A Aithreacha agus a Phobal Dé,
I mí Eanáir na bliana 2000 bhunaigh a Shoilse, an t-Árd-Easpag Ó Conaill, atá anois ina Cháirdinéal, An Coiste Tréadach chun moltaí a chur roimhe maidir le freastal tréadach ar phobal na Gaeilge san Árddeoise. Bhuail an Coiste (Féach Dublin Diocesan Guidebook 2008, p. 46) le sagairt, agus le daoine in gach ceann de chúig ranna na hÁrddeoise agus le Pobal an Aifrinn. Bunaíodh Pobal an Aifrinn in 1973, eagraíocht do thuataigh idir fir agus mná le tacaíocht a thabhairt ar fud na hÁrddeoise don liotúirge trí Ghaeilge. Le tamall anuas, le cabhair ó Phobal an Aifrinn, bhuail an Coiste Tréadach le baill de Choistí Tréadacha na bParóistí agus tá moltaí curtha faoi mo bhráid ag an gCoiste Tréadach.
Toisc go bhuil líon na sagart ag laghdú agus go bhfuil laghdú dá réir ar líon na n-Aifreann Domhnaigh i bparóistí áirithe, is eol dom gur chuireadh críoch le hAifrinn as Gaeilge i gcuid mhaith paróiste. Ach tá dualgas ann freastal tréadach ar árd-chaighdeán a dhéanamh ar phobal na Gaeilge san Árddeoise.
Rinne an Coiste Tréadach fiosrú tosaigh i measc sagairt na nDeoise agus tá geall le céad (100) sagart sásta bheith ar rota leis an Aifreann a léamh as Gaeilge in ionaid ainmnithe ar fud na hÁrddeoise. Tá a leithéid de shocrú déanta cheana féin san Aireagal in Árd Aidhin, i mBelfield, i nDún Droma, i mBrí Chualann, i C.U.S i Sráid Liosáin, i nDraighneán (Sórd Cholmcille) agus déanfar sochrú in áiteanna eile ar fud na Deoise ar ball.
Le cabhair ón gCoiste Tréadach tá na socraithe seo á ndéanamh:
- Ainmneofar ionaid eile de réir mar is gá agus déanfaidh gach ionad freastal ar ghrúpa paróistí le cabhair ó Rota na sagart.
- Ainmneofar sagart do gach ceann de chúig (5) cheantar na hÁrddeoise le comhordú a dhéanamh maidir le hullmhú, le ceiliúradh agus le clárú na sacraimintí trí Ghaeilge sna hionaid éagsúla.
- Cuirfear cúrsaí ar fáil do shagairt agus do thuataí gur mian leo feabhas a chur ar a gcuid Gaeilge ar mhaithe leis an liotúirge agus leis an obair thréadach. Déanfaidh an Coiste Tréadach agus Coiste Achmhainní Liotúirgeacha na Deoise cúram de na cúrsaí sin.
- Ar eagla na mí-thuisceana, má tá paróiste ar bith ag smaoineamh ar athraithe a dhéanamh maidir leis an Aifreann as Gaeilge, be chóir dó é sin a phlé liom agus leis an gCoiste Tréadach i dtús báire.
- Iarraim chomh maith go dtabharfadh sagairt nach bhfuil ar an Rota cabhair do na sagairt atá air, trí uanaíocht a dhéanamh orthu le hAifrinn as Béarla a cheiliúradh nuair is gá.
Gabhaim buíochas leis na sagairt agus leis na paróistí a dhein freastal ar phobal na Gaeilge le daichead bliain anuas agus leis na sagairt atá fós ag freastal agus leo siúd a thoiligh dul ar an Rota.
Gabhaim buíochas ar leith le Pobal an Aifrinn as a bhfuil déanta acu le daichead bliain anuas agus atá fós á dhéanamh acu.
Istigh leis seo tá liosta na n-Ionad ainmnithe go dtí seo maille le hainmneacha na sagart a bheidh ag comhordú na socraithe. Tá liosta na bparóistí san Árddeoise ar fad ina bhfuil an t-Aifreann á léamh as Gaeilge agus amanntaí na n-Aifreann le fáil ar Idirlíon na Deoise: dublindiocese.ie.
Ma tá soiléiriú de dhíth ort faoi na socraithe seo labhair le:
An t-Easpag Fiachra Ó Ceallaigh, ofm, Cathaoirleach, ag 01-453-7495;
An t-Ath. Pádraig Ó Cochláin, Rúnaí, ag 01-833-8905.
Beidh feabhas mór ar Liotúirgí as Gaeilge ach ceol maith liotúirgeach as Gaeilge a bheith ar fáil. Ta súil agam gur féidir grúpa tacaíochta ceoltóirí a chur le chéile a chabhróidh sna ceantair ina mbeidh an t-Aifreann á cheiliúradh as Gaeilge. Ta sé tábhactach chomh maith go ndéanfaí gearr-ullmhú ar chomhthionóil ionas gur fearr páirt a ghlacfaí sna iomannaí, sna gáir mholta agus sna freagraí le linn an Aifrinn.
Guím beannacht Dé, cumhdach na Maighdine is idirghuí Lorcáin Naofa oraibh.
Mise go beannachtach,
Diarmuid Ó Máirtin,
Árd-Easpag Atha Cliath.
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Dear Fathers and People of God,
In January 2000, Cardinal Connell established An Coiste Tréadach to advise him on matters concerning ministry to Irish speakers in the Archdiocese. An Coiste Tréadach (cf. Dublin Diocesan Guidebook 2008, p. 46) has consulted with priests and people in each of the five areas of the Archdiocese and with Pobal an Aifrinn. Pobal an Aifrinn, established in 1973, consisting of lay men and women, has helped in the provision of Mass in Irish in the Archdiocese since Vatican II. More recently, An Coiste Tréadach, with the assistance of Pobal an Aifrinn, has met with a number of Parish Pastoral Councils and has made a number of proposals to me.
The number of priests is falling and there has been a consequent reduction in the number of Sunday Masses in some parishes. I am aware that Masses in Irish have been discontinued in a good many parishes. There is an obligation to provide comprehensive pastoral care of a worthy standard in Irish for Irish speakers in the Archdiocese.
An Coiste Tréadach has made an initial canvass of priests throughout the Archdiocese and so far approximately one hundred (100) have agreed to be available on a rota basis for the celebration of Mass in Irish at specified locations throughout the Archdiocese. Each priest on the Rota celebrates Mass as Gaeilge in turn in the specified locations. Such arrangements are already in existence in Artane Oratory, in Belfield, in Dundrum and in Catholic University School in Leeson Street, and in Drynam, Swords.
- With the assistance of An Coiste Tréadach the following arrangements are being made:
- Other locations will be set up as needed and each will serve the needs of a group of parishes with the help of the Rota of priests.
- A priest will be appointed to coordinate the preparation, celebration and administration of the sacraments in Irish for pastoral and liturgical purposes through An Coiste Tréadach and the Archdiocesan Liturgical Resource Centre.
- To avoid any misunderstanding, parishes that may be considering changes regarding Mass in Irish should first consult with me and an Coiste Tréadach
- Priests who are not on the Rota are requested to facilitate those who are, by supplying for them for Masses in English in the their parishes when necessary.
I wish to thank those priests and parishes who have ministered to Irish speakers for the last forty years and I thank those priests who continue to minister and those who have agreed to be part of the Rota.
I thank in a very special way the members of Pobal an Aifrinn for all they have done over forty years and who continue to work throughout the Archdiocese.
I enclose a list of locations that have been nominated to date, the times of Masses, the names of the coordinator for each Area, together with the names of the members of An Coiste Tréadach. A schedule of parishes where Mass is celebrated through Irish together with Mass times is available on the Diocesan website – dublindiocese.ie.
If you have any queries concerning these arrangements please contact:
Bishop Fiachra Ó Ceallaigh, ofm, Chairman at 01-4537495;
Fr. Pádraig Ó Cochláin, Secretary at 01-8338905.
Liturgies in Irish will be greatly enhanced if they involve good Irish liturgical music. I hope that it will be possible to build up a support group of musicians who will help those centres where Mass is to be celebrated in Irish. It would also be important to prepare congregations briefly in order to facilitate their participation in the hymns, acclamations and Mass responses.
I pray God’s blessing, Our Lady’s continued care and the blessing of St. Laurence O’Toole on all who are part of this new venture.
With kind wishes,
Yours sincerely,
_________________
+Diarmuid Martin,
Archbishop of Dublin