Welcome to St. Mary’s Church, Sandyford
Mass Times
Join Us on webcam
Mon to Friday 10 am
Saturday 6pm Vigil
Sunday 9am and 11am Mass
Feast of Epiphany 6th January Mass 10am and 7.30pm broadcast on webcam only
Please note that all Churches will be open for private prayer every day after the celebration of Mass. Please do not come to Church if you have a cough, feel unwell or have a temperature .
Please wear your face covering at all times - Holy communion will be distributed after final blessing. Please do not return to your seats after receiving hold communion - please exit the church.
Follow the directions given bu our ushers and volunteers
The Parish Office will be opened to the public from 10.30 to 1pm Monday to Friday. You may also ring or email if you wish to book a Mass Intention, buy a Mass Card or have a query in relation to any other matter. Just for your information, we now have a number of options in terms of payment or donations including card payment over the phone in addition to the normal methods of cheque and cash. Your support, understanding and generosity is greatly appreciated at this difficult timefor all of us.
Directions
Exit 13 off the M50 and follow the signs for Sandyford Village. St.Mary’s Church is directly across the road from “Colemans” shop and Sandyford park estate. Click on ‘Sandyford Village’ link to see google map and directions.
History of St. Mary’s Sandyford
The Parish is composed of the Union of Sandyford and Glencullen, so called from the situation of the two churches. It was formerly a part of Cabinteely parish and was administered by a curate William Flood whose residence was at Sandyford. Rev Patrick Smyth was appointed to take over the curacy in the month of October 1823.
By 1829 the district of Sandyford that adjoined Cabinteely was formed as a distinct Parish in its own right by the then Archbishop D Murray. On April 6 th 1829, the Archbishop appointed that curate who had taken care of Sandyford during the time of its union with Cabinteely, namely, Patrick Smyth as Parish Priest.
Fr Patrick Smyth PP of Sandyford very quickly with the help of generous benefactors managed to finally give to Sandyford Church the finishing touches it was so long without. Although St Mary’s Church was dedicated in 1806 and called the Church of the “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” it had remained unfinished. The new Parish Priest Fr Smyth faced the challenge of the T shaped church having no vestry, no good vestments nor a decent existing chalice.
Fr Smyth’s agenda was to build on the work of his predecessor, Rev. William Flood, and see the church to a reasonable state of completion to enable public worship. The church was roofed in 1830 by the generous contributions of B.C. Lawless who financed the project. It must be noted that although unroofed before this date people still gathered for mass in the barn like church.
By 1832 Fr Smyth set about providing a suitable residence in the grounds and by then was sent his first curate Rev T.A. Murphy.
By 1840 the urgent need for schools in the parish was met, thus far the education of the young had taken place in the church. This was made possible by the partial estate of a Lord Castlecoote who upon his passing left a significant sum, covering the cost of Sandyford School at lamb’s cross, comprising of two separate buildings, one for boys and one for girls; a similar construction was erected in Glencullen. These would be replaced by the current buildings respectively in 1936 and 1945.
By 1840 too the tower spire and vestry were in place bringing St Mary’s closer to its present shape . Fr Smyth added a library in one of the church porches indicating his concern to improve the minds of the people.
By 1845 Rev P Doyle who had provided support to Fr Smyth during a pilgrimage break to Rome was asked to remain on in the parish, taking up residence in Glencullen in a house adjoining the church there.
The Parish Priest now having two assistant priests conducted a census of his flock in 1853 showing a total of 2554 Catholics.
Fr Smyth died on 28 th May, 1860 and is buried in Glencullen.
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Our Team
Rev John Canon Delany, Moderator
Fr. Paul Ludden (Co – PP)
Fr Aaron Vinduska (PC)
Sacramental Co-ordinator – Gillian O Dwyer
Secretaries: Olive and Claire
Sacristan: Ray Shortt
Sacristan: Mary Mahon & Dennis Mulvey
Sacristan: Anne Anderson
Our Office
Our Office is Located at
St. Mary’s Sandyford.D18 E5R3
Opening Hours
Open Monday to Friday
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Contact Us
Phone: 01 295 6414
Email: office@sandyfordparish.org