St. Jude the Apostle Church Templeogue County Dublin

Welcome to our parish. You may come from further afield and simply want to know something about St. Jude the Apostle Parish – I hope that your visit will transform distance into friendship.

Our parishioners come from all over Ireland and beyond. We are comprised of young and not so young, working and retired people and children growing up who share a common love of God and each other. Feel welcome to drop into our beautiful church at any time to say a prayer or light a candle or join our parish family for Mass.

You can also tune in and watch our ceremonies live through the magic of the internet, which when you think of it is really what a parish is all about. A group of individuals combining talents and knowledge for the greater good and as the Jesuits would say, the Glory of God.

With best wishes:Fr. Brendan Madden P.P.

This parish (RCN:20016166) is made up of over 2,500 homes from the estates of Orwell Park, Willington, Wellington Road, Cypress Downs, Glendown, Rossmore, Templeogue Wood, Templeogue Lodge, Rushbrook, Kennington, Wilderwood, Osprey, Kilvere and Domville.

 

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April 1974

A letter to all parishioners went out from Fr Boland. This was to be the first of a series of bulletins, which would keep people fully updated on developments in the newly forming parish. He told them that a temporary "Hut" had been built and although it was in a very rough and ready condition he planned to celebrate mass there on Easter Sunday. It was a very small building and only accommodated about 100 people and it was rather uncomfortable but it tided the parish over until the school hall was ready.. FR Boland had asked his Grace the Archbishop, for permission to place this new area under the protection of St Jude The Apostle and he willingly agreed.

The first bulletin appeared with updates on the development. Fr Boland welcomed new parishioners and told them they parish of over 2,000 houses would become a parish in its own right. He looked forward to meeting them when he would bless their house. They were for the moment part of the parish of St Pius X Templeogue.

A gift of seven acres by the Columban Fathers and a gift of five acres by the Holy Ghost Fathers as sites for the church and schools were exceptionally generous. This land was worth about Ł20.000 an acre. The Parish owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to these religious orders who could have sold the land and used the money for their missions.

"The Hut" (temporary portacabin) was on the church site and was on loan free of charge and was used for daily and Sunday Mass, Confessions and other purposes. It was a rather primitive and uncomfortable place but tided the parish over until the school hall was ready. The first Primary School was under construction at this stage and was scheduled to open in June 1975. It was a 16 classroom coeducational primary school costing Ł162,000 of which Ł18,000 was the local contribution.

Plans for the Church, were under way and it was to be built more or less where the Hut was situated-beside the shops

The House-to-House collection was to start in May as the first payment for the school was falling due during the year.

The Census Parishioners were to be given at least three months to settle into their new houses before being invited to contribute to the house-to-house collection. Fr Boland asked for parishioners to assist him in taking a census of parishioners and asking each household whether they were interested in contributing towards the cost of the church and schools. Upon completion of the census a box of envelopes will be given to each house willing to contribute and an authorised collector will collect a sealed envelope every week. Fr Boland assured the parishioners that he would endeavour to meet them all when blessing the houses.

September 1974

The next bulletin appeared with updates on the development. Fr Boland again welcomed new parishioners and told them they parish of over 2,000 houses would soon become a parish in its own right.

It was stated again what a tremendous debt the parish owed to the Columban Fathers and The Holy Ghost Fathers for their gift of the site for the schools and the church. This land was extremely valuable on the open market and relieved the newly forming parish of an enormous financial burden The first Primary School was under construction at that stage and was scheduled to open in June 1975. It was a 16 classroom coeducational primary school costing Ł162,000of which Ł18,000 was the local contribution.

Plans for the Church, which had to be built on very economic lines and on a tight budget, were well advanced. The difficulties of raising even a modest loan and servicing it in the current financial climate were considerable.

"The Hut" on the church site. It was on loan free of charge and was used for daily and Sunday masses.

The House-to-House collection had started in May 1974 and had accumulated over Ł2000, which was considered very good considering the small number of houses occupied in April when the first parish census was taken.

The new parishioners were to be given at least three months to settle into their new houses before being invited to contribute to the house-to-house collection. Fr Boland asked for parishioners to assist him in taking a new census of parishioners and asking each household whether they were interested in contributing towards the cost of the church and schools. Upon completion of the census a box of envelopes will be given to each house willing to contribute and an authorised collector will collect a sealed envelope every week. Fr Boland assured the parishioners that he would endeavour to meet them all when blessing the houses.

November 1974

This bulletin announced the opening of the first primary school in July 1975. Parishioners were invited to put their children's names down for the school.

The Hall within the school was to be a general-purpose area and could be used for after school activities and parochial events.

Wednesday November 27th after the 10 O'Clock Mass the site for the Church was blessed and the first sod was turned. It would be completed by Autumn 1975. He thanked the parishioners for their generous contributions to the house-to-house collections and reiterated that it was due to their generosity that the work could commence.

Fr Boland went on to say that cost was a major consideration. The church would cost Ł89.000 and would fit in with the housing around it, which formed part of a shopping centre and which was completed in stages. The cost of three bedroom houses in the area went up by 50% in two years and this illustrated how reasonable the cost of the church really was.

There were two presbyteries to be built beside the Church and the school for obvious reasons of accessibility and security.

The very first Christmas Sale took place in The Hut on 7th and 8th December 1974. Stalls with Clothes. Books, Toys, Groceries, Home Baking Raffles and Fancy gifts were all there and of course Santa was in attendance.

February 1974

Fr Boland began with the now familiar welcome to the Parish and an update on developments.

The school would open in July 1975. It cost Ł162,000, of which one ninth or Ł18,000 was the local contribution. This was paid by a loan from the bank.

"The Hut" still continued to be used for a variety of activities. Through the assistance of SHARE a loan was raised to fund the church and it would be completed on time.

The Parish was in the "red" for the first time because of the payment for the school. Up to 31st December 1974 Ł4,723 was collected and the Christmas Sale raised Ł630 which was extraordinary considering the size of the Hut.

A further census with help of parishioners was carried out and people were invited to contribute.

April 1975

April 6th 1975 Dermot Archbishop of Dublin blessed the foundation stone of the Church of St Jude The Apostle.

August 1975

Fr Boland announced the name of the new parish. St Jude The Apostle was to be a parish in its own right and was to include the Orwell, Willington, Templeogue House and Mountdown Estates. Fr John Greene was appointed curate and was welcomed to the new parish.

Bishop Galvin National School reopened on September 1st 1975. The New Management Committee was formed and the election of parents took place during the term. Church Services continued in the School Hall.

Opening of the New Church of St Jude the Apostle. would take place in late October or November. Parishioners were invited to present the Church with some of the requirements and a list was displayed with the price of each.

The Christmas Sale would take place in the School Hall

Fr Greene was to commence a fundraising Bingo effort to provide some social amenity for the parishioners in the school Hall. Volunteers were sought and in particular anyone who had experience in running Bingo sessions.

Volunteer parishioners were to continue census taking and to enquire whether new parishioners were willing to contribute.

December 1975

On Sunday 7th December 1975 the new parish church of St Jude The Apostle Willington Templeogue was opened and blessed by the Most Reverend Dermot Ryan, D.D. Archbishop of Dublin