Dear Friends,
Today is The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saint of the Week – St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894 – 1941), 14th August
Born in Poland in 1891, he entered the Conventual Franciscans in 1907. He gained a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Gregorian University, Rome in 1915. He was ordained priest in 1918. He received a Doctorate in Theology from the University of St. Bonaventure, Rome in 1919. He returned to Poland to teach at the seminary in Cracow. He operated a religious publishing press. In 1930, he went to Japan as a missionary and lived near Nagasaki. He returned to Poland in 1938 and ran a Christian radio station near Warsaw. He was arrested by the Nazis and imprisoned in Auswitz in1941. One day, a prisoner escaped from the camp and the German Commandant ordered that ten prisoners should be starved to death in an underground bunker. One of these men was a young father. Maximilian volunteered to go in his place. After two weeks, these ten men, Maximilian included, were given a lethal injection of carbolic acid. He died on this day, August 14th in 1941.Maximilian was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1971 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982. There is a statue of St. Maximilian over the west door of Westminster Abbey, London.
Proposed Course in the Autumn
I propose offering an introductory course on the Early Years of Christian Theology and Spirituality (33 AD – 1,000AD ) in the autumn. You do not have to have any prior knowledge of this subject. I would hope to make the talks as accessible as possible. These talks will take place on Saturday mornings from 10.00 am. to 12 noon in the John Sullivan Room. You might give it some thought over the summer. Further details later.
Volunteers to read at Mass and for the Choir
Margaret (our soloist) and Seamus(our organist) always welcome new members to join the choir. Rehearsals are on a Sunday morningat 10.30am in the John Sullivan Room, before the 11.00am Mass.
Reading Club
We are taking a break for the summer months and will return on Monday, 28th September.
Fr. Brendan
CHURCH COLLECTIONS
For Church: € 749. Share: € 133. Card reader: €589. IDonate: € 50
All contributions are gratefully accepted, and the donors are remembered in our prayers.
AUTUMN COURSE
Interestedin the Early Years of Christian Theology and Spirituality course? Please let usknow online (gardinerstchurch.ie/upcoming events), by email (sfx@jesuit.ie) or by phone (8363411).
PILGRIMAGE-LOURDES & SAN SEBASTIAN
2ndOctober 2026 – 6 nights
SpiritualDirector- Fr. Pat Corkery SJ
For information, please contact Maura Ward 0876550633
FOOD FOR THE MIND, OXYGEN FOR THE SOUL
The Adult Education Certificate in Spirituality and Human Development is a two-year part-time evening programme run by Marino Institute of Education. The programme takes place on Tuesday evenings from 7.00–9.30pm.
Application to the programme is opento anyone regardless of formal educational background. Applicants will beinvited to an informal interview to discuss the programme and theirexpectations. Applications should be submitted to Dr. Mary Gao,Programme Coordinator. Early application is advisable, however lateapplications considered. Registration and Induction will take place in the endof September.
More information at www.mie.ie/Spirituality
Applications: Tel: 087 450 8549
Email: mary.gao@mie.ie
SUMMER FRONT OFFICE HOURS
From Tuesday 11th to Monday 17th August, the front office will open Monday to Friday, 11 am–1 pm. The front office will be closed tomorrow, Monday 10th August
POPE LEO XIV’s PRAYERINTENTION FOR AUGUST
For evangelization in the city
Let us pray that in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community.