St. Mary’s Parish Church Dungarvan
PLEASE NOTE: The Parish Church is open for the celebration of public Masses and Masses continue to be broadcast on 98.5FM.
Mass Times
Monday to Friday – 9.30am Mass, with the exception below;
*One morning Mass at 11.00am only on the occasion of funerals.
Saturday – 7.30pm Vigil Mass (Please note: There will be no 11.00am Mass on Saturday mornings)
Sunday – 10.00am & 12.00 noon Mass
All Masses broadcast on 98.5FM
Other Notices:
Please use hand sanitizers on entering and exiting the Church.
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The Parish Office
The Parish Office is open each day from 9.00 am – 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm – 4.30 p.m.
For Information on Baptisms please contact the Parish Office.
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Announcements at this Weekend’s Masses, February 1/2, 2025
Today we celebrate The Presentation of the Lord, Year C. Welcome and welcome to everyone who joins us by radio on 98.5FM.
Look: An activity page for children based on today’s gospel is available in the side porch and in the church. It has activities, a short summary of today’s gospel and a prayer.
Eucharistic Adoration continues on Thursdays at the end of the 9.30am Mass until 4.00pm.
You are welcome to visit the sacred space here at the top of the church dedicated to St. Brigid, one of our patron saints.
The Newsletter for February 2025 in available in the church and porches.
Page 2 has information about Parish Faith Representatives. Each parish is asked to promote this ministry. People over 18 who would accompany young people on their journey of faith. An information evening will be held in Waterford on Feb. 10th. Information also around the church and on noticeboards.
On Monday week, 10th Feb. Bishop Cullinan will visit the pastoral area. As well as groups and committees from the parishes of the pastoral area, anyone interested in celebrating the Jubilee of Hope 2025 is welcome. The purpose of the visit is to explain what the Jubilee Year of Hope is all about, to hear what events are being planned and to hear views and ideas of what might be planned at local level. The meeting will be held in the Pearse Room at Lawlors Hotel on Monday, 10th Feb. at 7.00pm.
Friday next is the First Friday of the Month. Visits to the sick and housebound during this week.
This Monday, 3rd Feb. is a Bank Holiday. Mass at 11.00am only. It is also the Feast of St. Blaise. Blessing of throats will take place on Monday. The parish office will be closed on Monday.
(12noon Mass Only) You are reminded that the main churchyard gates and the CBS Primary School gates are locked immediately after this Mass.
These announcements may be read on the parish website: www.dungarvanparish.ie
Parish notes are included each week in the two local newspapers.
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Newspaper Notes 03/02/2025
Sharing Faith with our Young People – You Can Help
Parish Faith Representatives.
The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore is once again seeking people of faith in parishes. People who have a heart for young people to reach out to the young people in our parishes. Since the launch of the Strategic Plan for Youth & Adult Ministry in March 2023. 32 Parish Faith Representatives from 15 parishes across the diocese have been commissioned. The Faith Rep. role varies from parish to parish, according to the needs of the parish as well as the time and gifts each individual Faith Rep. can give. They must be aged 18 or over. There is no upper age limit. Faith Reps are commissioned for two years with the option of staying on. Closing date for receipt of applications is 21 February 2025.
The role of a Parish Faith Representative is to become a link between parish, school and home and under the guidance and assistance of the diocese; support clergy and post-primary school teachers and much more. More information on www.waterfordlismore.ie/youth-ministry
Information Sessions: 10th February 2025 in St. John’s Pastoral Centre, John’s Hill, Waterford X91 HW90 or 17th February 2025 Zoom (email for zoom link)
Application Deadline: Friday, 21st February 2025.
What is the Jubilee Year?
The Jubilee Year in the Old Testament
The custom of the Jubilee Year began in Old Testament times. Every fiftieth year was celebrated as a Jubilee year. A ram’s horn, known as a yobel, was blown to announce the year’s beginning. The aim of the Jubilee year was to restore lost freedom. This was a response to two main situations: first, where land has been sold to pay debts, leaving the former owner in dire straits (land as family inheritance was vital for survival); second, where a person was sold into slavery to pay debts. The laws of the Jubilee Year set out to put these situations right. They set out to prevent a situation developing where a family became land-less and destitute. They also wanted to make sure that a permanent class of slaves did not develop. So, in the Jubilee Year, people returned to their property and slaves were given their freedom. The cancelling of debts was part of the Jubilee obligations. The Jubilee Year was a time to remember God as he who sets free, who grants liberty to all who are captive. It was what the prophet Isaiah calls a year of the Lord’s favour. (A Pilgrim’s Handbook Dublin Diocese Jubilee 2000 Committee PP 9 – 10)
Parish of Kilgobinet – Colligan – Kilbrien
The Vigil Mass on Saturday, 8th Feb. will also be celebrated in Colligan Church at 7.30pm.
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Meeting with Bishop Cullinan: Celebrating the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025
Pearse Room, Lawlors Hotel, Monday, 10th Feb. at 7.00pm.
On Monday week, the 10th of Feb. Bishop Cullinan will visit our pastoral area. As well as groups and committees from our parishes everyone is very welcome to attend. The purpose of the Bishop’s visit is to talk with us about the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 and events being planned for the year ahead.
Bishop Cullinan would also like to hear of any suggestion you might have regarding events that could be held to mark this Jubilee Year of Hope 2025.
The meeting will be held in the Pearse Room at Lawlors Hotel on Monday, 10th Feb. at 7.00pm.
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Dungarvan Youth Club
More information on our notice boards or at the email address: youthclubdungarvanparish@hotmail.com
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Prayers
Pope Francis’ Prayer to Our Lady
O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always
from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.