Welcome to the website of St Matthew’s Parish, Ballyfermot. We hope you will find any information that you may require on our site, but should you need any help, please don’t hesitate to contact us in the Parish Office.

As you are probably aware, we have installed a webcam to allow parishioners and others to view our celebration of the Eucharist and other services in St. Matthews. If you would like to see the webcam, you’ll find a link in the menu above, or else just click here!

If you are considering making a donation to the parish, please use our online donation system which is linked via the “Donate” button below:

Open Meeting on the Environment Crisis

As a first step in response to the request of the Archbishop that we should as a parish do our part to support efforts to deal with this crisis we are having an open meeting in St Matthew’s Church on Tuesday 2^nd November at 8pm to which all parishioners are invited. The meeting will be addressed by Professor Catherine Russell who is well-versed and sensitive to the issues involved and how they impact on us.

On the occasion of the launch of his pastoral letter, ‘The Cry of the Earth’ Archbishop Farrell said, “We must acknowledge that there is a climate crisis.  This issue, which is the major challenge confronting our planet, and is now the defining issue of this generation, will not be solved by sound bites or short-term actions…. It is not easy to take the enormity of this crisis on board, as the climate crisis is not simply about climate.  It is a multi-layered crisis affecting all aspects of life: homelessness, housing, health, inequality, migration, and the economy as well as the quality of water, soil and air…. The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor go hand in hand. There will be no solution to this crisis without facing up to our obligations to our sisters and brothers whom the West has left behind…. While the pastoral addresses all people of good will, it is addressed to those people of faith in a particular way: it seeks to allow people’s faith to nourish and support them in turning towards a more sustainable style of life….  In responding to the cry of the earth, we pray for people, for a change in ecological awareness and for justice in all its dimensions, for the cry of the poor. Without that inner life we have little hope of an enduring, balanced, life-enhancing response to what is facing us….

 

Task Force’s work of Building Hope. 

Archbishop Farrell established the Task Force to support parishes to undertake a radical renewal, looking to the future with creativity, and to enable the Archdiocese of Dublin to act now so as to be able to give effective witness in the future.  The Archbishop has initiated a conversation aimed at stimulating engagement across the whole Archdiocese.  As a missionary Church we need to be clear about what we are offering to the world, what we need to retain and build on so as to be bearers of hope, and what we must change or leave behind as we build a future of hope while slowly emerging from the Covid-19 crisis.  Parishioners are asked to pray, to discuss the consultation with their families and to complete the online consultation by visiting www.dublindiocese.ie where you will also find a special video message from the Archbishop.

We welcome all those who join us for Mass.

It’s great that some are now able to attend in person. There are 36 marked spots where people may sit in the two sections of the Church, that is, 72 places in all. Where members of families sit together in one spot, more places are available, but not exceeding 100.  So, we especially welcome those who can only join us online.

We ask people please to follow the same procedures as when we were allowed open before, that is, as regards facemasks, social distancing and sanitising hands; entrance is by the front doors and exit by the back doors; no crossing over from one section to the other; shrines are at the back of the Altar.

Finances

The necessary restriction of public worship has profoundly affected the two essential Sunday Mass collections on which parish funds depend. The first collection—as you know—supports clergy ministering throughout the diocese as well as sick and retired priests and priests working in other ministries throughout the diocese. The second collection—the ‘Share’ collection—supports diocesan services to parishes especially disadvantaged parishes. In the last financial year, the clergy collection decreased by 54% and the ‘Share’ collection decreased by 65%. This year the situation is even more grave—with a decrease of 80% and 86% respectively for the first quarter (January to March 2021 That this would have happened, given the character of the necessary lockdowns, is not surprising. I am grateful to all who have continued to give so generously in the past 15 months.

Pope Francis’  Prayer for the Year of St Joseph (starting Friday 19th March)

Hail Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed virgin Mary.                                                              To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.                Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life.                                         Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage and defend us from every evil. Amen

Prayer asking Mary’s Intercession for Protection from the Coronavirus

Covid 19 Funeral Arrangements in St Matthews Church

We offer our condolences to all those who are mourning the loss of a loved one at this time. We understand that this is a difficult time for you. We do not wish to make it any more difficult for you. However, to safeguard the wellbeing of all who attend the funeral in St Matthew’s Church we ask everyone to respect Covid arrangements.

All we can allow in the Church at the moment are 100 people. So sit only in the places where there is a yellow marker. Every second seat should be left empty. (We have installed outdoor microphones so that those who are outside can follow the Mass, but they must observe social distancing.)

For the distribution of Holy Communion everyone should stay where they are and Holy Communion will be brought to you.

Move away from the Church when you come out. Social distancing will not allow people gathering in front of the Church.

We would be very grateful if people would co-operate with the stewarding and follow these necessary arrangements.