Masses this Weekend:
Saturday 2nd July
10:00am
6:15pm John & Eileen Sullivan
Sunday 3rd July
10:30am Alice Daly
Mary Healey
12:00noon Patrick McGrath
Welcome: We welcome into the Christian Faith Community of St. Mary’s, Conor Patrick Taylor, we congratulate his parents, Cathal and Orla, her godparents, grandparents and extended family. We also welcome Cole Arthur Walsh, we congratulate his parents Gavin and Jamie, his godparents, grandparents and extended family.
Budding Novelist: Congratulations to Michael McDermott, Irishtown who won last week’s ‘Write a short story in six words’ competition in the Irish Independent Weekend Magazine. Michael’s winning entry was: “We need to talk, text me.”
Inislounaght Celebrates: Last Friday evening, the residents of Inislounaght Estate celebrated their 40th “birthday” as an estate. In all there are 30 homes on the estate and of the present occupants 12 families have been their since it opened 40 years ago. There was a celebratory Mass at 5pm at which the Inislounaght Choristers sang. Refreshments followed. There was also a sports competition for the young children. It was great to see families who had lived on the estate but who had moved on to different areas returning for this occasion. Thanks to Ann-Marie Farrell and her committee who organised the whole event.
Area Masses: Apropos of the success and goodwill generated by the Inislounaght experience, wouldn’t it be nice if other estates and community groups followed Inislounaght’s example. Area Masses are a great way of building up a sense of community spirit and cohesion in our area.
Wedding Bells: Congratulations to Matthew Ryan, Bianconi Drive and Beata Kudha, Wolfetone St & Poland who were married last Sunday in Borego, Poland. Congratulations also to Conor Hogan, Inislounaght and Fiona Hogan, Glenconnor who were married last Saturday in Marlfield. We wish both young couples every blessing and happiness and a future of contentment and togetherness.
Peter Pence Collection: Envelopes for the annual Peter Pence collection are available at the Church doors this weekend. This collection is used to finance various Diocesan ministries e.g. Accord, Cura, Cathechetical Development, Family Ministry Child Safeguarding Services, St John’s Pastoral Centre. There are huge demands on these services, and all are struggling to maintain their services. Your contribution guarantees the survival of these very necessary and important services and ministry in our Diocese. A certain amount of this collection also goes to the Vatican to support Church Services worldwide. This collection will be taken up at all Masses next weekend.
Parish Office: The Parish Office will be closed from Friday 29th July until Friday 12th August. If you have any notices or anniversaries for the Newsletter for those two weeks, please can you let Maria have them before Tuesday 26th July. Many thanks.
Yearly Boxes: To support your local Parish, your weekly contributions at the Offertory Collection are valued and appreciated. Because of dwindling numbers and financial constraints the Offertory Collection has been gradually decreasing. Perhaps you might be in a position to increase your contribution. Many living in the Parish, worship at other Churches, which is O.K. They might give a thought to making a contribution to St Mary’s Parish. They can do this by using the Yearly Box of Envelopes. If interested call Maria on 61 22773. Boxes are available at Parish Office in the Crying Room in Church. Maria is present 10am—11am Monday to Friday and at weekend Mass times. The future of St Mary’s depends on your loyalty and generosity.
Holidays: The school children will be beginning their summer holidays next week. We wish them an enjoyable and safe holiday and look forward to meeting them again next September. D.V.
Mass for the Buried: Mass for those buried in St Patrick’s Cemetery will be celebrated outdoors, weather permitting, on Thurs 28th July at 7.30pm. It is an opportunity to pray for the repose of the souls of those buried in the cemetery and the blessing of the graves is a unique community celebration and indeed a ‘thanksgiving’ for those who have gone before us. For the blessing of the graves, you may wish to bring a small Holy Water bottle which will be blessed at the start of the Mass, so you can bless the graves of your loved ones afterwards. Further details over the coming weeks.
Sue Ryder: Sue Ryder Charity for the elderly is looking for volunteers for their shop on Mary Street. If you are able to offer any help at all please call in and see Anna or call her on 0858535874.
Padre Pio Prayer Group: Meet on Monday 4th July in St Mary’s Church. Rosary and prayers at 6.30pm. Mass at 7pm for all petitions placed in the basket on the altar. All are very welcome.
Graduation Masses: Last Monday we celebrated graduation Masses with the Gaelscoil and Presentation Primary. The sixth class are moving on to Secondary School and we wish the young boys and girls every success on this next step on their journey of life. We thank them for their cooperation and enthusiasm whilst with us at Primary School.
Retirement: This week sees the retirement of Jimmy Ryan as Principal of St Mary’s CBS Primary and Moira McCausland as Deputy Principal. Both have served St Mary’s School and Parish exceptionally well. During his time as Principal, Jimmy brought many new initiatives to St Mary’s and was always energetic in promoting St Mary’s as a school where every child was valued, cherished and encouraged to develop their own particular talents and gifts. We thank Jimmy for his great stewardship and leadership and he can be assured he left an indelible mark on the progress of St Mary’s. Jimmy and Moira, enjoy your retirement and thanks a million for all you have done for St Marys.
Thank You: The staff of St Mary’s CBS would like to thank most sincerely all those who helped to make the recent retirement mass and celebrations for Jimmy Ryan so special. They thank especially Hotel Minella and Hewitt’s Bakery for their generosity. A huge thank you also to all the parents who helped on the day of the Mass. It was very much appreciated.
New Principal: Eoin Morrissey has been appointed as Principal of St Mary’s CBS Primary School in succession to Jimmy Ryan who has retired. We welcome Eoin and wish him may years of leadership in St Mary’s.
