Dear Parishioners
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 FR. AUSTIN KINSELLA OFM; Guardian and Parish priest. |
The Centenary of the foundation of our church provides us with a good reason for celebrating the past and preparing for the future. The celebrations start on the Feast of St. Thomas, 29th December 1994 and go on for one year. We are proud of the achievements of the century and grateful to those who have helped bring them about. What the next 100 years may bring we can only leave to our imaginations. The future development of our parish has already been set in motion. The first green shoots of the growth of the "The Domestic Church" are beginning to appear.
Within the parish, the home will be seen to be the First Church. Both the parish and parish schools will be placed more directly at the service of the home. This, and other home based programmes will have a major impact on the role of the parish in the future.
The future will also see the greater involvement of lay people in decision making, management, growth and development of our parish.
There will also be a far greater emphasis on our relationships with our Sister Christian Churches. New bridges are being built between us and the non-Christian religions, following the lead of our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in Assisi.
In the years ahead a greater social awareness will be a significant feature of the parish. Structures will be put in place to enable the whole parish to make known its convictions on justice and peace and the needs of the poor.
A few years divide our parish centenary from the new millennium. The future does not intimidate us. We approach it fleet of foot and light of heart confident that our God comes to us from the future.
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