Parish of Celbridge & Straffan with Newcastle-Lyons: CSNL NEWS NOV-DEC 2025

Issue 91 CSNL NEWS November/December, 2025

Parish Of Celbridge & Straffan with Newcastle-Lyons

Church of Ireland United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough

By the parishioners - for the parishioners

From Our Rector - Dear Friends ..

The other day I was surfing Facebook on my phone when a memory from 12 years ago popped up. It was without exaggeration one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Some of you will have heard me talk of it before but it has become more significant for me in recent times. I was visiting Washington DC and an old friend in Virginia offered me the use of their house where I had stayed before but this time in their absence. It was in the woods on the outskirts of Virginia - a beautiful setting but only five minutes drive from the Pentagon. The only thing they said was that there will be a group of Tibetan monks joining you! My friends were regular hosts of the Dalai Lama’s monks when they visited the US and they were and still are deeply involved in the Free Tibet cause. Needless to say I was delighted at the prospect of spending the best part of 24 hours in their company and it proved to be a wonderful experience - the holiness of these men was palpable and yet they were some of the happiest people I have ever met. The two don’t always go together sadly! After a lovely meal out together we returned to our lodgings and had gone to bed and I was still processing the extraordinary experience of being in the company of these monks when there was a knock at the door and I opened it to one of the monks in his flowing robes wondering did I have the Wi-Fi code for the broadband. It just seemed so incongruous - ancient meets modern! Over the years I have often reflected on this episode and most recently in the light of growing division and polarisation in our world I have come to see it as a perfect illustration of how beneath our superficial differences, traditions and appearances we are all the same - we are all of us searching - not just for the Wi-Fi code but for that fundamental connection with one another and the source of our being. It is in building those connections with those who we see as other that we discover the fundamental unity that was Jesus’ prayer for his people - that ‘They may be One’.

Yours Stephen

Church Services

Sunday Newcastle 9 a.m* Straffan 10.15 a.m. Celbridge 11.30 a.m.

1^st Holy Communion Service of Word Holy Communion

2^nd Service of Word Holy Communion Service of Word

3^rd Holy Communion Morning Prayer Holy Communion

4^th Morning Prayer Holy Communion Morning Prayer

5^th 30/11/25. United Service. Holy Communion. Christ Church, Celbridge. 11.30 a.m.

28/12/25. United Service. 11 a.m. Straffan.

*Services will continue in Newcastle at 10 a.m., on the 1^st Sunday as a permanent change in the Sunday timetable.

Advent & Christmas Services

On Advent Sunday, 30^th November, there will be a United Service of Holy Communion at 11.30 a.m., in Christ Church, Celbridge. At the service we will mark the retirement of our parish Lay Minister, Mrs. Cynthia Lang, who has given tremendous service to our parish. I am sorry that this day has come but I am very thankful for the support and encouragement that Cynthia has given me on a personal level and her ministry within the parish and I am sure you will join with me in wishing her a happy and healthy retirement. Please come along on the 30^th to mark this significant day.

On Sunday, 21^st December, there will be Lessons and Carols Services in Straffan at 10.15 a.m., and in St. Finian’s, Newcastle-Lyons at 3 p.m. On Christmas Eve, in Christ Church, Celbridge at 4 p.m., there will be a service of Lessons and Carols with seasonal refreshments and later at 9 p.m., Christmas Eve Eucharist. There will be Holy Communion in all three churches on Christmas Day at the usual times. There will also be a United Service in Straffan on 28^th December at 11 a.m.

WhatsApp Groups

WhatsApp group continues to be very active. There are also groups specifically for Newcastle and another for Straffan notices – together they provide a very effective means of contact in the parish.

Chuckle Time!

What do you drain your carrots with at Christmas time? An Advent colander!

On Going Events

Craft & Chat: The group continues to meet in the Slip Hall at 2.30 p.m., each Tuesday for crafting, chat and coffee. All welcome. They will take a break over the Christmas/New Year period.

Wednesday Night Prayers: From 8 p.m., to 9 p.m. At present, they are held in the home of Tony & Elizabeth Waldron in Newcastle. If anybody would like details they can contact Rev. Stephen or Dee Huddleston. Everyone is very welcome to come along or to let them know if there is something they would like them to pray about.

Whist Drives: The season returned on Friday, 26^th September in the Slip Hall at 8 p.m., with the latest on Friday, 31^st October. The final one of the year will be held on Friday, 28^th November at 8 p.m. A lovely supper is served at the interval and there are always lots of prizes. Thanks to all who arrange the drives, provide refreshments and raffle prizes.

Cellbridge/Straffan Church Vestry

Ms. Georgina Touhey was unanimously co-opted onto the Select Vestry at a recent meeting of the Celbridge/Straffan Vestry.

Confirmation

This year candidates from Lucan/Leixlip are being invited to join us for preparations. More details to follow.

Straffan Sunday Services Live Streamed

https://www.churchmedia.tv/straffon-church-of-ireland and www.facebook.com/CSNLParish.

Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance services take place on Sunday, 9^th November in all three churches and there will be an opportunity to support the Poppy Appeal.

Slip Hall

With the closure of the Montessori School there is now some availability for morning hires in the hall. Please send enquiries to email:csnparishhall@gmail.com.

Harvest Thanksgiving & Pet Blessing Services

Our Rector reports that the annual ecumenical event - the Pet Blessing Service - goes from strength to strength and this year saw more of our four legged friends than ever come to Christ Church, Celbridge on Saturday, 27^th September. It was also the first occasion that we had the pleasure of welcoming the new Parish Priest in Celbridge, Fr. Philip Curran to join us in Christ Church. The dogs were in particularly good voice on the day and the human congregation had a hard time being heard. We were joined as has now become a tradition by the team from KWWSPCA with a number of rescue dogs and lots of helpers. The collection went to KWWSPCA and €640 was raised for their work which was a great result. Thanks to James & Trish Pasley and family who produced advanced publicity material and the blessing certificates and stickers which were given out on the day. Also thanks to all the helpers who provided the tea afterwards and helped in the church during the service. I would name them but lest I forget someone (as I usually do) please accept this general thanks.

The first of the harvest festivals took place in Straffan Church on the afternoon of Sunday, 5^th October, with the church beautifully decorated, the singing of the very familiar hymns and lovely refreshments afterwards. Our Rector preached. Beginning with reminiscing on his early memories of harvests in Abbeystrewry, Cork, from where there were people in the congregation! Thanks to all who prepared the church, the refreshments and cleaned up afterwards and to Jenny Shaw in playing the organ. The collection went to Bishops’ Appeal.

Newcastle-Lyons Harvest took place on the afternoon of 12^th October and again the church was beautifully decorated and the congregation enjoyed tea and refreshments afterwards in the church. The preacher was our friend and neighbour in Lucan/Leixlip, The Rev’d Scott Peoples who we were delighted to have with us as his retirement is approaching. He shared a very reflective and challenging sermon with us and left us a lot to think about. Our Rector takes this opportunity to wish him well on his retirement. At the end of the service we gave an early birthday gift to Mr. Willie Harris who has been and continues to be a hugely supportive member of our parish and it was lovely to see him out after a recent illness.

Lastly, Celbridge Harvest took place on the 19^th October at the Sunday morning service. The church was beautifully decorated and it was lovely to have participation from a number of children from our parish school. Thanks to our Principal, Mrs. Flood, who organised this. The service was followed by refreshments served in the church at our new Coffee Dock.

Wedding

Congratulations to Isaac Antwi-Boasiako & Magdalena Tafelska who were married in Straffan Church on the 18^th September. It was a beautiful wedding and brought together friends from Ghana, Poland and many other countries as well as Ireland. The reception took place in Lawlor’s Hotel, Naas. We wish Isaac & Magdalena every blessing in their marriage.

Bereavement

Deepest sympathy to Marcus Beresford and family on the death of his sister, Anna Simpson. Anna lived outside Celbridge and attended Christ Church for nearly 20 years in the 1960’s and 1970’s before moving to England. She died on 5^th October in Norfolk aged 87.

Team Hope Shoe Boxes

Thanks to all those who donated, made items and filled shoe boxes and left at the back of the churches as well as those who will get them ready for distribution.

The Editor read in The Irish Times that Oliver Callan (RTE Radio 1) had a conversation with Adas Arkansas. Adas, who lives in Drogheda, recalls his materially poor childhood in rural Lithuania during the early 1990’s and his delight when he received a Christmas shoebox from Ireland, full of “tiny little treasures”. “It was a gift for me,“ as well as for his financially strapped parents. Now Adas wants to re-create the gesture, as part of the Team Hope appeal for Christmas shoeboxes for children in impoverished parts of the world. At a time when Tricolours are being appropriated by anti-immigration extremists as signifiers of exclusion and intimidation, it’s an uplifting reminder of the Irish spirit of generosity towards those less fortunate, as well as the value of the migrant experience.

Calendar Of Events

November

Sun 9 Remembrance Sunday. CSNL NEWS issued.

Closing date for Shoe Boxes.

Sat 15 Chaplaincy for everyone. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Theological Institute.

Fri 28 Whist Drive. Slip Hall. 8 p.m.

Sat 29 Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir Concert. 7.30 p.m.

Christ Church, Celbridge.

Sun 30 Advent Sunday. United Service. Celbridge. 11.30 a.m.

December

Sat 6 Christmas Fair. Slip Hall, Celbridge.

Fri 19 Connor McKeown Concert, Christ Church, Celbridge.

Sun 21 Lessons & Carols. Straffan Church. 10.15 a.m.

Lessons & Carols. St. Finian’s Church. 3 p.m.

Wed 24 Christmas Eve. Lessons & Carols. Christ Church,

Celbridge. 4 p.m.

Christmas Eve Eucharist. 9 p.m. Christ Church.

Thu 25 Christmas Day. Holy Communion in all 3 churches.

Sun 28 United Service. Straffan Church. 11 a.m.

Wed 31 Subscriptions for The Church Review due.

Happy New Year!

January

Tue 6 Closing date for next issue of CSNL NEWS.

Christmas Around The World

Advent is particularly important in Germany. This is the time before Christmas when people remember Jesus’ birth and the fact that he will come to earth again. Most families have an Adventskranz, a circular decoration which holds four candles. One candle is lit at the beginning of each of the four weeks of Advent. There is mounting excitement as each candle is lit. Just before Christmas special markets are held in many towns. Children love to visit these to see the colourful stalls selling decorations, toys and the special pastries and biscuits which are given as presents.

From December 1^st onwards in Sweden, beautiful stars and red Advent candles appear in the windows of Swedish homes. The colour scheme for decorations - including special Christmas curtains which replace the ordinary ones in some homes - is red and white. The all-important day for celebrating, feasting and giving presents is Julafton (Christmas Eve). A traditional Swedish Christmas meal includes lutfisk (cod dried in a special way) and rice porridge.

In France, nativity scenes called crèches are set up in homes just before Christmas. This custom started in Provence, but has now spread throughout France. Years ago, craftsmen spent the winter months making the figures for the scenes. They either carved them out of wood or moulded them in clay and then painted them.

By contrast in Australia & New Zealand, as Christmas comes in the middle of summer, swimming and picnics are the order of the day, though many families have the traditional roast turkey at midday. Australian carols talk about sun, not snow!

The candles lit from Advent to Christmas Day in our churches represent:

Hope - The first candle reminds us of the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah.

Faith - The second candle recalls the journey of Mary & Joseph to Bethlehem.

Joy - The third candle represents the joy of the approaching birth of Jesus.

Peace - The fourth candle echoes the angels’ message of “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men”.

Christ Candle - This is lit on Christmas day to represent Jesus as the Light of the World.

Christ Church. Celbridge Concerts

The Nanci Griffith Song Book concert took place on Saturday, 13^th September. Another lovely concert with CCE Leixlip (Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Leixlip) and friends took place on Friday, 19^th September. This was the third year that we have hosted the group and it is always a fun night of great music and a little bit of dance too.

4^th November saw the return of Johnny McEvoy for a lovely night of song and storytelling. On Saturday, 29^th November, there will be a concert in aid of the RNLI Lifeboat appeal by the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir. Tickets can be had from Ken Denner or Dee Huddleston at €25. All money raised will go to the ‘Cill Dara’ Appeal. On Friday, 19^th December, Celbridges’s own Connor McKeown returns for a Christmas Concert.

St. Finian’s Church Fair & Christmas Fair

This was held on Saturday, 13^th September from 11a.m., to 3 p.m., with historical talks, stalls, refreshments in The Glebe Garden with the Garden open but the House private and the church also open. Thanks to all who contributed in any way to the success of the event.

Put Saturday, 6^th December in your diary for the Christmas Fair, which will be held in the Slip Hall. All the usual stalls, raffle, teas and games for the kids and a special visit from Santa who will be distributing gifts from his Grotto.

Diocese Of Dublin & Glendalough - Chaplaincy For Everyone

Do you feel called to Chaplaincy in the Healthcare Sector? At the heart of Chaplaincy is spiritual and emotional support for people of all faiths and none, offering prayer and support for patients, families and staff. There is a Chaplaincy Quiet Day & Information Day in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute on Saturday, 15^th November from 10 a.m., to 4 p.m. There is no charge. info@taneyparish.ie.

From The Editor

Thanks to everyone who contributed articles and news for CSNL NEWS during the year. It is greatly appreciated. The first issue of 2026 will be on the 2^nd Sunday in January with a closing date - on 6^th January, 2026. Happy New Year to all readers.

Your Old Glasses Can Change Someone’s Life

The See & Be Seen glasses project started as a small act of kindness - a personal effort to help people who simply couldn’t afford the cost of eyeglasses. In Kenya & Rwanda, many elderly people and school children struggle with poor eyesight, not because the problem can’t be fixed, but because the cost of frames and lenses is often out of reach. During this summer, with the help of friends, neighbours and a few second-hand shops, we collected the first 450 pairs of glasses - mostly used, a few new - and sent them through to the Rotary Clubs in Kenya & Rwanda. The Rotary teams on the ground partner with local opticians who test each recipient’s eyesight and fit the most suitable pair. Where lenses are too weak or damaged, they replace them so that each person receives glasses that truly restore their vision. Seeing someone smile as they can read again, or a child’s face light up as they can finally see the blackboard clearly, it’s what keeps us going.

We would love to keep this work alive and reach many more people who need the gift of sight. If you have any old and unused glasses, please contact me (details below) and I will be happy to collect them from you. Every pair will make a difference to somebody. I will then pass them on to my neighbour Stewart for delivery in Kenya & Rwanda. (There are boxes in each church.) Thank you in advance for all contributions to this worthy cause. Dorothy Evertsen.

Organisation Focus - The Mendicity Institution

In operation for over 200 years, it currently provides food and day service to those experiencing homelessness. Mendicity’s Hard Ground coffee truck is now located in the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral. It provides delicious takeaway coffees/teas at €3. It is part of their social enterprise, offering certified barista training and part-time employment to those who have experienced homelessness and addiction. www.Mendicity.org.

Thanks

.. to Dee Huddleston for taking the Service of the Word in Straffan on 2^nd November. The service broadcast on RTE1 on Sunday, 26^th October was by Christian Aid workers and supporters and included Dee Huddleston reading one of the lessons.

Straffan Market & Car Boot 2025 - Report By Jos Evertsen

The above finished on 4^th October. Unfortunately that date was the second cancellation in a row, due to bad weather forecasts. With the cancellation on the 6^th September for the Irish Open Golf Tournament, it meant that we had no events in September and October this year. Most unusual and something that never happened before. On the 4^th October, the Team of Volunteers finished up with an End-of-Season get-together in Friel’s for a chat and some refreshments.

Despite three cancellations, overall it was another good year for our bimonthly event. We had 9 events, rather than the 12 planned for. We experienced an extraordinary high level of demand. For every event date we dealt with at least twice the number of requests than the spaces we had available. During the season we expanded our places from 70 to 76. We still ended up with waiting lists of up to 20 for each event. With our Team of 49 volunteers, this season we managed an attendance of 600 cars and collected a total of nearly €10,950 in entry fees. The generosity of our Team of Bakers generated a fabulous income of just over €3,300. In all, this year, this Straffan Community event, generated an impressive €6,695 for our parish Building Fund. Since our start in 2011, the Team has managed a total of 127 Events, 6574 cars on our church site, raised a total of nearly €150,000 and a contribution of over €76,000 to our parish Building Fund.

We are always looking for more volunteers. Why not join us for 2026 that starts in May, 2026 and runs to the end of September? It is only the occasional 2 hours on a few Saturdays. You contribute to our own parish and you participate in a great social and community event. Just send me a WhatsApp and I can add you to our Team list. The best two hours you will spend on a Saturday!

The Church Review

The annual subscriptions for the above are due at the end of December. If you want to continue receiving our Diocesan Magazine, which contains news of all parishes, general news of events and projects in the Diocese and further afield, or would like to be added to the list, you can contact the following:- Debbie Kelly (Straffan), Elizabeth Waldron (Newcastle-Lyons) & Ken Denner (Celbridge). Thanks to them for their work in distributing during the year.

A Prayer From Pope Francis Written In Hospital

“The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches. They have witnessed far more sincere kisses than those in airports. It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor. A privileged doctor saying the life of a beggar.

In intensive care, you see a Jew taking care of a racist. A police officer and a prisoner in the same room receiving the same care. A wealthy patient waiting for a liver transplant, ready to receive the organ from a poor donor. It in these moments, when the hospital touches the wounds of people, that different worlds intersect according to a divine design. And in this community of destinies, we realise that alone, we are nothing.

The absolute truth of people, most of the time, only reveals itself in moments of pain or in the real threat of an irreversible loss. A hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are, in their purest essence.

This life will pass quickly, so do not waste it fighting with people. Do not criticise your body too much. Do not complain excessively. Do not lose sleep over bills. Make sure to hug your loved ones. Do not worry too much about keeping the house spotless. Material goods must be earned by each person - do not dedicate yourself to accumulating an inheritance.

You are waiting for too much: Christmas, Friday, next year, when you have money, when love arrives, when everything is perfect. Listen, perfection does not exist. A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here. Here, we are given an opportunity to learn. So, make the most of this trial of life - and do it now. Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path, and let go of the path others have chosen for you. Respect: do not comment, do not judge, do not interfere. Love more, forgive more, embrace more, live more intensely! And leave the rest in the hands of the Creator.”