General Easter Vestry-

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

Coffee Time –

Our latest “drop- in” coffee morning had the largest attendance so far. It was great to see new faces enjoy a cuppa and chat during the morning. We also raised a few euros for our hall restoration fund.

World Day of Prayer –

This year’s Service took place in Old St. Mary’s Church on Friday, 6th March @ 8.00pm. This year’s Service was designed by the women of Papaua New Guinea; a country only discovered in the 1930s. Members of the congregations from the six churches took part with representatives leading prayers & readings. Everybody enjoyed a cup of tea or coffee afterwards.

HOLY WEEK

Tuesday,7th April – Evening Prayer – St. Paul’s, Cahir @ 8.00pm

Wednesday,8th April- Compline – Holy Trinity, Fethard @ 8.00pm

MaundayThursday,9th April – H.C. - Old St. Mary’s @ 8.00pm

Good Friday,10th April:
Holy Trinity,Fethard @ 9.00am
St. Paul’s,Cahir @ 10.30am
Old St. Mary’s, Clonmel @ 12 noon

Easter Eve, 11th April:
Old St. Mary’s- Lighting of Paschal Candles& amp; Easter Vigil @7.30pm

The churches should be decorated on Saturday. This is not the preserve of a few.
All are welcome, but particularly we need donations of flowers and foliage.

Select Vestry –

Will meet again on Monday, 23rd March 2009 in Old St. Mary’s at 8.00pm. A full attendance is requested.

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 – warm and suitable size.

Bereavement –

We sympathise with our Principal Teacher, Ms Wallace on the death of her sister-in-law, Theresea, after a long illness.

Anthony (Tony) Alazia was born in the Falkland Islands and found his way to Clonmel to work in Bulmers 16 years ago. His Funeral Service took place in Old St. Mary’s on Ash Wednesday, 25th February and interment took place in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Our sympathy goes to his partner, Eileen, and his sons Matthew and Ralf and his daughter, Sophie.

Our condolences go to Barbara Essame on the death of her daughter-in-law, Breda in Cork. Barbara has had three bereavements within her immediate family in the lazy few months. Please, pray for her, her family and all who have been bereaved.
May they rest in peace.

World Day of Prayer –

This was formerly the Womens World Day of Prayer.
This year’s Service will take place in Old St. Mary’s Church on Friday, 6th March @ 8.00pm. All are welcome.
This year’s Service has been designed by the women of Papaua New Guinea; a country only discovered in the 1930s. Do come and share with us in worship and in a simple social cup of tea/coffee afterwards.

Mothering Sunday –

This falls on the 22nd March this year.
This is always a special day and our parish usually has posies for Mums and the children take part in the service in Clonmel. This year, I would like to see children in other parts of the parish taking part in worship; not just there – but reading and singing.
Here in Clonmel, it is easier to organise as we have a school, but there are lots of children in the parish who do not attend our school or worship. I would appreciate it if parishioners would make contact so that I can plan for the inclusion of children in worship in a more organised way.

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 Ms Wallace @ Tel: 052 6127876. The school is St. Mary’s Parochial School, Western Road, Clonmel.

Appointment –

The Rev Paul Draper, Rector of Ballydehob, Co. Cork has been appointed Rector of Lismore Group of Parishes and Dean of Lismore. He and his wife, Catherine and their daughters will take up residence in Lismore in July.

Youth Officer -

I met with the Youth Officer during February to explore ways in which we might further youth work in this parish. The outcome of conversation is that we begin with those who will move on into 2nd level education in September. Teenagers are all but invisible in this parish and numbers in the parish appear to be quite small.

Copyright –

Parishioners may not realise that to reproduce hymns on service sheets requires copyright permission. The parish has copyright licences for this and for the reproduction of sheet music. While the Rector usually produces these sheets, parishioners who wish to produce their own for special occasions should consult with the Rector in order that all reproductions in our parish are copyright compliant. The penalties for breach of copyright are enormous and reproduced material used in parish properties must be compliant as we will be the ones to be prosecuted. Yet another area where legislation brings itself to bear on the life of a parish and it also places a further burden on our financial resources (cost of the licences).
The rector makes a report on what has been reproduced annually to CCLI.

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. Don’t stay away for fear of getting a job, we don’t force people to take jobs, but it is important that as many parishioners as possible hears about what is happening in their parish.

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

Singing Group -

Next meetings: Friday 20th & 27th March 2009 @ 8.00pm in Old St. Mary’s. New faces and voices always welcome.

Theatre Visit -

It was arranged at very short notice and a small group of parishioners will attend Carrick-on-Suir’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” on 1st March – watch out for St. Mary’s, Clonmel production in the coming weeks, Ring the Rector when you see the notices and we’ll arrange another outing – All welcome!

St. Mary’s Parochial Hall –

We have begun our preparations for to make applications for planning permission and for applying for grants for the refurbishment of St. Mary’s Parochial Hall. This will take time as it appears we may be entitled to apply for a wide range of funding. But we will still need to raise funds of our own!

Old St Mary’s –

The Diocesan Architect has visited Old St. Mary’s to look at the areas where there is an ingress of water. Much of the work can be done by Fas or by volunteers . Over the coming months the trapdoor in the porch ceiling will be open to allow air to circulate in the roof space so that it can dry out. There will be some “mess” as we rectify the problems causing the damp and ingress of water.
The architect has had the carpet in the porch removed as it was causing the grave slabs to sweat. These slabs are designed to be walked on and for the inscriptions to fade with time, but we will be erecting a rope barrier to prevent them being walked on.
The plastic cover on the slab inside the church will be removed to stop condensation, which is damaging this medieval artifact. This will now be surrounded by a rope barrier.
The rising damp at the doorway at the east end of the church will also receive treatment in accordance with the architect’s recommendation.
The “pidgeon mess” in the bell tower will be cleared-out and the louvres securely fixed and mesh to stop the pidgeons getting in put in place. This work will cost us a bit as the “mess” will need to be cleared by professionals.
I spoke of “volunteering” earlier, this might be an opportunity for those willing to give a little of their time.

Whist Drives

Drives take place in the hall of the school across the road from the Old St. Mary’s Church, Clonmel, on the 2nd Friday of each month from September – April.
We are re-thinking the way in which we “wash-up”! But contributions to the supper would be welcome!
We would also like to see more parishioners playing with us.
It is a parish activity and the proceeds go to parish funds. There are usually two people involved each night.
The next night is:
Friday, 13th March 2009
Volunteers talk to Bob Savage or the Rector

Whist Drives

Drives take place in the hall of the school across the road from the Old St. Mary’s Church, Clonmel, on the 2nd Friday of each month from September – April.
We are re-thinking the way in which we “wash-up”! But contributions to the supper would be welcome!
We would also like to see more parishioners playing with us.
It is a parish activity and the proceeds go to parish funds. There are usually two people involved each night.
The next night is:
Friday, 13th March 2009
Volunteers talk to Bob Savage or the Rector

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.

School News –

The Minister for State at the Department of Finance, Dr Martin Mansergh TD will hoist our 1st Green flag at St. Mary’s Parochial School on Friday, 20th March @ 2.00pm

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.
Wednesday, 11th March 2009 – at the same venue there will be training for Chairpersons, Principals and Treasurers @ 7.30pm

Shrapnel Fund -

I hope you haven’t forgotten about the shrapnel fund which is part of our initiative to pay off our debt. We have asked that as many of you as possible would put your loose change into a jam jar and give the proceeds to us to help with our effort to get rid of the debt. Shirley Clooney has taken charge of the counting etc. Over €600 has now been given in this part of our project. Our debt now stands at just under €45,000. We are on target, thank-you to all who are helping and , hopefully, we can continue to get on with other things in the knowledge that your generosity will ensure we don’t have to worry about the debt.

Safeguarding Trust –

The latest newsletter explains who should be contacted by the Parish Panel in the event of an incident or suspicion of an incident of abuse of minors coming to the knowledge of the Parish Panel. The members of the Parish Panel in this parish are :

The Rector: Tel 052 6187464

Mrs Mulhall: Tel 051 646984

Dr Alan Thomas: Tel 052 28235

Mandatory reporting is now place.


The newletter also explains about training for those who train the panels and the workers. In our Diocese Rev Canon Harvey, our Bishop and the Rev Isobel Jackson are our diocesan trainers. Each of them have been trained to provide training.

The newslatter also answers questions that are usually asked about Garda Vetting. It covers practical aspects of it, including that a vetting application is valid for 5 years and must then be renewed. This is to keep up to date with a persons staus with regard to any convictions that might make the person unsuitable ot be a youth worker.

Each member of the panel receives a copy of the newsletter. I am going to put my copy onto one of the tables at the back of Old St. Mary’s, which is open during the day Monday-Friday. Please do not take it away, but do feel free to read it.

Some of the reluctance on the part of a few parishioners is due to lack of information lets try and inform ourselves.