Canon Roy Byrne writes…
Hospitalisation
A significant number of our parishioners have been ill over the Christmas / New Year period and we continue to
offer our prayerful support in these difficult times and assure you of the prayers of the whole church family also.
Those whose names are on the parish sick list are remembered by name at the Wednesday morning Eucharist and
the sick are prayed for collectively at the Sunday morning prayers and intercessions.
Bereavements
The funeral of Derek England took place in the church on Thursday 19 December when a large congregation
gathered to thank God for his life. He was a regular attendee at the Sunday morning 9.00am Eucharist where his
good humour, great kindness and sense of fun endeared him to the parishioners and clergy. We continue to
remember Milly, his wife, David, Jonathan and Melanie his children and their families at this time. We extend our
sincere sympathy to Lara Henry on the death of her mother, Dervilla McCann Henry who died in the Blackrock
Hospice on 2 January. Her funeral mass took place in St Patrick’s Church, Monkstown on Tuesday 7 January. The
funeral of John Morris took place on Friday 17 January. We remember his wife Norah and their daughters Esme
and Rachel at this time. John’s funeral was attended by many friends and family and his grandchildren played the
trombone and piano at the service. We also remember Tony Ecock on the recent death of his father in Spain and
other parishioners and friends who have been bereaved recently.
Women’s World Day of Prayer
The Women’s World Day of Prayer Service will take place on Friday 6 March at 3:00pm in Monkstown Parish
Church. This year’s Service has been prepared by the women of Zimbabwe. Further information from Mary Briscoe
(087 9535978) or Valerie Duncan (087 6400542)
Disestablishment 150
A number of our parishioners have been enjoying the series of lectures in Christ Church Cathedral to mark the
diocesan commemorations of Disestablishment. The new exhibition in the Lady Chapel in the cathedral is well
worth visiting and some of the treasures on display include the actual table on which the mechanics of the Act of
Disestablishment were worked out by Prime Minister Gladstone and an extraordinary parchment roll signed by the
bishop, clergy and hundreds of the laity in the Diocese of Norwich sent to Ireland to support the anti
Disestablishment cause. The exhibition continues until April. Jean Boydell and the Rector will be attending the
information morning on Friday 7 February in Christ Church Cathedral when representatives of all the parishes in
the dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough are invited to listen to and meet members of the Culture Night and
Heritage Week organizing committees.
Lent 2020
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday 26 February. There will be a celebration of the Eucharist at 10:45 in
Monkstown church. On the succeeding Wednesdays in Lent (4, 11, 18, 25 March and 1 April) there will be a
celebration of the Eucharist at 10:45 and an evening reflective service at 7:30pm. All are welcome to come along
and make their spiritual Lenten journey with us. As part of our Lenten observations we will have our annual ‘Count
your blessings’ appeal. Parishioners will receive a booklet of reflective thoughts for the 40 days of Lent and will be
encouraged to contribute to a jam jar collection as part of this reflective process. The proceeds of the appeal will
be given to the Diocesan Refugee Housing Project.
Parish Facebook Page
Followers of Facebook are invited to find and ‘like’ our page ‘Monkstown Parish Church, Dublin’