Newsletter August 2010

  WELCOME, BIEN VENUE, BIENVENIDA,

WILCOMMEN, BENVENUTO!

We hope our visitors will have a good experience here and will feel part of our community.

 Emmaus

Our Parochial House – a Place of Welcome

The much needed restoration and refurbishment of our Parochial House and grounds is now completed and it is ready to become a special place in the life of the parish community long into the future.  In the past, Parochial Houses were the private residence of the Parish Priest, the equal of the imposing houses of the local Doctor and Bank Managers both in size and social importance, at a level of just below the Big House of the local Landlord.  Entering a parochial house by parishioners was usually fraught with some degree of awe and anxiety.  In more recent times visiting was somewhat more relaxed and with the realisation of the importance of the parish as a community, a local parish hall was provided, as here in Holy Cross.  However, generally these are rather sterile multi-purpose places lacking intimacy and a feeling of welcome and belonging.

As Fr. Kieran told Celebration magazine, while Emmaus will be his home, it is his hope “that Emmaus will also be a place where the community of the parish will be fostered and encouraged, a place where young couples will be helped in the preparation for marriage and a place of welcome for our many parish groups who contribute immeasurably to the life of the parish, both liturgical and pastoral. A place to tell our stories and to break bread together, and in the act recognise each others gifts, always encouraging”.

As anticipated, the first to be welcomed was a group of pilgrims from Belgium, following in the footsteps of Don Marmion, who met with representatives of the Don Marmion Society, Dundrum over lunch. The Lourdes Committee and the Sacristan Team have also gathered here.  The other Parish Groups will, over time, also visit ‘to tell their stories and break bread together’ in the warmth of this welcoming setting.