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Parishes—Working Together for Mission
Five parishes, four in Bray and one in Enniskerry, are in the process of being grouped together into one large Pastoral Area. This regrouping is happening across the whole of the Dublin Diocese. Why, you may ask? The answer is to promote co-operation between parishes (faith communities) to make more effective the task of living and spreading the Good News of Jesus. For Bray this is not a new concept as the Parish Pastoral Councils have already been working together for  several years.

This grouping, or clustering, of parishes, also addresses the issue of the falling number of  priests. This is putting a greater onus on the laity to keep their parish alive in a time of great change and challenge. In the future, a number of priests will be appointed to ‘Team Ministry’. These priests will work together in a ‘Pastoral Area’ or ‘Cluster.’

Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, explained the reorganisation as follows: “the term ‘parishes working together for mission’ (as in tag line above) was chosen because it stresses that mission is the aim of the project and that mission is the task of all members of a faith community. It is not just a task for priests, but for parishes as active, faith communities which must become more effective in making the message and love of Jesus known.  Collectively as the People of God we always have a new opportunity to build the Church Community in a new way.  That way which will evolve will depend above all on our own ability to live the Gospel, which is always the same, in a new way, and to allow that Gospel to lead us on”.

Parishes working together for mission means parish communities working together, sharing talents and experiences, seeking to do God’s will by reaching out to others, as the early Christians did.

In our  Pastoral Area each parish will retain its own identity and will have its own Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Committee and at least one resident priest.  The model is designed to promote new initiatives in pastoral care, in the spreading of the Gospel and in the support of priests. It does not envisage diminishing in any way the essential role of Parish Pastoral Councils or other forms of lay collaboration.  The introduction of the  Pastoral Area and Team Ministry is a new way of organising the parishes together aimed at fostering creativity. Parishes are already sharing ministries as seen below. The new arrangement will also allow for the expansion of specific ministries such as youth ministry.

A New Team
At present a group consisting of representatives from the 5 PPC’s meet monthly to plan for the full roll-out of this new way of working together. From a practical point of view a number of initiatives are already in motion. Several others are in the pipe-line.

Funeral Ministry Training
There was a training day for all parishes in Queen of Peace. This day was very successful and Funeral Liturgy is now happening in a number of parishes. .

Advent & Lenten prayer
With the Bray Churches Together there have been a number of Prayer Services run over the Advent and Lenten period. These have had an ecumenical element to them. All parishes were involved.

Training Day for Readers
This day was run for readers in all the parishes and training was organised by Queen of Peace

Times of Masses
These have been discussed with all parishes to avoid overlapping Mass times. This is so that in the Pastoral Area people will have options and  so that priests can say Mass in their own parish and assist in another one.

Theology Course
Over the last three years over 50 people have studied a theology course here in Bray which was delivered by Mater Dei.  That group has now reached certificate qualification.  Attendance certificates were presented on Wed. May 11th  to all on the course. Well done to all involved!

Parish Pastoral Councils
There have been a number of meetings with the full parish Pastoral Councils from each individual parish, where ‘Working Together’, ‘Team Ministry’ etc. have been discussed. These days finished with lunch and were  useful for getting to know each other and for planning for the future.
Another day is being organised for June.

Rotation of priests
There have been a number of Sundays where priests have said Mass in a different parish in order that the parishioners can get used to seeing other priests.

Day of reflection for Eucharistic Ministers
A day of reflection took place on the 16th April, 2011 and the focus was on ‘Nourishment’. There was an exploration of the upcoming International Eucharistic Congress  during the morning. Over 90 attended the session.

The above are just samples of how we are working together, sharing resources and supporting each other. Our next event will be a gathering of all involved in Baptism teams in June.

There is a rich diversity of groups, gifts and talents within each individual parish. Working together we can enhance these skills by bringing about a unity of purpose. We can then have a greater sense of belonging and welcome.  While each parish will always retain its own identity the Word of the Lord –the Gospel- is the same for us all, and our Mission should be the same.

Parish                                  Sat Even.        Sun Morn.                       Sun. Even.    Telephone
Holy Redeemer                     18:15             09:00, 10:30, 12:00         19:30           286 8413
Our Lady Queen of Peace       18:30             10:30, 12:00                   17:30           274 5497
St. Fergal’s                           19:00             10:00, 11:30                                       286 0980
St.Mary’s(Enniskerry)            19:00,18:00    09:00. 11:00                                       276 0030
St.Kevin’s – Glencree            09:00, 10:00
St.Patrick’s - Curtlestown                            11:15
St.Mochonog’s- Kilmacanogue               
St. Peter’s                            19:00            09:00,11:00,12:00,10:00                       282 9467
While the church is being
renovated masses  will take
place in St Peter’s
boys’ school.
St.Kevin's Mass Centre

This document can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here