Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday Services 2009
Wednesday 25th February 2009

Old St Mary's Clonmel @ 10.30am

St Paul's Chair @ 7.30pm

Web page URL

We have recently received a formal web address www.clonmel.lismore.anglican.org

This will also bring you to this web page.

Coffee Time

This will be a “drop – in” type of morning. Your are invited – all of you – to drop into the Rectory on Saturday, 7th March 2009 between 10.00am – 12.30pm. The idea is to facilitate parishioners meeting each other over a cup of tea or coffee. There will be a biscuit and, if your lucky, maybe a scone and jam! There will be a jam-jar for anybody who might like to make a donation to the Hall Restoration Fund – no obligation! This invitation included all of all ages.

Forward Planning

Barbeque & Fete during the Summer months – a way to be together & to raise some funds while having fun! Volunteers to help start planning and organising should contact the Rector

Singing Group

Next meetings: Friday, 6th & Friday, 20th February 2009 @ 8.00pm in Old St. Mary’s
New faces and voices always welcome.

Lenten Observance-

There will be Evening Prayer, followed by Bible Study in Old St.
Mary’s, Clonmel on Thursdays, 5th, 12th March & 2nd April @ 7.30pm – if you wish you can attend one without the other – I intend using the “Tourist Office” for these eveings – Its warm and a suitable size.

Enrolment in St. Mary’s National School

Enrolment in St. Mary’s National School – It would appear that some parishioners don’t
know that we have a parochial school. It is now time to get application in for enrolment in September 2009. Forms are available from Tel: 052 6127876

Enrolment in St. Mary’s National School

Enrolment in St. Mary’s National School – It would appear that some parishioners don’t
know that we have a parochial school. It is now time to get application in for enrolment in September 2009. Forms are available from Tel: 052 6127876

The Select Vestry

The Select Vestry – Will meet again on Monday, 9th February 2009 in Old St. Mary’s at
8.00pm.

The General Easter Vestry

The General Easter Vestry is the AGM of a parish. All parishioners over the age of 18years are eligible to attend. The business of the evening is to be presented with the parish accounts, which will have been already accepted and passed by the outgoing Select Vestry. The chairperson usually gives an Address and the Select Vestry and officers for the coming year are elected. There is no other business.

The correct way to bring a matter to the Select Vestry is to speak with the Rector or a member of the Select Vestry so that it may be put on the agenda.

All positions are held for one year only, except that of Glebewarden. One glebewarden is a member of the Diocesan glebes committee.

The General Easter Vestry for Clonmel Union of Parishes will be held on :
Monday, 20th April 2009 in Old St Mary’s church @ 8.00pm

Blessing

The Rector joined with Fr. Meehan to bless the new vehicle, which is part of a
fleet of minibuses which transport people to Waterford for their radium
treatment. This relieves friends and relatives from the onerous and time-consuming business of travelling up and down to Waterford five days per weeks for the duration of patients’ treatment. This wonderful facility is due to the generosity and dedication of a dedicated group.

School News –

Our school has had its evaluation for Green Flag status and we have invited
Minister for State at the department of Finance, Dr Martin Mansergh TD to
hoist the flag for us during the Summer term.
Mr Coleman from Christian Aid visited the school recently to be presented
with funds for a tubewell in the Third World. Bishop Michael visited the school on 16th January and was most impressed by the depth of knowledge the pupils had of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
The school is now the proud owner of a digital projector – the fruits of a very generous donation .

Our “Green Churches” –

When replacing bulbs in our churches, please use energy-saver ones.
Switch only lights that are necessary to give light for reading.
Switch off all lights when leaving a building

Note to members of the Flower Rota –

At the end of your month, please pass on the church keys, either to the next person on the list or to the Rector. A compost bin will be put in place at Old St. Mary’s in the coming week. Please put all plant material from arrangements into it – do not put oasis or any plastic into it!

School Board of Management Training –

Members of school Boards of Management undergo training to fulfil their statutory roles. This usually is organised on an area non-denominational basis, but this did not happen this time round. So, our diocese has had Canon Harvey, Abbeyleix trained as a trainer.
The next dates are as follows:
Wednesday, 11th March 2009 – Board of Management training – Talbot hotel, Carlow @ 5.30pm
On the same evening, at the same venue there will be training for Chairpersons, Principals and Treasurers @ 7.30pm

Hymnbooks & Prayerbooks –

There is a limited stock of hymn books and prayer books available in the tourist office at Old St Mary’s. They cost €20 each.

Safeguarding Trust –

We now have two prospective youth leaders who have done their Safeguarding Trust training. There appears to be a small group of people who don’t see the need for our child protection legislation. We would all prefer not to have to have it, but the reality is that it is absolutely necessary.

Some people appear to feel that having to comply with this legislation casts doubt on their character. There is also the feeling that as we are church members and, in some areas of the parish, everybody has known everybody else for a long time that it is a nonsense to have to comply.

The unfortunate thing is that over 80% of those abused physically, emotionally or psychologically are abused by family members or people known very well to the family. It is a shocking statistic and has led us to the requirement to do what we are doing. The law requires us to follow the state’s “Children First” and the Church’s law also requires us to do the same as every other organisation that works with minors.

It may seem “over-the-top” to require parents, brothers, sisters to do the training in the same way as everybody else, but we have only to look at our newspapers, televisions and listen to the radio to know that our world today is not a very safe place for our children.

I know it is difficult for some people to come to terms with all of this, but I would prefer to be “over-the-top” when it comes to the safety of our young people and those who volunteer to give them opportunities to grow into healthy adults who are not burdened by the horrors of child abuse than to take the risk of them experiencing what nobody should experience.

No matter what I think, I am bound by the law of the land and of the church of Ireland to ensure, as far as is possible, that all minors who take an active part in parish life do so in safety. Our teachers in our school are similarly bound by law to do likewise.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity –

The annual service took place in St. Mary’s, Irishtown. There was some confusion as to where it might be and it is hoped that next year there will be better organisation of this annual event. The rector was unable to attend due to a prior engagement and was represented by the Rev I. Knox

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity –

The annual service took place in St Mary's, Irishtown. There was some confusion as to where it might be held and it is hoped that next year there will be better organisation of this annual event. The rector was unable to attend due to a prior engagement and was represented by the Rev I. Knox

Bereavement

We sympathise with Tommy Whelan and his family on the death of his father on 25th Janaury. The Rector attended the funeral Mass in St Peter’s and St Paul’s. May he rest in peace.

We sympathise with Tommy Whelan and his family on the death of hisfather on 25^th Janaury. The Rector attended the funeral Mass in St Peter’s and St Paul’s. May he rest in peace.