St. Fergal’s Parish

Ballywaltrim

Bray

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Majella Whelan retires

NEWS

As Majella steps down from her parish responsibilities, we say a heartfelt thank you to her. Her dedication in the way she prepared the sanctuary for every Mass and ceremony, her care of the sacristy itself, and her own personal faith contributed so much in making St. Peter’s a true home for everyone who walked through its doors. She has been the cornerstone of our church community, not only in making the church a welcoming place as sacristan, but also thought her behind-the-scenes work on different parish committees. As we look back on those 12 years, we are deeply grateful to her for all that she has done. Her legacy of dedication inspires us all. Thank you Majella, for your extraordinary service.

Article courtesy

Holy Redeemer/St. Peter’s Newsletter.

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Final Day of the Triduum

The Triduum in honour of St. Anthony of Padua, June 2024, was conducted by Fr. Jimmy Mc Partland, Co-PP, St Fergal’s Parish, Ballywaltrim, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Fr. Jimmy delivers his Homily

Fr. Jimmy celebrating Mass

Fr. Jimmy blesses the lilies

He sprinkles them with holy water

He sprinkles the congregation with holy water

Fr. Jimmy blesses the congregation with the relic of St. Anthony

Photos; Peter Growney

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Floral Decorations on the Occasion

of the

Triduum

in honour of

St. Anthony of Padua

at. St. Fergal’s Church

Ballywaltrim

Bray,

Co. Wicklow

June 2024

Floral Decorations

by

Betty Burke

and her team

Photos: Peter Growney

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Floral Decorations

on the Occasion of

First Holy Communion

and

Confirmation

at

St. Fergal’s Church

Ballywaltrim

Bray

Co. Wicklow

May 2024

Floral Decorations

by

Betty Burke

and her team

Photos: Peter Growney

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70th Anniversary

of

Our Lady’s Grotto

at

Wolfe Tone Square

Bray

Co. Wicklow

Fr. Peter O’Reilly, PP

Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish

blesses the Grotto

Brian White

Bray Cualann Historical Society

delivers a history of the Grotto

Some of the people who took part in the procession

Photos: Peter Growney

Marian Year 1954

Pope Pius XII set aside the year 1954 as Marian Year it would run from December 1953 to December 1954. He encouraged everyone to honour Our Lady of Lourdes. He called on people in villages, towns and local communities to build a shine or grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.

In Bray and Enniskerry a number of shrines and grottos were proposed, a shrine at James Connolly Square, a grotto at Wolfe Tone Square, a grotto in the grounds of Loreto Convent Bray, a grotto at the Catholic Church in Enniskerry, a grotto at the Rocky Valley near Kilmacanogue and a grotto in the People’s Park in Little Bray (never built).

The community of Wolfe Tone Square and O’Byrne Road established a committee and soon found a site and they set about raising funds to cover the cost of the materials needed including a statue of Our Lady. The grotto would be erected using voluntary labour under the direction of Mr. M. Brady. The fund-raising included house to house weekly collection and donations from local business. In August 1954 the Bray Urban District Council gave approval for the erection of the grotto at Wolfe Tone Square.

The grotto was designed by Mr W. Murphy 4.8 meters high (16ft) and 8.5 meters wide(28ft) with five steps that approach an alter with the Statue of Our Lady mounted. The statue was made in Dublin by John Deghini & sons of Lower Exchange Street, Dublin for £160. A documentary of the work of John Deghini featured in a RTE Horizon programme broadcasted in 15 February 1968. In 1993 when the grotto was refurbished a local newspaper carried the story the statue was originally transported to Bray on a bus.

On 5th December 1954 the route from the Queen of Peace Church to the Grotto was decorated with bunting, flags and banners. A guard of honour was formed by the F.C.A. local parish groups and schoolchildren. The Artane Boys band under the direction of Mr J. J. Hickey played hymns.

After the blessing of the grotto by Canon Fitzpatrick and Fr Mulcahy the Parish Priest of the Queen of Peace Church. The procession returned to the Queen of Peace Church for solemn benediction.

Later in the evening at the International Hotel (now Bray Bowl) Mr John Temple, Chairman of the Grotto Committee presented a cheque to Fr. Mulcahy. The cheque represented the balance of the grotto fund.

The blessing of the grotto in Loreto took place in October 1955, while the grotto at Enniskerry Church was blessed on the same day as the Wolfe Tone Grotto it was built by the Butler family of the Scalp, Enniskerry.

Brian White

May 2024

Sources Local and National Newspapers 1954, 1993, and 2004.

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Easter Floral Decorations

at

St. Fergal’s Church

Bray

Co.

Wicklow

Easter Floral Decorations

by

Betty Burke

and her team

Photos: Peter Growney

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St. Brigid’s Feast Day

1st. February

2024

On St. Brigid’s Feast Day were honoured with a visit

from St. Brigid herself during our Prayer Service

aka Paula Carty

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Charity Concert

at

St. Fergal’s

A charity concert in aid of Acquired Brain Injury Trust was held in the St. Anthony Room, St. Fergal’s Church , Ballywaltrim, Bray on Friday 17th, November, 2023. The Trust helps people who have suffered brain injury and their families. Performers on the evening were Musical Director: Michael Byrne on keyboards, Anne Egan on Silver flute and whistles, Peter Daynes on percussion and visuals and Alex Byrne on guitar and vocals. The Concert featured music from the Westerns, music by Ennio Morricone, the Bond Movies, the Mission and many more.The audience really enjoyed the performance and sang along to many of the pieces. The amount raised was 520 Euro

Michael Byrne on Keyboards

Anne Egan on Silver Flute and Whistles

Alex Byrne on Guitar and Vocals

Peter Daynes on Visuals and Percussion

Visuals featured the paintings and wildlife photography of artist, Peter Growney

Photos: Peter Growney

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Concelebrated Mass

and the

Blessing of the Lilies

on the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua

June, 13th, 2023

(Final Day of the Triduum)

Principal Celebrant, Archbishop Liam Slattery OFM,

Pretoria, South Africa and Fr. Jimmy McPartland, Co-PP,

St. Fergal’s Parish, Ballywaltrim, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Archbishop Liam Slattery

Minister of the Word

Marie Hegarty

Fr. Jimmy McPartland

proclaims the Gospel

Archbishop Liam Slattery, OFM

delivers his homily

The Consecration of the Sacred Host

The Evevation of the Sacred Host

The Elevation of the Precious Blood

Archbishop Liam Slattery blesses the Lilies

They are then sprinkeled with Holy Water

Archbishop Liam Slattery, OFM

imparts the Final Blessing

St. Fergal’s Choir

Michael Byrne, Musical Director

and accompanist of

St. Fergal’s Choir

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Photos: Peter Growney.

First Holy Communion Floral Decorations

Floral Decorations on the occasion of

First Holy Communion at

St. Fergal’s Church, Ballywaltrim, Saturday 20^th May 2023.

Floral Decorations by Betty Burke and her team.

Photos: Peter Growney

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Confirmation Floral Decorations

at

St. Fergal’s Church

May 2023

Floral decorations on the occasion of

Confirmation at St. Fergal’s Church, Ballywaltrim,

Bray, Co. Wicklow.

May 2023.

Floral decorations courtesy Betty Burke and her team.

Photos: Peter Growney

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Easter Vigil

Easter Vigil Mass

St. Fergal’s Church,

Ballywaltrim,

Bray,

Co. Wicklow,

Ireland.

Saturday 8^th April, 2023.

Celebrant: Very Rev. Jimmy McPartland, Co-PP

St. Fergal’s Church

Pascal Fire

Fr. Jimmy lights the Pascal Candle

from the Pascal Fire

The Pascal Candle having been put in its stand on the altar Fr. Jimmy having incensed the book now incenses the Pascal Candle

Fr. Jimmy now proclaims the

Easter Proclamation

(Exsultet)

After the Readings and the lighting of the altar candles

he incenses the Book before he proclaims the Gospel

Fr. jimmy proclaims the Gospel

Fr. Jimmy blesses the Easter Water

He then, after lighting of candles by the congregation and renewal of baptismal vows he sprinkles the congregation with the newly blessed Easter Holy Water

The gifts of bread and wine having been brought in procession

to the altar are incensed by Fr. Jimmy

He raises the Consecrated Sacred Host

He raises the consecrated Precious Blood

Photos: Peter Growney

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Easter Floral Decorations

at St. Fergal’s Church

Floral Decorations

by

Betty Burke

and her team

Photos: Peter Growney

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Christmas Floral Decorations

at St. Fergal’s Church

2022

Floral Decorations

courtesy

Betty Burke and her team

Photos: Peter Growney

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St. Fergal’s Parish

bids farewell to the

Sisters of

Saint-Gildas des Bois

with a Mass of

Thanksgiving and Appreciation

L to R

Sr. Margaret Mary Maher, in the Parish since 2003, Sr. Adile, a visitor to the Parish on many occasions,

Sr. Anne Hogan, Regional Co-ordinator for Ireland and England, and Sr. Breda Lalor, in the Parish since 2008

The Sisters of Saint-Gildas photographed with Very Rev. Fr. Jimmy McPartland, Co-PP, St. Fergals Parish, Ballywaltrim, Bray who celebrated Mass

On left, Mary Bolger , Sacristan for the Mass and on the right Mary Breen and Sheila Plunkett along with Mary Bolger provided the refreshments after Mass

On left, Maire Therese Kennan O’Dowd, Minister of the Word who proclaimed the Readings during Mass and who organised the Mass, on right seated Mary Breen and standing Sheila Plunkett along with Mary Bolger provided the refreshments after Mass

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St. Fergal’s Parish bids farewell to the Sisters of Saint-Gildas with a Special Mass of thanksgiving and appreciation celebrated by Very Rev. Jimmy McPartland, Co-PP, St. Fergal’s Parish, Ballywaltrim, Bray, on Tuesday 23^rd August 2022. All the parishioners who attended were invited to refreshments in the St. Anthony Room after the Mass provided by the sacristans.

During Mass in his homily Fr. Jimmy thanked the Sisters of Saint-Gildas for all the service they gave to the parish in the past three decades and wished them well in their new Ministry.

The last two remaining Sisters Sr. Breda Lalor and Sr. Margaret Mary Maher are going to continue their Ministry in convents in England.

Sr. Anne Hogan, during Mass thanked all the clergy and community of St. Fergal’s for all the kindness and support shown to the Sisters through the years. She recalled how the Sisters of Saint-Gildas came to Bray in 1993 and spent their first year in the Most Holy Redeemer Parish. They stayed in temporary accommodation in one of the small red brick houses opposite the Town Hall. In the year 1994 they acquired permanent accommodation in the Parish of St. Fergal and were warmly welcomed by the then Parish Priest, Fr. Pascal Nevin, OFM.

First to arrive in Bray were Sr. Catherine Hyland, St. Anne Madigan and Sr. Gisele Merot, retired Mother General. Sr. Gisele stayed for one year.

Sr. Margaret Mary Maher arrived in 2003 and Sr. Breda Lalor in 2008. Sr. Anne Hogan, Regional Co-ordinator for Ireland and England, came to visit on occasions as did Sr. Odile.. Sr. Josephine was also in St. Fergal’s for a short while Sr. Margaret Mary was involved in the Monday Club which met in the St. Clare’s Centre. Sr. Anne Madigan and parishioner Bernie McGrane were involved in Casa and their work involved visiting housebound people and to develop friendships. Sr. Catherine and Sr. Eileen of the Marist Sisters who were then also in the Parish and Sr. Margaret Mary were involved in the Cardas Group. Sr. Breda was a member of St. Fergal’s Parish Pastoral Council for many years and her work also involved visiting housebound people. She was also a member of the Funeral Team. All the Sisters were Ministers of the Eucharist and Sr. Anne brought Holy Communion to the sick.

St. Fergal’s Mens Choir under musical Director, Michael Byrne and solo pieces by flautist Eimear Hegarty added beautifully to this very special Mass

A special word of thanks from all of us parishioners for all your work and friendship throughout the years and we also wish you well