Clonskeagh Parish RCN:20016166

A Few Words From Fr Joe……

The greeting ‘Happy Easter’ is music to my ears! Alleluia, Alleluia. Christ is Risen and for us all there is an invitation to step into the fifty days of Easter that will unfold in the weeks from now until Pentecost. For this year, 2025 we are doubly blessed as it is a Jubilee Year and we are pilgrims of Hope. Look around the world and ask yourself if this is a time that all people need to be inspired by the message that comes from the empty tomb? God has responded to the passion and death of his Son, Jesus, by raising him to new life and we are sent out daily to put that freshness and renewal into action. As an Easter People we are called and commissioned to be Good News and to live our faith joyfully.

Spring is always a time of refreshment in nature, have you looked with wonder at the blossoms, white, pink and red in recent days and rejoiced that a new cycle of trees giving fruit is unfolding among us. Then there are the bees, buzzing around, pollenating as they go, God’s servants totally involved in ensuring that the process works, no bees, no pollination, no fruit in our future!

Of all the biblical characters I’ve met and reflected on in recent weeks, Simon of Cyrene has a special place in my heart, he might have been dragged out of the crowd to help the Lord, but his generosity in carrying the Cross, helping Jesus when he needed it most, has remained as a sign of service in the Church ever since. During the week 62 parishioners in Killala Diocese were commissioned as new ‘Co-Leaders’ of prayer and ministry, working alongside priests, supporting men in ministry to carry the cross of advancing years and smaller numbers, what a blessing they will be. Funeral ministry is already active here in our partnership, and co-leadership in prayer is beginning to be expressed in their ministry. This is truly a blessing and yet only a beginning, we need all our Easter People to be ever more engaged with the mission of the parish, the service of the people and engaged with all the ministries of the church. The time to leave it to another is over, everyone has a gift to share, and your Jubilee blessing may well be expressed in offering time and talent to share with all. Like the bees, there will be no regeneration of the faith without all who can being active in service.

PS I highly recommend the documentary on “The Priests” which is airing on RTE on Easter Sunday evening. It is a wonderful account of these three talented men, who have been singing together for years, discovered by Sony and propelled to the world stage. Enjoy it if you can.

Fr Joe Mullan - Moderator of Clonskeagh, Kilmacud & Mount Merrion Parishes