New pastoral centre opens in Dunshaughlin

The Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, paid tribute to the courage, initiative and perseverance of the people of Dunshaughlin and Drumree when he marked the dedication of the new pastoral centre in Dunshaughlin last Sunday morning. The pastoral centre, a resource facility for the community, accommodates a parish office, reception area and shop, pastoral office, two counselling rooms, a spacious meeting room, a conference room to accommodate 150 people, a youth room, coffee dock and kitchen. It has been built in the grounds of the Church of Ss Patrick and Sechnall, Dunshaughlin. Bishop Smith, recovering from an illness contracted during his recent visit to Myanmar (Burma), was chief celebrant at the Mass in Dunshaughlin Church to mark the inauguration of the new facility. He was assisted by Fr Joe Clavin, PP, Dunshaughlin; Fr Barry Condron, CC; Fr John Kerrane, Culmullen, retired PP; and Fr Kevin Fleming, SSC, Dalgan Park, the former curate in the village who was described as a "guiding light" in the development of the project by Michael Nolan from the parish council. Dunshaughlin choir and the parish folk group members provided music and song, and parish council members took part in the ceremony. Readers were Ciaran Rushe, Rene Teeling and John Corrigan. Taking part in the offertory procession were Matt McDonagh, representing architect Siobhan Ni hEinigh, presenting a set of plans; builder, Aidan Elliott, presenting a trowel; Jim Vesey, quantity surveyor, with a ruler; Michael Kenny, local historian, presenting the faith history; Frances Maloney, parish secretary, with a candle; Ultan Blake, building committee, with a bible, and bringing up the bread and wine were Confirmation children Adam Mahasy, Laura Lennon, Ruth Corrigan and Roy Horan. Afterwards, in the new centre, Kathryn Delany, the chairperson of the pastoral council, said the day was a dream come true. "It has been quite a journey from the time back in 2005 when the parish council first began to dream about the possibility of a pastoral centre for our parish," she said. She paid tribute to the architects, McGarry Ni hEinigh, and builders, Aidan Elliott and Company. "In January 2006, the then parish council decided to set up a sub-committee to take the concept of a parish pastoral centre to a fully worked-out proposal. This happened, and with your approval for the project, work on the centre began in October 2008," Ms Delany explained. She thanked the members of the building sub-committee who stayed with the project through thick and thin, giving their talent, time and professionalism free of charge - Noel Larkin, Ultan Blake, Pat Kelly, Jack Irwin and Jim Vesey, the parishioners who signed up for voluntary duties, from operational, catering and reception work, as well as manager John Timmons, for his commitment, the parish council members for their truly unselfish dedication to their individual roles on the council, in particular, treasurer John Corrigan. As well as Meath County Council and Fás, Ms Delany also thanked all who made donations of finance, goods and services. She said the centre is for the use of all parishioners, "for your use, your children's use and for generations of Dunshaughlin parishioners". She added: "Use it for all your celebrations and events. Come to us with your ideas for use. We have some ready to roll out in 2010, but we would love to hear from you. Spread the word that we are open for business - it is the wish of Dunshaughlin Parish Council that all of our parishioners will enjoy the new facilities here for years to come." The attendance included Dublin diocesan priest Fr Dermot Laycock, whose parish centre and council in Killester offered great inspiration and assistance in the design of the Dunshaughlin centre. The overall cost of the project is in the region of just over €2 million, with the parish already having paid out €1.5 million from its own resources as well as €250,000 loaned by the bishop, which will have to be repaid by May 2011. A term loan will cover the balance. The conference room has full conference facilities with computer screen projector and fully mechanised screen, podium, speakers, microphones with Bluetooth, DVD and computer terminal. A central computer with cabled sockets is in place, and both the centre and its surrounds are wheelchair friendly. The kitchen has a cooker, fridge, dishwasher, microwave and service hatch. The project includes landscaping and redrawing of the parking spaces in the church grounds, providing 150 spaces. Fr Clavin paid tribute and thanked all those who had contributed funds to the building of the facility, and said that their continuity was appreciated. He also asked that those who may not have done so to consider making a donation. The President, Mary McAleese, a former resident of the locality, will visit the centre on 27th January next year to perform the official opening. See www.dunshaughlin-culmullenparish.ie for details on how to book the centre.