The Parish Baptismal Group are teams of lay parishioners who help families prepare for the baptism of their child by meeting with them either in the church before the sacrament or in their homes. If you are interested in volunteering for this important ministry, please contact Anne through the Parish Office.
The Bethany Bereavement Group is a voluntary parish-based service which aims to help and support bereaved adults in their journey through grief and loss.
The parish’s Bible Study Group uses the popular DVD bible course by Jeff Cavins as well as a presentation prepared by the Catholic Truth Society. The Bible Group usually meet in the Kildare Room, beside the parochial house at St Brigid’s Carnhill on Thursday evenings. There is also an informal reflection on the up-coming Sunday readings – with a cup of tea – directly following the 10:30am Mass every Tuesday in St Joseph’s, Galliagh. Those interested in sacramental preparation and faith formation for non-Catholics, leading to full communion with the Catholic church, which is offered on an individual basis, can find out more by contacting Lida at the parish office.
The Cursillo Movement is an international evangelical movement composed of lay people from all walks of life. The members organize 3-day Cursillos (short courses in Christianity). After the weekend introduction, and supported by ongoing faith formation and worship, the Cursillistas are encouraged to Christianize wherever they find themselves and whoever they come in contact with. The Cursillo representative in the parish is Martin Gallagher and he can be contacted at the parish office.
The “Do This In Memory of Me” programme is the catechetical/faith formation programme used to help our children, their families, schools and the wider parish community, as they prepare to receive the sacraments of First confession and First Holy Communion.
The programme complements school-based work and takes place outside the classroom in the context of the Parish Sunday Eucharist in each of the three churches in Three Patrons Parish roughly once a month. This is supported in the home through the use of activities and the THUMB resource for teachers, parents and children. Our Parish Pastoral Youth co-ordinater, Kathryn Ellis, designs, co-ordinates and implements the programme for Three Patrons Parish along with a team of parish volunteers who help to facilitate the running of the programme throughout the year.
The Pope John Paul II Award recognizes young people’s commitment to faith and community. The award enables participants to take an active part in the life of their church, of their community and society. It also enables young people become more aware of the teaching and role of the church and to engage at a deep level with the person of Christ. The award is committed to helping young people enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional and social development through participation in school, parish, and community activities. For more information, contact Kathryn Ellis at the parish office.
The Legion of Mary is a lay apostolic association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church, and under the powerful leadership of Mary, the mother of God, serve the Church and serve their neighbour on a voluntary basis in about 170 countries worldwide. The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and by active participation in Mary’s and the Church’s work.
Every parish is bound to have a finance committee in place. This does the vital work of helping and advising the parish priest in the financial administration of the parish, the proper and safe maintenance of parish property and due diligence of parish assets. Further information on the parish finance committee can be obtained on request from the parish office.
The parish pastoral council is a collaboration between priests and people working together in furthering the mission of Christ in our parish. The Pastoral council, in consultation with the priests of the parish, is charged with maintaining an overview of the pastoral needs of the parish, with planning strategically and helping to identify, implement and evaluate those pastoral initiatives and policies best suited to spreading and deepening the living of the gospel on our local parish community.
The mission of the Pioneer Total abstinence Association is to address the problems in society caused by excess alcohol consumption and drug usage. The association does this through faith, prayer and self-denial as well as promoting activities which present a positive alternative to drink and drugs especially to young people. Members commit to abstaining from alcohol, to wearing the Pioneer pin and to saying the Heoric Offering prayer twice daily. If you would like to find out more about the work or becoming a member, please ring (02871) 352285.
The Saint Joseph’s Young Priests Society exists to help student clerics on their vocational journey to Priesthood. The Society fosters vocations to the priesthood and religious life and assists students for the priesthood both financially and by prayer. There is an active branch of the society in Three Patrons Parish and for more information, please contact the parish office.
The SVP is a voluntary, Christian organisation working with people experiencing poverty and disadvantage. Inspired by our principal founder, Frederic Ozanam, and our patron, St Vincent de Paul, we seek to respond to the call every Christian receives to bring the love of Christ to those in need: ”I was hungry, and you gave me food’ (Matthew 25). No work of charity is foreign to the Society which is the biggest charitable organisation in Ireland and is involved in a wide range of activities characterized by support and friendship, promoting self-sufficiency and working for social justice. Each of the three churches within the parish has a volunteer group. New members are always welcome and sorely needed and you can make contact with the SVP through the parish office.