The programme of Adult Studies of the Catechism on Unit 6, which began on 15 September 2015, concluded on 1 December. Sessions are on Tuesdays from 7.30 - 9.15pm in the Upper Room (accessed from the Tower).

So far, the group have covered the following topics:

• Unit 6: Prayer
• Dates: 15 September - 1 December 2015
  

Archbishop Charles Brown, Papal Nuncio, was the main celebrant at a Mass in honour of St Josemaría in Our Lady Queen of Peace on Saturday, 20 June.

It was a joyous celebration and the church was filled with people of all ages. The Nuncio was assisted by two deacons, both ordained to the priesthood within a fortnight: Robert McGivney (Meath) and Aidan McCann (Armagh). Six other priests concelebrated, among them Fr Justin Gillespie, Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in Ireland, Fr Fergus and Fr James. A group of four altar servers from St Michael's College in their red cassocks and surplices added more colour. The liturgy was enhanced by the beautiful music of the choir, under the direction of Gerard Downey, and the Communion hymn sung by the Rosemont School choir. After the Mass Archbishop Brown spent quite a while greeting many of the people who gathered in glorious sunshine in the church plaza.

For more details on the life of St Josemaría click here.

An album of photos of the Mass may be viewed here.

The beatification of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo (1914-1994), first successor of Saint Josemaría as head of Opus Dei, took place in Madrid on Saturday, 27 September 2014.

• See various videos, letter of Pope Francis and homily of Cardinal Amato here.
• Zenit report here.
• Photos of ceremony here.
  

As Prelate of Opus Dei, in 1990 Blessed Alvaro called Fr Fergus to the priesthood for ordination in St Peter's Basilica by Saint John Paul II. Fr Fergus and a number of parishioners and others who worship in Our Lady Queen of Peace attended the beatification ceremony.

We are happy to say that Phase 2 of a series of improvements to Our Lady Queen of Peace, that will make it more beautiful and more suitable to our needs, has been completed.

This phase addressed the exterior of the church and involved the following:

• Provision of a Park and Pray area in front of the church with a paved plaza where people can gather.
• Reorganisation of the vehicle entrances and exits to the main road.
• New front boundary along the main road, incorporating an attractive capped boundary wall with railings.
• Safer and more user-friendly Pay and Display area.
• Enhanced landscaping that will soften the front of the church and improve its setting.
• Upgrading of the car park surface and underground drainage throughout the Church grounds.
• Necessary repairs and remedial works to the church building exterior facades, perimeter concrete plinths and flat roofs.
• Provision of secure bicycle parking facilities.
  

We are seeking new members for the parish choir. All parts (SATB) are required. Rehearsals, on Sundays from 11am until just before 12 noon, take place in the recently refurbished Upper Room, which is accessed from the Tower.

In addition to the choir enhancing the 12 noon Mass liturgy on Sundays and major Feast Days, it is also hoped to train cantors who will lead the congregation during other Sunday Masses and also on weekdays, where possible.

If you love to sing... and especially if you have singing experience in a choral setting, your talent is needed in Our Lady Queen of Peace. Previous experience is NOT essential, just basic ability and a love to take part in singing beautiful sacred music on a regular basis - weekly, if possible.

Please let Fr Fergus know if you have an interest or have a chat with Andrew Larkin, our organist/choir director (andrewjpl@gmail.com / 086-125 7713), after the Sunday 12 noon Mass.

We were privileged to have been asked to be a Host Church during the Eucharist Congress. That historic week was a time of grace and growth for us in the parish and also for the many pilgrims who visited our newly renovated church.

There was a great sense of the universality and youthful vitality of the Church in our parish that week. We had concelebrated Masses in Spanish and Chinese, a large group of French-speaking pilgrims from the island of Guadalupe, in the Caribbean, various groups from North and South America, as well as bishops and priests from the United States, Kenya, India and the Czech Republic who concelebrated on various occasions. And we had a talk from Cardinal Robert Sarah, born in Guinea and now President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum in Rome.

Arising from the Pastoral Letter of the Holy Father, the Bishops of Ireland have published a new resource leaflet called Friday Penance. This is amongst a number of initiatives aimed to support renewal in the Catholic Church in Ireland. More details here