St Paul’s has been involved in supporting the work of Kisiizi Hospital in southwest Uganda for nearly 50 years. A Soup and Roll Lunch this Sunday in the parish Centre, after the 10.30am service, will raise funds towards paying the salary of surgeon Dr Paul Matovu, which the parish has pledged to cover in recent years. All donations would be warmly welcomed here

Dogs monopolised the animal congregation at our Pets’ Service on October 4th but we are glad to say they all had fairly well-behaved owners at the other end of their leads. Audrey Tormey gave a very informative talk about her assistance dog, Laune, and the huge amount of training that each dog must undergo. A retiring collection raised €900 for Irish Guide Dogs.

The advertisement for a new rector of St Paul’s went up recently on the Church of Ireland website and was also posted on central and diocesan social media. A closing date of November 23rd was given for applications, which go to the Archbishop’s office.
  Now the parish’s four nominators wait to be called for the first meeting of the Diocesan Board of Nomination, which will not be until mid-October at the earliest. The board, which is chaired by the archbishop, consists of diocesan nominators, both clerical and lay, as well as the parochial nominators. From the date of the first meeting, the board has three months to agree on a suitable candidate to recommend to the archbishop as the new rector here.  If the board fails to agree, the appointment then falls solely to the archbishop.

The bus is fully booked for our annual outing this Saturday, September 12th, which this year is across the Border, to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in Co Down. We hope the day will stay dry, to allow us to enjoy strolls around the garden and adjoining village, as well as tour the castle.

Please note the later time of 12 noon for our main morning service this Sunday, August 30th, which will be held outdoors, followed by serving of barbecue food. All welcome. If it is raining the event will go ahead in the parish centre. But please dress for the weather.

The Rev Kevin Conroy (Stillorgan and Blackrock), who as Rural Dean has responsibility for the pastoral oversight of St Paul’s parish during the vacancy, will be available in our parish centre each Wednesday from 11.30am, for 30-60 minutes. Anybody who would like to drop in for a chat is very welcome.  Meanwhile, his contact details are tel: 086 040 6256 email revkvn@gmail.com

The Rev Gary Dowd celebrated Holy Communion in St Paul’s for the last time on Sunday as he retires after 40 years of ministry – the last 21 of those here among us. There were tributes, presentations and plenty of emotion straight after the service, before all adjourned for a sunshine-filled reception in the church grounds.

The Rev Gary Dowd, who has been our Rector for the past 21 years, will lead his last services for us this Sunday, June 28th, before retirement. He will celebrate Holy Communion at 8.15am and at 10.30am. There will be no evening service. We wish him and his wife Pamela every happiness and good health in their next phase of life.

Our annual event for families with a child of national school age or younger is on in the parish centre this Saturday June 6th, from 5.30pm. Please let us know at stpaulsdub@gmail.com ASAP if you would like to come

Donations of items for next Saturday’s Summer Fair can be dropped off at the parish centre between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on the evenings of Tues, May 19th to Fri, May 22nd.
The Summer Fair opens at 10.30am on Saturday, May 23rd and runs until 2.30pm.