Established 1967 www.lucannewsletter.ie Sub. 80c Sunday 18th October 2020 CONFESSION Many of us who struggle with the Christian message were uplifted by a recent RTE/BBCNI production on the topic of Confession. We were puzzled that a program was to be aired on a Sacrament known for its confidentiality. However the program turned out to be a Confiteor on the struggles of the Priests themselves, young and old. The difficulties of Ministering in a modern world and the severe loneliness suffered by them spoke volumes, as their exclusion has been worsened by the Pandemic. No doubt some will say that the program itself was biased in a Liberal direction but a number of standout statements by the clerics made for riveting viewing and subsequent consideration. The value of listening and forgiveness was well evaluated. That Pope Francis wants a more open, tolerant, inclusive, and forgiving Church is now evident to all. Less Religion by tick boxing and more humanity, humility and awareness of all our frailties has at last come to the fore. There are forces opposed to this but we now can have an open debate; some Catholic Media and some groups, especially in the USA seem less than Christian in their political friends and supporters. That attempts were made to stifle even the debate leads us to wonder just which planet some of these opposers inhabit. There were a number of standout moments in the Broadcast. One older priest in his loneliness described a time when Bishops only admonished and never praised. Some younger priests displayed a revealing normality. The highlight for me was a comment by Fr Iggy O’Donovan. Fr lggy has been carpeted in the past for a number of ecumenical events both personal and ecclesiastical. Had he lived in Lucan no one would have noticed as these events have gone on quietly here for over 20 years. He said "Certainty is the enemy of Faith". Many of us who grew up in the sixties and demanded change will celebrate this gem, all humankind is on a journey. With pitfalls and frailties and we all need loving and caring. He also calls for a feminization of the Church which is now badly needed to heal and develop in a less legalistic and more caring and Christ like way. The opposers and conservatives are people, and our siblings too. But their method has failed, and miserably in many cases. We can hopefully bring them along. Renewal will mean more humility and less Princes of the Church. In the dark clouds of the Pandemic maybe we are going to see some light. Tony Feeney Lucan Citizens Information Centre Budget 2021 was announced on Tuesday, www.citizensinformation.ie 13 October 2020. This document sets out the main changes in The CIC office is closed for taxation, social welfare, health, housing, personal callers until further education, employment and other areas. notice. This document on our website will be updated as During the COVID-19 pandemic, you can find more details become available. comprehensive integrated information online at citizensinformation.ie/covid19/ and you can get Some of the changes announced in the Budget daily updates on what’s changed on Twitter at come into effect immediately. Others take effect @citizensinfo. You can also get information and from the beginning of January 2021 or later in advice from: The Citizens Information Phone 2021. Many others have to be finalised before Service: Call 0761 07 4000, Monday to Friday, coming into effect. 9am – 8pm. Some elements of these measures may change Our national call back service: Visit when the legislation required to bring them into citizensinformation.ie/callback to request a phone effect is enacted. call from an information officer. A limited number of appointments are being made in The Irish Hospice Foundation Citizens Information Centres offices where social Bereavement Support Helpline on freephone distancing can be facilitated. 1800 807077 You can ring 0761 07 5000 and leave a message, What is the IHF Bereavement Support Line? and an information officer will return your call, or It is a national freephone service 1800 80 70 77 you can email [email protected] and an which will be available from 10am to 1pm, information officer will reply to your email. Monday to Friday. We aim to provide a confidential space for people MABS - Money Advice and Budgeting Service to speak about their experience or to ask questions If you’re behind in your mortgage payments, you relating to the death of someone during the may be worried about losing your home. COVID-19 pandemic/a previous bereavement Talk to your lender. If you can’t - talk to MABS. which feels more difficult at this time. MABS now has a dedicated confidential, free, and We will listen to what a person says about what independent mortgage arrears service. has happened. MABS is a one-stop-shop for mortgage debt We will do our best to provide comfort and advice and referral. emotional support. No matter what your situation is, MABS will help We will provide any information that might help you work out the next steps. the caller, including information on practical Take control of what happens next. supports. Call MABS today on 0761 07 2000 for We will provide support for employers or independent information, advice and referral. professionals who want to inform the care their organisation can offer to bereaved colleagues https://hospicefoundation.ie/covid19careandinfor The over 70s Medical Card m/bereavement-support-line/ To qualify for a medical card your income must be below a certain figure. The Minister for Health has announced plans to increase the income limit from 1 November 2020. Lucan Community Garden The weekly income limit for people over 70 will Are you interested in establishing a be increased by €50 for a single person (to €550 community garden in Lucan? from €500) and by €150 for a couple (to €1,050 from €900). Please email [email protected] with your contact details More information is available on Citizensinformation.ie All welcome Hard to believe that we closed down almost seven A Welcome Visitor months ago, advised our A bird flew in the room today members of government's Stopped for a instructions and locked up while then flew for what could have been away the last time. I asked if he had So much has happened since then, in all of our lost his way lives, much of it quite unbelievable. COVID-19, Or was he then a strange name for a viral infection quite coming in to stay unknown, has been cruel and pernicious in its sinister effects. At times we seem to have He shook his head and looked around exhausted our descriptive vocabulary in attempts He didn’t make a single sound to put into words what has happened to us, as He just kept peering round and round individuals and collectively. And then he hopped down to the ground So often it has been said and written that things will never be the same again, that we have been He waddled towards the chimney breast changed utterly by recent experiences. An I thought, he’s looking for his nest overpowering, ongoing situation, changing from Then puffing out his tiny chest day to day, is both upsetting and confusing, He settled down and had a rest leaving us at a loss to know how to react. At a time such as this, both the best and the worst can be observed in public behaviours. It is hoped that Then seconds later off he flew the former will outweigh the latter. I think he was just passing through I’m hoping he was sent by you Since we closed, the members of Lucan Men's To say Hello Shed have remained in contact with each other, at Veronica Stafford. two levels at least. Our six-member committee has held a monthly meeting since last March, during which we have kept Shed affairs under (Many thanks to Maria Murphy for sending on this review and have updated administrative details. poem which was written by her sister Veronica who Secondly, for those who wanted to participate, a lives in Madrid). weekly walk has been organised by a Shed member, an idea which has been well-supported and enjoyed by all, in a different venue each time. Where we may walk for an hour or so has been relatively unimportant, because the enjoyment is in the meeting together and the chat. Committee Meetings are no longer held face-to- face, in fact we haven't seen each other for a while. The answer is Zoom, a facility relatively easy to use and few technical problems, so far. Most of the time, both audio and video links are PLEASE NOTE: possible. While Zoom may be the answer for We are NOT operating from the Newsletter meetings, another solution is impossible for Office at the moment, but leave your ads, walks, considering the current advice in the queries or notices in the letter box at St. Mary’s Covid-19 context, where we must cut down on Parish Centre, before 10pm on Wednesday night, and we’ll collect and look after them. our contacts to limit the virus spread. Our walks have been abandoned, it being Alternately email any of the following: irresponsible to do [email protected] otherwise. It's [email protected] dangerous out there, [email protected] no one can afford to be [email protected] careless and we are individually in charge Big thank you to all who continue to send of own destiny.