after the boys and girls from St Laurence’s Senior School receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, on the 7th March. Thank you for all your support and prayers. Keep up the good work. Peter O’Connor Co-PP. David Dennehy Finance Committee

Baldoyle Library Closure The Library will be closed from Monday next, 23rd Sept. until approx. April 2025 for renovations.

Friday Night whist - Baldoyle Whist Club. Every Friday night at 8.00 pm in the Parish Hall, beside the Parish Office. New members and visitors are very welcome

The Lounge Lizards will be in St. Peter & Paul’s Parish Hall, in Baldoyle village, each Saturday in at 3pm So please come along and join in or just come and enjoy the music.

  Aware, the National Mental Health Charity, is recruiting volunteers.

Would you like to support those impacted by anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions? Aware provides free support, education and information services to those impacted by mental health and mood conditions. We are now recruiting and training volunteers for our National Support Line, Support & Self Care Groups and our Life Skills Online services. Volunteering can be remote or in person. Please visit www.aware.ie email info@aware.ie or call 01-661 7211 to learn more about becoming an Aware volunteer!

HOME VISITATIONS

Would you like a home visitation volunteer to visit you in your home? Friends of the Elderly a charity with over 40 years’ experience providing friendships to older people, has volunteers in your area. If you would be interested in our services please contact our Activities Coordinator Sive at sive@friendoftheelderly.ie or call 01 8731855.

Oral Recordings of times past

To compile a list of what has been documented over the years, Fingal Heritage Office wants to hear from anyone with oral recordings (tape or digital) about any aspect of Fingal's past. To be included in this important project, or if you know of recordings elsewhere, please contact Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting, at macconmaraheritage@gmail.com or 086 778 4669.

Baldoyle Family Resource Services

Health & Social Activities

Men’s Walk & Talk group every Thursday 6-7pm; Music Appreciation Group Wednesday 2:30-4pm running for 10 weeks.

Low-cost Counselling Support Service

Adult, Adolescent & child counselling service; Family Systems counselling for families, couples, and individuals; Gambling support service: counselling for problem gamblers and family members; Drug & alcohol support service: counselling for individuals and affected family members;

Group meeting & clubs.

Recovery drop (sober space) last Thursday of every month 7-9; Women’s Craft Group Mondays 7-9pm

Senior Services

Senior Alerts; Meals on Wheels.

Telephone 01 8326115 for further information.

 Irish Synodal Pathway The Irish Synodal Pathway continues to evolve and has made significant progress in advancing its ambition to hold its first synodal assembly in the Autumn of 2025. Regional meetings held in January assisted dioceses and groups in the formation of Diocesan Synodal Teams for the pathway and provided resources for the ongoing work at local level, including a video resource outlining the journey so far (https://synod.ie/resources/videos/). Further regional meetings, scheduled for late April with the Diocesan Synodal Teams, will also initiate discussions on the theme/question for the first assembly of the Irish Synodal Pathway.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT The Irish Hospice Foundation provides a free Bereavement Support Line. This National Freephone Service is available from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, call 1800 807077 or visit website for information www.hospicefoundation.ie

SENIORLINE Would you like someone to talk to? SeniorLine is Ireland’s national telephone service for older people open every day of the year 10am-10pm, Freephone 1800 80 45 91. Callers may feel isolated, alone, wish to discuss a problem in confidence, or for company during their day. SeniorLine’s volunteers are trained to listen, to support, to discuss options and to refer callers to other helpful services if necessary. So don’t be alone if sharing a problem would help.

Safeguarding.

The current safeguarding regulations and information is on display in the porch on our new poster. You can visit The Archdiocese of Dublin child safeguarding and protection service by visiting the following link;

https://csps.dublindiocese.ie/wp-content/uploads/s ites/3/2023/10/Dublin-Diocesan-Child-Safeguarding -Policy-2023.pdf or use the QR Code on the poster to see the updated information.

Our safeguarding policy document is always available in the sacristy or through contacting our Parish Office. Our parish safeguarding representatives are available to answer questions if you leave your name and number in our Parish Office.

Support for Carers

Are you caring for a loved one at home with additional needs? A spouse, partner, child, close relative or neighbour? Then you are a family carer! Become a member of Family Carers Ireland, the national charity supporting Ireland’s 500,000+ family carers nationwide. Contact 057 93 70221 and hear how we can support you or for more info visit www.familycarers.ie.

 HUGG Healing Untold Grief Groups HUGG Young Adults (18-25 years old) Suicide bereavement support group led by trained young adults with lived experience of suicide loss HUGG provides a free, non-judgemental and safe space where people bereaved by suicide can share their experiences and feelings, and receive and offer support to each other. HUGG Young Adults support group meets once a month over zoom on a Tuesday evening, 8pm to 9.30pm. To join, complete an online form at www.hugg.ie or call 01 513 4048.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT The Irish Hospice Foundation provides a free Bereavement Support Line. This National Freephone Service is available from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, by calling 1800 807077. Visit www.hospicefoundation.ie for more information.

The ACCOMPLISH Project is a collaboration between Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin. It aims to engage with the public to facilitate increased reporting of coastal landslides so that our coastlines may be better managed.They are currently in the process of recruiting volunteers from Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford to participate in the project. They are specifically looking for anyone who regularly walks, runs, cycles, canoes, swims, sails, or visits the coasts of Dublin, Wexford or Wicklow. They would also like to hear from you if there are other areas worth investigating!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Niamh Cullen, who is leading the project in DCU by emailing niamh.d.cullen@dcu.ie or acomplish.project@gmail.com.You can also visit their website accomplishproject.ie to find out more about the project.

TOWARDS PEACE Towards Peace is a service offering spiritual support for anybody who has been abused, physically, emotionally, sexually, spiritually, in a religious/church environment. Towards Peace was established in October 2014 by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Association of Missionary & Religious Leaders of Ireland. (AMRI). The Towards Peace office hours are Monday and Tuesday 9am - 4pm and Wednesday 9am - 12 noon. For further information phone 01 5053028 or 086 7710533 or visit www.towardspeace.ie or www.facebook.com/TowardsPeaceSpiritualSupportService/

B.E. Beginning Experience: B.E is a support group for those coping with the pain of loss of their life partner, through Death, Separation or Divorce. Do you find that you need more support than family and friends can provide? Seeking help is a sign of strength and self-knowledge not weakness. This is a healing ministry, which helps to resolve the grief that goes with the end of a marriage or relationship. A team, who are themselves widowed, separated or divorced share their experiences with you. For further information please phone Dublin Team 086 0877379 or email bedublin@gmail.com

Baldoyle Active Retirement. Seeking new members, male and female. If interested please contact Alice Roche on 087 912 0120 or Robert Farrell 087 615 1007

Mercy Centre,St Brendan’s Drive, Coolock, Dublin 5. Mercy Centre is run by the Sisters of Mercy and a core Group. Our aim is the “full flowering of the person” (de Mello) as Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the full. We Do this by offering programmes that encourage the personal and spiritual development of everyone. Details can be obtained at 01 8487259 or email: mercycontrecoolock@gmail.com.

ALONE supports older people to age at home, combating loneliness and isolation. Would you like to volunteer from the comfort of your own home? We are seeking volunteers to make Support and Befriending calls to older people. Please visit our website at www.alone.ie or call our National Support and Referral line on 0818 222 024 to fine out more about volunteering with ALONE.

Anam Cara North Dublin, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding a Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Wednesday 19th February at 7:15pm in the Hilton Hotel, Malahide Rd, Northern Cross, Dublin, D17 Y924. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or whether their death was recent or not. Please contact us on info@anamcara.ie or 085 2888 888 for any queries.

Download our latest newsletters