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Welcome to the grouped parishes of St Brigid's Stillorgan and All Saints' Blackrock
WELCOME
I am delighted that you have visited our website.
From whatever religious background you come - from any faith or none - you are very welcome.
St Brigid's and All Saint's are a parish group within the Church of Ireland united dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough, Ireland.
Regular Sunday church services take place at 9:45am in All Saints' and at 8:30am and 11:15am in St Brigids. Full details of services are available on the Worship page.
We encourage you to visit our wonderful churches to rest, to reflect, or to join us in prayer and song.
Rev. Kevin Conroy
St Brigid’s with All Saints’ aims to encourage people in their worship and in the formation, development and living out of their Christian faith, to promote friendship and caring in the community and wider world, and to welcome and facilitate people of all ages.
THE RECTOR'S RAMBLINGS
The Rector's Ramblings are Kevin's weekly musings on recent global, parochial and personal events. They may also reflect on some aspect of the scriptures that are pertinent today.
Last Sunday I announced to the parishes that I was to take over as rural dean of the Monkstown North rural deanery with the retirement of Revd Gary Dowd at the end of June. This deanery includes Booterstown with Mount Merrion, Dun Laoghaire, Glenageary, Monkstown and ourselves. Two of the parishes are now vacant. One of the responsibilities of the rural dean is pastoral oversight so I will have to disappear now and then to visit parishioners who cannot otherwise attend church. Please understand if I must vanish to the vacant parishes every now and then.
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On Tuesday I attended an induction day at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. While Tullow parish is vacant, I am assigned here and Loughlinstown Hospital as visiting chaplain. While some of the material didn’t apply to me (e.g. Payroll and IT overviews), it was good to meet the CEO, to get a reminder of Safeguarding and to understand the basics of Infection Control. It surprises me that there is such a variety of approaches to onboarding part-time chaplains across the Irish medical system. I’m sure there is a project for someone on this topic!
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The recent earthquakes in Venezuela confront us once again with one of life's deepest questions, that is, why does a loving God allow suffering? Scripture offers no easy explanation. Rather than presenting God as the author of tragedy, it reveals a creation that longs for its final renewal (Romans 8:22).
The world is beautiful, yet marked by brokenness, awaiting the fulfilment of God's kingdom. In Jesus Christ, God does not remain distant from human pain but enters it, bearing suffering and death on the cross and overcoming them through the resurrection. This does not remove our questions, but it assures us that suffering is never the last word.
Even amid devastation, God is present, comforting the broken-hearted, strengthening those who serve, and calling the Church to be an instrument of hope, mercy, and practical love. As we pray for all affected, may we also become signs of Christ's compassion in a world that still waits for its redemption.
Kevin
Subscribe to the Weekly Word if you would like to receive the ramblings directly to your mailbox.
SPECIAL SERVICES & EVENTS
St Brigid's and All Saints' are busy parishes and below are some of the special services and events that will be taking place in the coming weeks. Do come along to any that take your fancy - you will be very welcome.
August Services
During August, the main Sunday service will take place in St Brigid's at 10.30am. All are welcome.
There will be no services in All Saints'.
Back to School!
There will be a blessing of school and work bags on Sunday 6th September at the 11.15am service in St Brigid's.
Harvest Festival
Sunday, 27th September
We plough the fields and scatter!
Join us a special service where we give thanks for all the good gifts around us and remember those less fortunate than ourselves.
Sponsored Walk
Sunday, 11th October
Sponsored walk in aid of the Blackrock Hopsice.
Meet at the Rectory
Archbishop Michael Jackson
Sunday, 22nd November
United service at 10.30am in St Brigid's presided by Archbishop Michael Jackson
Parish Golf Outing
The annual golf outing takes place at Foxrock Gold Club on Thursday, 3rd September. Contact Nigel Meredith or Daphne Kaye to reserve tee time and/or dinner. Golfers and diners welcome!
Mothers' Union Opening Service
The opening service of the Mothers' Union takes place at 8:00pm on Thursday 10th September in All Saints'.
Annual Animal Service
11:15am Sunday, 4th October at St Brigid's
All pets welcome, including goldfish!
Remembrance Sunday
Sunday 8th November
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
SUPPORT
We are grateful to those who financially support us which allows maintenance of two churches and a historical graveyard. We also use donations to support charities, both near and far, like the Blackrock Hospice, the Salvation Army, Christian Aid and the Capuchin food centre in Dublin city.
If you would like to make a one off donation, no matter how large or small, please visit this link to make payment by card.
To make your donation go further, please consider completing a CHY3 form which will allow the parish to claim back income tax. See here for information.
ST BRIGID'S MAY FAIR
The highlight of our social calendar must be the St Brigid's May Fair. It is the biggest parish fête in Ireland with thousands of bargains, hundreds of visitors, a vibrant atmosphere, and a fantastic selection of stalls and entertainment for all ages.
The May Fair usually takes place on the third week of May and more information can be found at stbrigidsmayfair.com
If you would like to join the team of over a hundred volunteers and be part of this wonderful social event and fundraiser, please contact the parish office.
SOCIAL MEDIA
