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Clonfert Diocese Policies and Procedures
POLICY STATEMENT: Each child and vulnerable adult is cherished and affirmed as a gift from God with an inherent right to dignity of life and bodily integrity that will be respected, nurtured and protected by all. This summary of the Clonfert Child Safeguarding Policy outlines the procedures for the protection and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. The full detailed policy and associated documents are available at your parish and online at www.clonfertdiocese.ie. To ensure children are kept safe, this policy, procedures and guidelines will be implemented across all Church organisations within the Diocese. Regular checks and audits will be carried out to ensure compliance with the child safeguarding policy and procedures. RESPONDING TO CHILD SAFEGUARDING ALLEGATIONS AND SUSPICIONS: Children have a right to be listened to and heard. Any person who suspects that a child is being abused or is at risk of being abused must report their concerns without delay to the HSE Child Protection Services or to An Gardai. If the complaint is made about church personnel the complaint should be made to the Diocesan Designated Person/Deputy. All contact details are attached. ACCESS TO ADVICE AND SUPPORT: Those who have suffered child abuse will be offered a compassionate and just response with appropriate pastoral care to help them rebuild their lives. Those who have harmed others will be helped to face up to the reality of abuse, as well as being assisted in healing. IMPLEMENTING AND MONITORING THE POLICY: The process that should be followed with regard to reporting a child protection concern is outlined in the flowchart attached. Detailed reporting procedure and recording forms are included in the policy document and available at local parish offices or on the diocesan website www.clonfertdiocese.ie. TRAINING AND EDUCATION: In order to maintain high standards and good practice, all church personnel who work with children will have induction training by qualified personnel, based on our Policy. Existing staff and volunteers will be required to meet all the training requirements. Refresher training will be delivered regularly to ensure compliance with updated policy and procedures. COMMUNICATING THE CHURCH’S SAFEGUARDING MESSAGE: This summary will be displayed prominently in all Church buildings and places where children and young people engage in church related activities. All personnel/groups involved in diocesan and parish activities associated with children and young people will receive a copy of the full Policy document and must comply fully with it. PREVENTING HARM TO CHILDREN: The Diocesan Safe Recruitment and Vetting Procedures will be strictly adhered to by all diocesan agencies when recruiting Church personnel, including volunteers, in assessing their suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults. An appropriate and strict code of behaviour as outlined in the Policy will be adhered to during activities with children by all church personnel.
Contact: Bishop's Office, Coorheen, Loughrea, Co. Galway Tel: (091) 841560 Email: clonfert@iol.ie
Download The Clonfert Safeguarding Children - POLICY Download The Clonfert Safeguarding Children - POLICY SUMMARY Download The Clonfert Safeguarding Children - LEAFLET FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Download The Clonfert Safeguarding Children - CONTACT INFORMATION AND FLOWCHART
Monday 23 January 2012
Bishop Kirby comments on Irish emigration In response to the recent public debate on the causes effecting contemporary Irish emigration, Bishop John Kirby, chair of the Irish Bishops’ Council for Emigrants, said, “While some Irish people may choose to work abroad – and this was especially true during the economic boom - many of our people now emigrating have no other option available to them.
“Sadly, for many Irish people today emigration is not a lifestyle choice, but a necessity. Our new emigrants are forced to leave behind family and loved ones because of circumstances outside of their control. Many Irish people across the age groups must now take on the challenge of building a new life for themselves abroad. At a human level this will be very difficult as they cope with loneliness and isolation.”
Bishop Kirby said, “Since the 1950’s the Catholic Church in Ireland has provided chaplains for our emigrants in Britain, the United States and as far as Australia, to support their pastoral and spiritual needs. Our chaplaincies in London, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Sydney are experiencing increased demand for advice concerning issues such as: spiritual and emotional support; medical, employment, accommodation, legal and immigrant status. We have found that many of the problems presenting are similar in nature to those we have dealt with in previous generations.”
Bishop Kirby concluded “The reality is that the new generation of Irish emigrants have had this lifestyle choice made for them as a consequence of the downturn in the economy.”
Bishop John Kirby, Bishop of Clonfert is chair of the Irish Bishops’ Council for Emigrants and chair of Trócaire – the overseas aid agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Notes on diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Holy See Current situation · On 3 November 2011 a press release in the name of the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore was issued stating “It is with the greatest regret and reluctance that the Government has decided to close Ireland’s Embassies to the Holy See and Iran and its Representative Office in Timor Leste … [following] a review of overseas missions carried out by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which gave particular attention to the economic return from bilateral missions.” · The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (known as An Board Snip Nua) was the advisory committee headed by economist Colm McCarthy to recommend to Government cuts in public spending. In July 2009 the McCarthy report states amongst its recommendations that “The group recommends that the network of embassies and consulates be reduced from 76 to 55. The group also recommends the ambassador posts be routinely graded at principal officer level, with only the three or four largest missions graded at Assistant Secretary level as compared with the 41 ambassadors who are currently of Assistant Secretary grade or higher.” · Currently the Holy See has diplomatic relations with 179 countries and around 40 other international entities or agencies. 78 countries have a resident ambassador in Rome without Ireland this figure is 77. Please see list below. The countries in red have in the list below an ambassador to the Holy See resident in Rome. With the exception of Sweden all European Union countries have an ambassador resident. · Almost all countries with a majority Catholic population make it a priority to have representatives of their own accredited to the Holy See – as well as countries with less Catholic and fewer resources than Ireland. · The Holy See is recognised by other subjects of international law as a sovereign juridical entity under international law, headed by the Pope. Ambassadors are officially accredited to the Holy See and not the Vatican City State, and Papal representatives to states and international organizations are recognised as representing the Holy See, not the Vatican City State. Tangible benefits · In May 2004 Pope John Paul II said “The unity of the European people, if it is to last, cannot only be economic and political. The soul of Europe remains unified today thanks to humane and Christian values that they have in common.” The Holy See is a European and global hub for this unity. · Ireland has had close cooperation with the Holy See in the world of multilateral diplomacy. This cooperation is based on our deep, shared commitment to the central role of the United Nations in preventing and resolving conflict. · Both the Holy See and Ireland have had a strong position on the significance of the multilateral system for the protection of smaller nations. · Ireland and the Holy See have similar new points on disarmament, especially in the area of nuclear non-proliferation. · At the UN World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995 – which “pledged to make the conquest of poverty, the goal of full employment and the fostering of social integration overriding objectives of development”, Ireland, the Holy See and other states worked to achieve for the first time a series of time bound commitments to certain development goals, which in turn help to identify the Millennium Development Goals of 2000. · Ireland and the Holy See have traditionally defended family-friendly policies within United Nations bodies, in the knowledge that in all societies family cohesion is a key factor for social stability, and that especially in developing countries the family plays a determinant role in the realisation of social goals. · Diplomatic relations with the Holy See offer opportunities to consider international development, interfaith relations, and climate change. These examples are repeated in ecumenism, conflict prevention, disarmament, and human rights. · In strict diplomatic terms alone, the Papacy’s global weight is of importance to Ireland. The Holy See is one of the world’s oldest, largest, and truly global organization. As such, the Holy See knows what is going in the world and it is a very valuable listening post. · [From UK embassy’s website to the Holy See:] The Holy See’s permanent observer status at the United Nations enables it to influence discussions in the full range of the UN and its agencies. The Holy See is able to make the moral case for progress on disarmament and non-proliferation initiatives. · [From UK embassy’s website to the Holy See:] Commentators accept that religion has once more emerged as a key issue in international relations. Therefore the Holy See is central to the on-going policy debate on the proper boundary between faith and politics. The Holy See is also a key stabilising influence in the global faith/politics debate and helps keep discussion rational. In July 2007, the Washington based Centre for Strategic and International Studies produced a report on religion and foreign policy. The CSIS report states that “miscalculating religion’s role has sometimes led to failure to anticipate conflict or has actually been counterproductive to policy goals. It has kept officials from properly engaging influential leaders, interfered with the provision of effective development assistance and at times harmed national security.” Professor Bryan Hehir of Harvard when speaking of diplomats and foreign policy specialists said, “There is an assumption that you do not have to understand religion in order to understand the world. You need to understand politics, strategy, economics and law, but you do not need to understand religion. If you look at standard textbooks of international relations or the way we organise our foreign ministries, there’s no place where a sophisticated understanding of religion as a public force in the world is dealt with.” Hehir says that “policy makers must learn as much as possible about religion and incorporate that knowledge into their strategies. It’s like brain surgery – a necessary task – but fatal if not done well.” But religion and foreign policy can still raise difficult questions for some people. Madeline Albright reminds us that she is often asked, “Why can’t we just keep religion out of foreign policy?” responds “we can’t and shouldn’t. Religion is a large part of what motivates people and shapes their views of justice and right behaviour. It must be taken into account.” History · The Government of the Irish Free State early in 1929 proposed the opening of diplomatic relations and exchanges of legations with the Holy See. · The opening of diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1929 was very significant not least in asserting the identity and presence of the Irish Free State internationally. By 1929 Irish diplomatic representation abroad was limited to the office of the High Commissioner in London, the Permanent Delegate to the League of Nations in Geneva and the legation in Washington. · Charles Bewley, the first Irish Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the Holy See presented his credentials to Pope Pius XI on 27 June 1929. It was noted in the Vatican that in his address to the Pope he expressly referred to the “re-opening” of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Holy See, noting that Pope Innocent X had sent Cardinal Rinvanni to Ireland as Nuncio in the 17th Century.
Response of the Holy See to the Irish Government concerning the Cloyne report
Clonfert Confirmations 2012
Sat 24 March 11.00 a.m. Kilnadeema I Sat 24 March 2.00 p.m. Kilnadeema II Sun 25 March 11.30 a.m. Kiltormer Sat 31 March 11.00 a.m. Gaelscoil B’sloe Sat 21 April 11.00 a.m. Killimor Sun 22 April 11.00 a.m. Clostoken Sat 28 April 11.00 a.m. Cappataggle Sat 28 April 2.00 p.m. Kilrickle Sun 29 April 11.00 a.m. Taughmaconnell Sat 5 May 11.00 a.m. Eyrecourt Sun 6 May 11.00 a.m. Portumna Sat 12 May 11.00 a.m. Fohenagh Sun 13 May 11.00 a.m. Ballydugan I Sun 13 May 2.00 p.m. Ballydugan II Sat 19 May 11.00 a.m. Creagh Sun 20 May 10.00 a.m. Ballinasloe Sat 26 May 11.00 a.m. Woodford Sun 3 June 10.00 a.m. Loughrea Easter Sunday 8 April Knock Pilgrimage – Sunday, 27 May
50th International Eucharistic Congress
INTRODUCING THE NEW MISSAL
Questions and Answers to assist our preparation for changes in some of the words we pray at Mass from September 2011
Is the Mass changing? The structure of the Mass is not changing.The order and the actions of the Mass remain unchanged.The readings at Mass are not changed. However, with the introduction of the new edition of the Roman Missal throughout the English- speaking world, we will all notice a change in how the Mass sounds. The translations of a number of our prayer texts from the original Latin have changed – sometimes by a particular word or in the word order. Prayers that we have become used to reciting by memory now have to be relearned. Prayers that we are used to hearing the priest say will sound different to us. The style of language we will hear and pray may seem more formal to us and perhaps, in parts, more complex. But over time, with the praying of these texts, the sound of the Mass will again become familiar to us. What is the Roman Missal? The term ‘Missal’ is used to refer to the book that contains all the prayers and instructions for the celebration of the Mass.The Missal is first written in Latin and this Latin text is then translated into the particular language of the people. In this way, while the Mass may be celebrated in many languages across the Roman Catholic world, it is the same core Latin text that is being prayed by the Church.We have been using our current Missal since St Patrick’s Day 1975. It is sometimes referred to as the Missal of Pope Paul VI. Now we have a new edition of that Missal. When and why are we getting a new edition of the Roman Missal? The new edition of the Missal will come into full use over a period of time between September and 27 November 2011, the First Sunday of Advent. The new edition is necessary for a number of reasons. Firstly, in the years since 1975 when our current Missal was published, a number of additional texts have been made available for use in the Mass.These include additional Eucharistic Prayers, some new Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Masses for over twenty new Feasts of Saints (for example, St Pius of Pietrelcina/Padre Pio, Edith Stein, Maximilian Kolbe).The new material is to be included in the Missal so that it can be used in our celebrations. Secondly, in 2001 the Holy See issued new directives for the translation of the Latin texts. Translators were asked to make the English text follow more closely the original Latin in its wording and structure. They were also asked to strengthen the biblical language and images in the texts and to reintroduce some theological vocabulary that may have been lost over the years. Across the English-speaking world the new edition of the Roman Missal will therefore contain both new material and a new style of translation. Is the Catholic Church in Ireland alone in introducing this new Missal? The Catholic Church in Ireland, along with Churches throughout the English-speaking world, is working towards introducing the new edition of the Roman Missal at this time. This new edition is the English translation of the Latin Missal that was issued by Pope John Paul II in 2002. Since 2002 the Church in its many languages has engaged in the work of translating this Latin text through study, reflection and consultation.This work in English- speaking countries is now complete. In Ireland, as in other English-speaking countries, the new Missal will come into use during autumn 2011. What differences can we expect at Mass from September 2011? From September, congregations will begin to pray the new translations of the people’s prayers at Mass. These new texts will be on missalettes and on specially produced ‘congregational cards’ and will assist us in becoming more familiar with the new edition. In some places people will, by then, already be familiar with this congregational card through using it at weekday Mass or at parish meetings. Where do I find the changes in the people’s prayers at Mass?The Mass missalette and the congregational card will have all the prayers and responses that are changing.These are also available on www.catholicbishops.ie and www.liturgy-ireland.ie, accompanied by brief video explanations. There are new translations of ‘I confess’, ‘Glory to God in the highest’, the Creeds, the acclamations in the Eucharistic Prayers, ‘Lord, I am not worthy’ and a number of other prayers and responses, which are very slightly changed; for example, in the Holy, Holy, we say ‘Lord God of hosts’ and in the response to ‘Pray, brothers and sisters’, the addition of one word, ‘holy’ before ‘Church’; where we responded ‘And also with you’, we now say ‘And with your spirit’. Why the response, ‘And with your spirit’? This response ‘And with your spirit’ is one of the very obvious changes as we use the new edition of the Missal.When the priest proclaims ‘The Lord be with you’, the new response from the congregation, ‘And with your spirit’, will replace the wording of the previous response which occurs before the Gospel, at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer and at the Blessing at the end of Mass. ‘And with your spirit’ is the literal translation of what we find in the Latin text, ‘et cum spiritu tuo’. This translation is already found in other languages, for example, German, Italian, French and Spanish. Scripture is very much the source for this dialogue between priest and people. In four letters of St Paul he uses the following greetings: Galatians 6:18 – ‘May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit’; Philippians 4:23 – ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit’; 2 Timothy 4:22 – ‘The Lord be with your spirit’; Philemon 25 – ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit’. Similar greetings can be found in the Old Testament. What does ‘your spirit’ mean? It is not a reference to the Holy Spirit, though it is spoken by people who live according to that Spirit. For St Paul the spirit is our spiritual part that is closest to God. ‘And with your spirit’ is about having the spirit or mind of Christ as your guiding light, as what guides us through the day – a Christian spirit. While it will sound unfamiliar to us, this greeting and response captures our biblical roots. It is recognition of the spirit that is among us as Christians, a spirit that we must live, and in greeting one another, it proclaims the presence of Christ among us. What differences can we expect in November 2011?From 27 November, the First Sunday of Advent, congregations and priests will use the texts of the new edition of the Roman Missal for the celebration of Mass.While the structure, actions and pattern of the Mass will remain the same and the readings will be unchanged, the texts of recited prayers will sound different to our ears. Over time, as the new style of language becomes familiar to us, it is very much hoped that we will come to appreciate both the richness and depth of our prayer at Mass. What should we, as a faith community, reflect on as we prepare to use the new Missal?We have been praying our current texts for over thirty-five years. Moving to new texts will be a challenge and will require that we exercise patience and support for one another. Priests and people, musicians and others involved in preparing the liturgy all need to work together to make the change as easy as it can be.
Ultimately we need to remember that the words of our liturgy are crucial – we pray as we believe. But when we pray the Mass we do more than recite words – those words are recited in the context of all the actions, symbols and people of the liturgy. As we work towards implementing the changes, may we keep in mind the bigger task of which the words of the Missal are a part: namely, the Mystery of our Faith, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ made present for us in the Eucharist.
Monday 31st May 2010 Apostolic Visitation in Ireland The following press release was published by the Vatican concerning the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland
Following the Holy Father’s Letter to the Catholics of Ireland, the Apostolic Visitation of certain Irish dioceses, seminaries and religious congregations will begin in autumn of this year. Through this Visitation, the Holy See intends to offer assistance to the Bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful as they seek to respond adequately to the situation caused by the tragic cases of abuse perpetrated by priests and religious upon minors. It is also intended to contribute to the desired spiritual and moral renewal that is already being vigorously pursued by the Church in Ireland. The Apostolic Visitors will set out to explore more deeply questions concerning the handling of cases of abuse and the assistance owed to the victims; they will monitor the effectiveness of and seek possible improvements to the current procedures for preventing abuse, taking as their points of reference the Pontifical Motu Proprio “Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela” and the norms contained in Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland, commissioned and produced by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church. The Visitation will begin in the four Metropolitan Archdioceses of Ireland (Armagh, Dublin, Cashel and Emly, and Tuam) and will then be extended to some other dioceses.The Visitors named by the Holy Father for the dioceses are: His Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Emeritus Archbishop of Westminster, for the Archdiocese of Armagh; His Eminence Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, for the Archdiocese of Dublin; the Most Reverend Thomas Christopher Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, for the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly; the Most Reverend Terrence Thomas Prendergast, Archbishop of Ottawa, for the Archdiocese of Tuam.In its desire to accompany the process of renewal of houses of formation for the future priests of the Church in Ireland, the Congregation for Catholic Education will coordinate the visitation of the Irish seminaries, including the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. While special attention will be given to the matters that occasioned the Apostolic Visitation, in the case of the seminaries it will cover all aspects of priestly formation. The Most Reverend Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, has been named Apostolic VisitorFor its part, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life will organize the visitation of religious houses in two phases. Firstly it will conduct an enquiry by means of a questionnaire to be sent to all the Superiors of religious institutes present in Ireland, with a view to providing an accurate picture of the current situation and formulating plans for the observance and improvement of the norms contained in the “guidelines”. In the second phase, the Apostolic Visitors will be: the Reverend Joseph Tobin, CSsR and the Reverend Gero McLaughlin SJ for institutes of men; Sister Sharon Holland IHM and Sister Mairin McDonagh RJM for institutes of women. They will carry out a careful study, evaluating the results obtained from the questionnaire and the possible steps to be taken in the future in order to usher in a season of spiritual rebirth for religious life on the Island.His Holiness invites all the members of the Irish Catholic community to support this fraternal initiative with their prayers. He invokes God’s blessings upon the Visitors, and upon all the Bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful of Ireland, that the Visitation may be for them an occasion of renewed fervour in the Christian life, and that it may deepen their faith and strengthen their hope in Christ our Saviour.
Trocaire
Director of Trocaire has thanked Clonfert diocese for its continued and loyal support.
“For almost 40 years the change that people in Clonfert diocese put in the Trocaire box has been changing the lives of families and communities all over the developing world. Every coin the boxes have held over the last four decades have travelled the world transforming lives and giving the poor a voice,” said Trocaire’s director, Justin Kilcullen. “The power of the money donated during Lent should not be underestimated. In tiny, forgotten communities, farmers’ crops are flourishing, parents now earn a dignified living and children have a bright future to enjoy. You’ve given people freedom from hunger, from want, from injustice, and you’ve given them hope.”“We are indebted to parishioners and clergy in the Clonfert diocese who have shown us such great support throughout Lent" said Mr Kilcullen.
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