1517 when Martin Luther protested against what he saw as the PARISH OF LARKHILL/WHITEHALL/SANTRY deficiencies of the Church of his time. However, we have come a long way since then. Speaking in Sweden last year at an gathering with the Lutheran Church, Francis said: “With gratitude we acknowledge that the helped give greater centrality to sacred Scripture in the Church’s life. Through shared hearing of the Parish of Larkhill/Whitehall & Santry Parish Office: Church of the Holy Child, word of God in the Scriptures, important steps forward have been taken in the The Thatch Road, 9. Tel (01) 837 5274 Website: www.whitehall.dublindiocese.ie. dialogue between the and the Lutheran World Federation.”

You may think that you need to be a bishop or a priest to make a “The cornerstone of the Christian 8th October 2017 difference to the church. But history shows us that this is not always the way of life is love” case. Of the three great patron saints of Europe, who renewed the not grow, some of the detail is lost on The challenging parable of the church at different times of crisis, St Benedict, St Francis of Assisi and St us. The vine is a most vigorous plant vineyard, which we read in Catherine of Siena, none of them were ordained as bishops or priests. St and needs severe pruning. It displays today’s Gospel, is also found in a great abundance of leaves, but only Benedict was a monk, St Francis of Assisi was a Deacon, St Catherine of Mark 12:1-12 and Luke 20:9-19. some of the branches are fruit-bearing. Siena was a layperson and member of the third order of the Dominicans. The parable is aimed at the The ones that produce only leaves Father Donal Neary offers us a reflection on this reading: Jewish chief priests and elders have to be cut back drastically, “Looking at the gospel vision, we can ask how the vineyard is nourished. We who are portrayed here as otherwise they rob life-giving sap from find that the cornerstone of the Christian way of life is love, and the love is a rejecting Jesus and his teaching the others. The wood of the vine is person in Jesus. He is the one who will invigorate the vine … Some will ignore perfectly useless, not even making him, some will follow. All of us are probably a bit in between. God sent his own and, as a consequence, losing out on what God was offering to good firewood.” Son into the vineyard of human life, not because life is perfect, but because love them. Kieran O’Mahony goes on to is. Jesus comes among us because we need him.” Let us pray in the coming week for the grace to nurture the vineyards of The Augustinian writer, Father explain the importance of the our own lives and to ask Jesus to help us so that our lives may be fruitful Kieran O’Mahony sums up what message for today: in his service. Gerard O’Reilly this reading is about very well: “The risk for Christians today is that “Like many parables, the story of the we read the parable complacently, Gerard Reilly is a Permanent Deacon in Donaghmede and Ayrfield parishes vineyard is meant to be disturbing because it clearly refers to Jews and and uncomfortable It speaks to Christians in the first century. But it is not only in the past that the faithful people whose very fidelity makes them unable to see the new leadership of God’s project has The 12.30p.m. Family Mass Team are looking for young things God is doing.” changed hands, so to speak. Down people to join their Youth Ministry Teams. So, if you are The Dominican website through history, more committed interested in joining the Youth Choir, the Young Readers or www.goodnews.ie also helps us groups have challenged the established the Altar Servers please come to the Church on Sunday and to understand the parable by Church.” meet with the members of the Family Mass Team who will explaining the significance of the be present after the 12.30p.m. Mass to provide information This year we are celebrating the th on each ministry. vineyard: 500 anniversary of the Protestant “In countries where the vine does Reformation which began back in Please Support your Parish Lotto Mass Intentions for the coming week Church of the Holy Child Last Tuesday’s winning numbers were: Monday 9th Oct. 9.15a.m. & 7.00pm Available for Intention 1st Jackpot: 7 16 20 23 2nd Jackpot: 4 17 20 29 Tuesday 10th Oct. 9.15a.m. Available for Intention No Jackpot winner. 7.00p.m. Michael Purdue (Anniversary) The winners of the Seven Consolation Prizes of €25 were:- P. Fortune; Wed. 11th Oct. 9.15a.m. & 7.00p.m. Available for Intention S. Noonan; J. Bolton; K. Kerrigan; F. Davis; Kennedy; C. Colclough. Thurs. 12th Oct. 9.15a.m. Available for Intention The winners of the Five Special Prizes of €100 were:- M. McTernan; N. O’Beara; 7.00p.m. Austin & Marie Barry (Anniversary) H. McGeogh; M. Moloney; F. Davis. Friday 13th Oct. 9.15a.m. St. Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society Next Draw: 1st Jackpot €12,750 2nd Jackpot €2,000 7.00p.m. Available for Intention Plus seven consolation prizes of €25 Sat. 14th Oct. 10.00a.m. Available for Intention Vigil 7.00p.m. Mary Eglington (Month’s Mind) Blessing of Animals Were you married in 1992, 1977, 1967, Maureen Shanahan (Anniv.) & Baby Ryan Geraghty (1st Anniv.) Don’t forget, in honour of St. 1957, 1947? Thomas Kelly, Eddie & Sheila Darcy (Anniversaries) Francis of Assisi, whose Feast You are invited to join Sun. 15th Oct. 11.15a.m. People of the Parish Day was Wednesday 4th the Parish Community of 12.30p.m. Ena Carmody (1st Anniv.) Bridget Crowe (Anniv.) October, all pets will be St. Gabriel’s for a Mass of 6.00p.m. Pat Mullins (Anniversary) blessed underneath the Bell Thanksgiving with renewal of Marriage Chapel of Blessed Margaret Ball Tower this Sunday 8th Octo- Vows. Sunday 15th Oct. at 10.30am. as we Wed. 11th Oct. 10.00a.m. Available for Intention ber after the 12.30pm. Mass. Remember to Sun. 15th Oct. 10.00a.m. Arnoldo Macaranas (Anniversary) bring your pets along for the special blessing. celebrate Silver, Ruby, Golden, Diamond & Platinum Wedding Anniversaries. This Joy Corazon Bautista (Anniversary) includes people who may be widowed. World Mission Sunday Collection: On We welcome in Baptism Fatima—Communion of Reparation on Refreshments will be served afterwards in Sunday 22nd Oct., Pope Francis invites all Paige Susan Delahunty Five First Saturdays of each month— On the Parish Centre. Please let the Parish Catholics to contribute to a special Mission Taylor Grace Carroll the 10th December 1925, Our Lady of Secretary, St. Gabriel’s know that you wish Sunday collection. World Missions Ireland May these newly baptised Fatima promised Sister Lucia, one of the to be there— Tel. 8333602/087 2325705 or is the Holy Father’s official charity for Children always know and visionaries ,… she would ‘assist at the hour email: [email protected] and they’ll overseas missions. Mass will be televised love Jesus as their friend. of death, with the graces necessary for take it from there. on RTE on 22nd Oct. 11.00 am This salvation if they fulfil her four requirements’ November Dead List Altar List of the 1. Confession, Collection will take place at all Masses on Dementia & Loss: Public Lecture on Dead envelopes are provided at the doors the weekend of the 21st/22nd Oct. 2. Receive Holy Communion, Dementia & Loss will take place on of the Churches. We invite you to com- 3. Say five decades of the Holy Rosary, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Thursday 12th Oct. at 8pm in St. Anne’s plete and return to the Sacristan or leave in 4. Meditate for a quarter of an hour on Annual Clothing Appeal Parish Centre Portmarnock. Speaker the Church safes. All Masses on the First the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary Church of the Holy Child and Chapel of Breffni McGuinness of the Irish Hospice Friday of each month are offered for all (Separate from praying the Rosary). Blessed Margaret Ball -Collection of Foundation. All welcome. names on the Altar List of the Dead. Bags—Sat 7th October & Sun. 8th October Why passing your faith through prayer (Morning Masses only) Taizé - Brother Jean Marie of the Taizé community in France will visit Ireland for ten matters— Families with children baptised days during the month of Oct. As the contact brother to Irish pilgrims he is well known during 2014 are invited to a short meeting Recently Deceased You are asked to to many of our young people who have travelled there in recent years. He is the in the Parish Centre at 13.15 on October, remember in your Prayers: author of many of the new chants emerging from the Taizé community’s beautiful 15th. Faith based activities for the children Very Rev. Francis Canon Mc Donnell. liturgy and prayer. Here in Dublin he will be present for a chanted Taizé Evening and a short discussion facilitated by Conor Prayer around the Cross in St. Paul’s Church, Arran Quay, Dublin 7 on Fri. 13th Oct at Deborah Gaffney McCann for the parents. 7.30p.m. and people of all Christian denominations are welcome. Those who took part May they enjoy perfect peace and Church Gate Collection this weekend is for in his previous visits know it will be a wonderful prayer moment. Parking in the reconciliation in the presence of God. the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Smithfield area is free after 7.00p.m. and the Smithfield LUAS stop is nearby. All welcome.