2002 began in Mount Argus with some rationalisation of the local apostolate. The changes were readily accepted and understood by the people and they recognise that we still offer a generous service of reconciliation and counselling according to our capabilities. At the end of January we began two weeks of Provincial Visitation which ended on the Feast of the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion. On 9th February we hosted a celebration of the Eucharist to mark the 80th anniversary of An Garda Siochana. The President and Taoisach were in attendance and the Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Connell. Fr. Joe Kennedy was the preacher in his first major engagement as Garda chaplain.

An interesting programme was offered during Lent including a series of lectures on the great world religions entitled Welcoming the Stranger. These took place in the Old Choir with full houses for each of the five sessions. In a Dublin that is increasingly multi-cultural and multi-faith the lectures aimed at promoting greater understanding and tolerance, especially in the wake of 9/11

A new sanctuary carpet, colour gold, and provided courtesy of the Garda Obsequies Association, was laid in time for the Holy Week Services which were well attended and celebrated according to our usual traditions.

Brother Gabriel died on the Wednesday after Easter and his funeral on the Friday was a real celebration of all that he meant to the Passionists, to Mount Argus and to his family. A buffet meal in the Blessed Charles Centre afterwards provided an ideal opportunity for all to mix.

In May a minibus load went up to Crossgar for the Botswana Golden Jubilee Celebrations. We were delighted to see that all Fr. Brian's work had paid off in the excellent commemoration book he produced and in his wonderful power point presentation to the attendant Passionists and Cross and Passion Sisters. We thank the brethren in Crossgar for the beautiful meal. Mount Argus made it's own contribution to the celebrations with an African Liturgy the following Sunday, thanks to the efforts of Fr. John Craven, and a most enjoyable buffet in the hall afterwards attended by many family members of Passionists who had served in Botswana; as well as the PAM group and others who had supported our missions over the years.

The Novena of Hope was conducted towards the end of the month by Frs. Martin; Charlie; Paul Francis and Frank with a more mission type format. It went down very well with the people and attracted good attendances. Also in May we celebrated Fr. Ambrose's Diamond Jubilee of Profession and then the Golden Jubilee of Ordination of Frs. Eunan and Neil, who were joined by classmates Marius, Salvian, and Paul Healy and invited family members and friends. Mass was followed by drinks in the quad and then an excellent meal in the refectory.

Around this time we began a series of weekly community outings to places of interest in and around the city, led expertly by Fr. Jim Sheridan. The first outing was to the Phoenix Park Centre and there have been many more since. The World Cup brought great excitement to Ireland in June, but in the middle of it Fr. Frank accompanied the Mount Argus Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes. On the day they left, Ireland were knocked out by Spain, on the day they came back, England were knocked out by Brazil. Make of that what you will.

At the end of June Sr. Una Cullen retired from the parish after 18 years. A farewell celebration was held in the Blessed Charles Centre. We have since taken on a lay parish pastoral worker. She is Grainne Doherty from Moville in Donegal and she has made a very encouraging beginning. July was taken up with the Summer Project for local schoolchildren. Yet again it was deemed a great success with outings to various places and ongoing events in the Blessed Charles Centre and Community Centre.

August thankfully was a quieter month and then in September a number of community members joined others in the province for the holiday at Clonea Strand in Co. Waterford. A really great time was had by all. At present in Ireland there is a media campaign running called Power to Change, an ecumenical venture to promote the person of Christ and the message of the gospel. Among a number of events in Mount Argus to link in with this we are holding a talk and discussion series in the Old Choir with inputs from Sean Goan; Fr. Martin Coffey; Grainne Doherty and Fr. Pat Rogers.

In late September Mount Argus hosted a social gathering of Religious from around the city. We will host another in October, as well as a gathering of Passionist laity on the feast of the founder, and a gathering of ex-Passionists shortly afterwards.

That's about the bare bones of our year so far. The health of some of our community continues to concern us. We continue to be deeply grateful for the presence of Teresa, our community nurse. Bro. Malachy in particular has had a difficult time of it, but we know that old age doesn't come on it's own, and so we just commend all of our brethern to your fraternal prayers, as we pray also for you. Our good wishes go out to you.