News
August 24, 2025

Weekly Newsletter - 24th August 2025

Dear Friends,  

Today is the 21thSunday in Ordinary Time.

Saint of the Week St. Augustine (354 – 430)  Thursday, 28th August

Augustine grew up in Thagaste, in what is now Algeria.  He was the son of a pagan father and a Christian mother (St. Monica).  He went to Carthage to finish his education and, afterwards, taught there for a number of years.  In 383, he went to lecture in Rome and then received a teaching position in Milan. There, he met St. Ambrose and was eventually baptized by Ambrose on Holy Saturday night, 387.  He returned to Africa where he founded a monastic community; but, in 391, he was ordained a priest and, five years later, was chosen as bishop of Hippo, an office he held for thirty-four years.  His written output was vast: there still survive 113 books, over 200 letters and more than500 sermons. Two of his most famous works are the Confessions and The City of God.  His monastic rule has been adopted and adapted by numerous religious orders of men and women, notably by the Augustinian friars and nuns.  We might remember that Pope Leo is an Augustinian friar and pray for him today.  

SATURDAY MORNINGTALKS

I hope to begin Saturday morning talks on key figures in Church History and Mysticism from10.00am to 12.00pm, beginning on Saturday, October 11th.  Further details later.

Fr. Brendan

 

ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD OF PATRICK CORKERY, S.J

On Sunday, 7thSeptember at 3.00pm, there will be the Ordination to the Priesthood of Patrick Corkery, S.J.  The ordaining bishop will be Bishop Allan McGuckian, S.J., Bishop of Down and Connor.  This is a moment of great joy for the Jesuits in Ireland and we ask your prayers for Patrick as he begins his priestly ministry.  All are welcome to attend the ceremony.  Patrick has kindly offered to minister in the church here during the month of September while I will be away on holiday.

 

OUR RECENTLYDECEASED

We remember in prayer those who have died recently:

Andy Condron

Jimmy O’Looney

Jimmy dedicated decades of service to St. Francis Xavier’s Church, volunteering from his youth until the age of 90. The Jesuit Community, along with the staff and volunteers at Gardiner Street Church, express their sincere appreciation for his generous service and extend their condolences to his family while offering prayers for the repose of his soul.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen

THE BOOK CLUB.

We will begin on Monday, 1st of September with a preliminary meeting at 10.00am in the John Sullivan Room.  Please note that the next meeting will be on Monday 29th September and every two weeks after that.  Our book for this session will be The Essence of Prayer by Ruth Burrows OCD.  We will choose other books as the year progresses.

AUGUST 24- Day of Prayer and Reflection for Gaza –

May we all be a sign, by our prayer and action, that a different world is possible, and that aroute to peace and reconciliation can and must be found through dialogue.

+Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin

 

CARLO ACUTIS CANONISATION CELEBRATIONS IN DUBLIN

DATE: 7th September2025

LOCATION: Phoenix Park, Archdiocese of Dublin, City quay Parish

Event Schedule:

9AM - 11AMCanonisation Event at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, City Quay

Includinglive-stream of the Canonisation in Rome - Ticketed Event Only - Limited Tickets Available on www.eventbrite.com

11.30 AM Celebratory Mass at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, City Quay

With archbishop Paul Dempsey & Music by Shalom Choir - ALL WELCOME

1.30 PM Celebrations at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, City Quay

Testimonies, Blessings, Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition, Refreshments, Carlo Acutis Official Song - ALL WELCOME

 

LAST WEEK COLLECTION

Church: € 855; Share collection: € 152.

Card reader: €307

 

FRONT OFFICE OPENING TIMES

The Front Office is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am – 1.00pm and from 1.30 pm – 4.30pm and on Saturday from 10.00am – 2.00pm; Sunday 9.00am – 12.30pm.