The year was 1770, and in a small Italian church, two altar boys prepared for mass. Annibale Della Genga and Francesco Castiglioni , put on their servers alb, and grabbed the heavy brass candlesticks. And then they began to bicker - arguing over who would stand on the priest’s right for the procession, their quibble escalated into a shouting match! Alarmed parishioners turned their heads to the back of the church to see the commotion, and that’s when it happened: Castiglioni cracked Della Genga over the head with his candlestick!Shocked parishioners screamed, “Throw them out! Throw them out!” So the embarrassed priest ushered the boys to the door, and asked them to leave! Now fast-forward several decades to 1825. Half a million people gathered in Rome for the great Jubilee celebration. The Jubilee climax was the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. The symbolism was rich: pilgrims from all over the world following their leader through the great porta fidei, the ‘door of faith.’ Cardinal Della Genga who had become Pope Leo XII neared the door. Turning to the Cardinal beside him, the Pope said “Let me have the hammer, to knock on the Jubilee Door” With a sly grin, Cardinal Castiglioni replied, “Just like I gave you the candlestick, fifty five years ago?” Amazingly, four years later Castiglioni succeeded his friend and became Pope, taking the name Pius VIII. Now if you told any of those pew sitters back in 1770 that they had two future-Popes in the back of their church, they’d have laughed you out of the building: “Those two boys? The ones shoving and whacking each other with candles?” Today’s Gospel gives us the good news that God can change even weeds to wheat and that we should be patient!  Fr David

Pastoral Challenges to the Family - Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelisation is an extraordinary document which has sent by the Vatican to all National Bishops Conferences across the world. Pope Francis is asking parishes, people, dioceses, countries to reflect on the questions and make submissions in advance of the Synod of Bishops next year. Find out more by clicking here >>

We are keen to enrol and train a new group of altar servers over the next few weeks. Those who have recently celebrated their First Communion are particularly welcome. Training for new altar servers will be provided by Josephine Bennett and Lester Barlow, who have both participated in Diocesan child safeguarding training. Parents of children, who would like to become altar servers, are invited to pick up a parental authorisation form from the parish office or the sacristy.

We urgently need volunteers for church cleaning, Web Committee, Youth Initiative Group and drivers for meals on wheels.

Find out ways in which you can be involved more in your parish!

To download a directory of all the Community Organisations and Charities in the Rathmines Area compiled by the Parish and by World Missions Ireland Click Here>>

Read a Guide to this week's Gospel here >>