Fr. Brian Moore CM, provincial of the Vincentian Community in Ireland and Great Britain, gave the homily on the occasion of the installation of Fr. Paschal Scallon CM, the new Parish priest of St. Peter’s Phibsboro. He began the homily by reminding the congregation that it was 171 years since the Vincentians first came to the parish. From the beginning, he said, St. Peter’s has been a centre of worship and mission, and that same Spirit has continued to the present day.

The parish of St. Peter’s comprises many different groups, including the Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Committee, the worshipping community, and all the groups associated with the various ministries in the church. Other groups in the parish include the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Legion of Mary, the Ladies of Charity and the Adult Cathecumenate. St. Peter’s has also been the cradle from which many parish missions grew and it is from here that the Nigerian Province of the Vincentians continues to be supported. The ministry to the deaf community and to the travelling people have also been significant outreaches from this parish and more recently developments include the work of the Vincentian Refugee Centre.

Fr. Brian then went on to say that Fr. Lazarus CM had been recently appointed as chaplain to the African community in Dublin and that today they were celebrating in St. Peter’s church the African Harvest Festival. He concluded by saying that today’s celebration marks the beginning of a year-long celebration of the 350th Anniversary of the death of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, founders of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Priests) and the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

An anniversary, Fr. Brian said, is a time for remembering and for giving thanks. It’s also a time for beginning anew and for looking at the legacy of St. Vincent with new eyes. He spoke about the fact that we are beginning this celebration in the midst of a recession and amidst great uncertainty in our country and at a time of low morale within our church here in Ireland. This context, he said, should not be something that frightens us but rather should be taken as a challenge to draw on the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul who reminded us that God was present in our lives at all times and that it is His presence that can bring us hope.

Fr. Brian then welcomed Fr. Pascal Scallon as the new parish priest of St. Peter’s Phibsboro and welcomed Fr. Pascal’s family, thanking them for giving Pascal to the Vincentian family. He went on to pray that the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul would grow through the ministry of Fr. Paschal and that St. Vincent de Paul would be the inspiration for Pascal and for all the parishioners of St. Peter’s parish. He concluded by thanking Fr. Paschal for accepting this new appointment.