Dear Friends,
Today is the the Feast of All Saints
Saint of the Week – Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1610) – Wed, 4th November
Charles was born near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. At the age of 22, while not yet a priest, he was made a cardinal by his uncle, Pope Pius IV, and appointed administrator of the diocese of Milan. In 1563, he was ordained priest and became archbishop of Milan in 1564. He set himself to apply the teachings of the Council of Trent. To help remedy the people’s religious ignorance he established ‘Sunday schools’; seminaries were opened for the training of the clergy. During the plague of 1576, he worked unceasingly to relieve the plight of the suffering. Charles’ reform of the Church was not always welcome by some rich highly-placed lay people. Efforts were made to remove him from office, an attempt was even made to assassinate him. He was an outstanding figure among Catholic reformers and has been called another St. Ambrose who himself had been a bishop of Milan. St. Charles was only 46 when he died. He was canonized in 1610 by Pope Paul V.
Theology/Spirituality Course
The Introductory course on theEarly Years of Christian Theology and Spirituality (33 AD – 1,000AD ) continues on Saturday mornings from 10.00 am.to 11.30am in the John Sullivan Room. There is a break for tea/coffee.
Yesterday, Saturday, I was speakingbriefly on the Councils of Constantinople (381 AD); Ephesus (431AD ) andChalcedon (451AD). I then spoke on The Beginnings of Monasticismwith particular emphasis on Benedictine Spirituality.
Next week, on Saturday, 7thNovember, I will speak on Monasticism in the Early Irish Church.Hopefully, we will then move on to ‘The Barbarians’ (the Goths,Visigoths, Franks, Vandals) and to the Conversion of England.
It is very heartening to see how thesetalks are so well attended. Please feelfree to come along, even if you have not reserved a place previously.
Upcoming Christmas Concert
Just something for your diaries: TheThree Tenors will give a Christmas Concert in Gardiner Street on Friday,18th December at 7.30pm
Tickets availableto buy inthe shop.
Volunteers to read at Mass and for the Choir
Margaret (our soloist) and Seamus (ourorganist) always welcome new members to join the choir. Rehearsals are on a Sunday morning at 10.30am in the John Sullivan Room, before the 11.00am Mass.
I am delighted to see that numbers inthe choir have increased. Your ministryof singing is much appreciated.
If you feel that you would like toread at our weekday Masses (11.00 am and 1.00pm) or Sunday Masses (9.15am; 11.00am and 7.30pm), please feel free to make yourselfknown to me. The Parish Pastoral Council(the Cathedral, Berkely Road and Gardiner Street) have suggested that theREmight be a training day for readers and a formal commissioning service at somefurther date.
Reading Club
Our next meeting will be tomorrow, Monday,9th November. We are reading Surprised by Hope by the scripture scholar and former Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright.
Fr. Brendan
IN NOVEMBER WE REMEMBER
Mass on Sunday 8th November at 9.15 am, offered in memory of the Band’s deceased members OF THE COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS UNION BAND. The Band will be performing.
Altar Listof the Dead envelopes available at the back of the Church and in the office
CHURCH COLLECTIONS
For Church: € 942. Share: € 166
Card reader:€ 433
Allcontributions are gratefully accepted, and the donors are remembered in ourprayers.
POPE LEO XIV’s PRAYER INTENTION FOR NOVEMBER 2026
For the proper use of wealth.
Let us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service of the common good and solidarity of those who have less.