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Installation of Fr.
Brian Moore, CM as our new Parish Priest
Congratulations to Fr. Brian Moore, CM who was officially installed as
Parish Priest of St. Peter's on Sunday 1st September, 2002
Along with you, the Parishioners of St. Peter’s I’ve been
entrusted with the Mission of the Parish which according to our mission
statement is a ‘Place of Welcome’, ‘A Holy Place’ where we ‘Seek God’,
share “In Pilgrimage” and “Hunger for the Bread of Life”.
We are embarking on this mission in the light of a long
tradition going back to the celebration of the first Mass here on Trinity
Sunday 1827, the arrival of the Vincentian Community in 1838, the building
of the present Church and School and then St. Peter’s being created a
Parish in 1974.
The two foundation stories of St. Peter’s is the faith of
the people and the commitment of the Vincentians to this church for 164
years. I thank God that I can now share in this tradition at the beginning
of this new century and I wish to thank my predecessors who gave leadering
on this Pilgrimage Fr. Tommy Fagan, CM., Fr. Frank McMorrow, CM., Fr.
Charles Sinnott, CM., Fr. Brian Doyle, CM. and Fr. Sean Farrell, CM. who
has entrusted to us a beautiful place of worship through the Chapel of
Adoration, the Icons and the Prayer Garden. I also want to thank Fr. Colm
McAdam, CM. and Fr. Joe Cunninghan, CM. for their pastoral endeavours in
the Parish and the school.
Our faith in the Vincentian tradition leads to good works
and this is reflected in the work of St. Peter’s School, St. Peter’s
Luncheon Club, Phibsborough Aid, the Parish of the Travelling People, the
Vincentian Refugee Centre, the Nigerian Mission Committee and St. Peter’s
Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. I also like to welcome Fr.
Michael McCullagh, CM. and Fr. Eamon Devlin, CM. who will reside here as
they continue their Vincentian Mission.
I wish to thank Bishop Field for his presence and
encouraging words, the Ladies Choir and Paul Lyons as organist. The
Readers and Eucaristic Ministers along with the Flower arrangers, those
that cleaned the church, those that prepared refreshments for us after the
ceremony and Willie King who keeps everything running smoothly.
My
hope for St. Peter’s over the coming years is
·
An inclusive and welcoming community.
·
A centre of faith and prayer.
·
An evangelising people.
An address given by Fr. Brian Moore,CM on
his installation as Parish Priest on 1st September 2002
Sincere thanks to Bishop Raymond
Field who was the main celebrant and also to Fr. Kevin O'Shea,CM
Provincial of the Vincentian Community. The day was a wonderful parish
celebration with refreshments served afterwards in the garden amid
glorious sunshine - thanks to all who played a part in making the day a
great success.
Address by Bishop Raymond
Field
“A Welcoming Community”
The
Parish here in St. Peter’s has been a wonderful beacon of light and
Christian love, through the Vincentian Refugee Centre. Fr. Brian, along
with your Parish responsibilities, an integral part of your ministry here
has been and will continue in the administration and work of the
Vincentian Refugee Centre involving the local community with refugees in
developing a model of a “Welcoming Community” which recognizes and values
cultural diversity in a multi-ethnic society. The work of the VRC
highlights and addresses the dreadful loneliness and isolation experienced
by asylum seekers and refugees as well as the very real problems of
finding somewhere affordable to live and the language, educational and
cultural barriers faced by them - in addition to the persistent racism
which they, regrettably, also face.
In
addition, the Parish of the Travelling People is administered from here as
well. I had first hand experience of how important and relevant this work
is and how deeply appreciated by members of the Travelling Community, in
my visits with Fr. Stephen Monaghan, CM. I wish to thank him for his
outstanding and dedicated work with the members of the Travelling
Community.
Fr.
Brian, all of us wish you well and pray that the Spirit will be with you
as you assume the Office of Parish Priest; that your labours amongst us
will bear much fruit for the Lord. All of us wish you well in your
pastoral duties of preaching the Word of God, of celebrating the Eucharist
and the sacraments, caring for the sick, mindful always of the poor and
disadvantaged, reconciling penitents and making God present amongst us as
you lead and collaborate with the members of the Parish. I know that the
concept of collaborative ministry is very close to your heart and you will
find a wonderful resource and support in the established Parish Teams and
Groups here in the Parish. Indeed, aware that you are officially the
Congregation of the Missions, I wish to acknowledge the wonderful work of
the Parish Group who so generously work to raise finance in support of the
Missions. You will I am sure, take heart from the vision of St. Vincent
who offers a Spiritual Way and shows us how we can meet our God in
everyday experiences, in the events, the persons, the circumstances of our
life. His Way is the way of the Church, a way of experience, of faith, of
practical wisdom… all embraced in a spirit of love.
An
extract from the homily of
Bishop Raymond Field at St. Peter’s Church
on 1st
September 2002.
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