Parish Partnerships & Deaneries In Action

Examples of creative partnership practice building hope…

‘For now, what we need is the chance to change,
to make space for the new thing we need’

– Pope Francis, Let Us Dream

Below are some examples of building hope / partnership in practice gathered from across the diocese.

April 2026

Fingal South West Deanery – Awareness: Additional Needs

A sub-committee of the Fingal South West Deanery formed to focus on “Awareness: Additional Needs” as an important part of their Building Hope journey. The sub-committee shared a series of posters (available here) which could be displayed in their churches to promote awareness, understanding, and inclusion of people with Autism. The posters are designed to be simple, informative, and suitable for use in parish settings across all parishes in the deanery, especially during April – Autism Awareness Month, and also include a Prayer of Faithful on Sundays in April.

The overall aim is to develop a deeper awareness of additional needs within parish communities. This includes fostering a culture of inclusion, supporting children with additional needs in their sacramental preparation, and engaging positively with parents so that every family feels welcomed, valued, and supported.

References for Additional reading include the ‘USCCB Guidelines for the celebration of the sacraments with Persons with Disabilities’, ‘Scriptural Stations for Autistic Children’ by Fr Mark P. Nolette, ‘God loves the Autistic Mind’ by Fr Matthew P. Schneider and Birmingham diocesan resources available at this link.

March 2026

Looking at developing Funeral Ministry across their parish partnerships (Building Hope Pastoral Strategic Planning Resource 2025-2027, page 13, Focus 1: Objective 4), the Partnerships of Parishes of the South Dublin Deanery joined together to create their own Deanery Funeral Guide to help in their accompaniment of the bereaved of the parishes in their deanery.

‘May the prayers of Mary, Mother of God,
who stood by the cross as her son was dying (John 19:25),
help those who mourn and
be with all of us in our time of need.’
Archbishop Farrell, Pastoral Letter, November 2023.

Click here for the South Dublin Deanery Parish Funeral Guide

Click here for GUIDELINES for PARTNERSHIP PASTORAL COUNCIL (a one-page PDF)

Also offered are some suggestions which Partnership Pastoral Councils could consider as they begin to minister together: Click here for Ways to get your parish partnership working.

Please send news and items from your partnership to buildinghope@dublindiocese.ie.

Journeying through Lent in Partnership
Below: Lent, Season of Renewal
From the Partnership of Balally, Balinteer, Dundrum & Meadowbrook
Lent 2025

Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock 2024
Below: Pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Dublin with Parish Partnership banners in Knock on Saturday, April 27, 2024

Caring for Volunteers in Partnership
Below: Attendees at the Day of Recollection for lay ministers and church volunteers from the Ringsend, Sandymount and Haddington Road Partnership at the Avila Retreat Centre, conducted by Fr Donal Neary SJ and organised by the Parish Partnership team.