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:

Archbishop’s Dermot Farrell address to the Muslim Community on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha or Festival of the Sacrifice, Croke Park, 20 July 2021

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Dr Umar al-Qadri Chairperson of the Islamic Peace and Integration Council for his kind invitation, for the warm welcome which he has given me in the name of the Muslim community in Ireland…. 

I am delighted to accept the invitation to speak on “Togetherness” the theme of this year Eid Al-Adha gathering, when Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Alha.

Togetherness reminds me of the Islamic notion of Ummah and the Christian notion of Community of Believers. Both are very important concepts in our two religious traditions….Witness, fellowship, sharing and prayer are all important pillars (Arkaan) of the believing community which we as Christians share with you….

We the Catholic community are happy to be partners with you in promoting a society which respects each person’s religious tradition and which encourages all to share with the poor and the most vulnerable…. 

Our faith as Christians teaches us that respect, tolerance and love of neighbour are the corner-stones of an integrated country. We appreciate the contribution of the Muslim community in Ireland and pray that the Merciful and Compassionate God will guide, bless and protect you during this important expression of your faith.

As you continue on your journey to seek the One and Unique God who is compassionate and merciful to all, I wish you all a very happy Eid Al-AdHa   Eid Mubaarak.

+ Dermot Farrell

Archbishop of Dublin

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.

You may find it difficult to know how to answer the questions posed on the questionnaire on the diocesan website, but please do your best. When you think of it, you realise that there is indeed a lot that should be done, although, when you saw the questions first, this might not have struck you. For example, when I filled in the questionnaire myself, I never thought about a diocesan policy on the environment and climate change, although this is certainly something that we should all be concerned about. It is most urgent as our world is in crisis and we are too slow in facing up to it. It isn’t only what goes on in the Church that should matter to us, but matters of justice such as this. In this way we witness to our faith in God who has blessed us so much and who has asked us to care for the earth and share its resources responsibly with one another.  As a diocese we have done little more than talk about it.  So hopefully  someone will write about this and other matters of justice that have a serious impact on people’s lives.

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.

Stewards will take up the collection in the seats. 1^st collection is for the priests, 2^nd Collection is for Share. Parish Family envelopes may be put with either collection.

Remain in seats for Holy Communion. Receive only in hand. As Confessions are not readily available it is sufficient for everyone to say act of contrition before receiving Holy Communion. No singing allowed. Front seats leave first in order to allow for social distancing No gathering outside on leaving, this is the main cause for concern as regards spreading the virus.

Only 50 may attend a funeral or wedding in the Church. The pandemic is hopefully coming under control, and so we expect that we will have less restrictions, but Confirmations and First Holy Communions will not take place till September.

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.

Closing Church Gates

Regretfully, due to disturbance and lack of respect for Church grounds, I have to lock the gates. They will however be open for private prayer in the mornings and whenever any services are taking place in the Church. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

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

Day of Prayer The annual Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse is an initiative by Pope Francis and was first marked in Irish dioceses and parishes in 2017. As a gesture towards this initiative we have placed a candle and prayer at St Matthew’s statue as St Matthew was a sinner before Jesus called him. The following which was sent to us is the prayer that you might say: 

Lord, forgive us our many sins. We grieve and repent with all our hearts for having offended you, for our great failings and neglect of the young and vulnerable. We place all of those who have been hurt by the Church in any way into your loving hands and under the protection of Our Blessed Mother.  Lord, bring peace to their broken lives and show us all the way out of darkness and into the light of your Word. May we as the people of God be more fully human, more fully Christ-like and more fully your people, that we may see the errors of the past and go forward with renewed hope and faith in Christ and in our Church. Amen.

Prayer asking Mary’s Intercession for Protection from the Coronavirus

Covid 19 Funeral Arrangements in St Matthews Church (These to be changed).

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 certain arrangements.

If you arrive before the hearse, do not gather outside the Church. On arrival enter through the front door of the Church and take your seats.

All we can allow in the Church at the moment are 50 people. So sit only in the places where there is a yellow marker. (We have installed outdoor microphones so that those who are outside can follow the Mass, but they must observe social distancing.) Two people from the one household may sit together, and no more.

Leave the front seats available for the chief mourners who will arrive with the hearse.

Those who are doing readings or bringing up symbols (mementos) of the deceased should sit at the end of seats so that they do not have to pass anyone on leaving their seats.

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

At the end of Mass the priest and coffin will go out first, and then starting from the seats nearest the Altar, people will leave the Church by the same door by which they entered. So stay in your seat until the people in the seat in front of you have moved 2 meters past you.

Transmission of the ceremony through our website will continue until the singer has finished her singing.

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.