A Happy New
Year to everybody!! During the coming year, it is to be hoped that we might see
more of you at worship and participating in parish life!
A parish
needs everybody to work together and to share in the life of the parish
community. All are welcome. Don't be shy. Come along, best to introduce
yourself to one person who will, I hope, introduce you to others.
We all have
talents which we should share.
In the coming
year, I hope we will leave behind us the past and move forward into the future.
Part of that
needs to be a willingness to participate as a parishioner of the Union of
Parishes in which we participate as one community of faith.
Each part of
our parish has it's own culture and views. Its a pity we have been reluctant to travel not so great distances to be
together.
So, let's
drive those few short kilometres to share and support each other’s events and
acts of worship. You might be very surprised at the benefits we might reap in
doing so!
Which church
is below? If you have never seen this interior before; why not go to worship
there at least once? Over the coming year the photo on the cover of your
newsletter will be of a church building in our parish; closed or open!
Yours in Christ
Barbara
Cleaning
& Flowers in our Churches – Please
remember to do what you have volunteered
for. It is also important to please take your rubbish away with you . The
boiler room has been thoroughly cleaned by some of your fellow parishioners; lets
help keep it that way!
Envelopes & Assessment – The 2018 envelopes are now availableThis scheme
only works if every envelope is filled whether you are in Church or not! They
are not just for “church collection” when you attend, they are a way to make a
committment to supporting the everyday expenses of heat & light and general
maintenance, renovation and repairs, and, for some includes Sunday collection
as well. Some fill their envelopes for ungoing expenses and make a further
donation by way of direct debit or single payment towards the Assessment. How
you do it is your choice, but at the end of the day, all the bills must be
paid. We have cut costs as far as is possible in order to try to keep going,
but we live 6 months in arrears! As a result of the “crash” of the late
1980s/1990s our investments were reduced to about 1/3 of what they were! And
costs have gone up again! If you need to indicate where the contents of an
envelope needs to go; please write “collect” or “Assess” on the back of the
envelope. Please, do not attach other pieces of paper which can come loose!
Select
Vestry Meeting – Will take place in Old St Mary's Church, Clonmel on Friday 19th
January 2018 @ 8.00pm – You will receive a reminder by text some days before,
please reply to it!
Rev Arthur Carter – A presentation was made to the Rev Arthur Carter at
the Carol Service in St Paul's on Friday
the 15th December 2017
Whist Drives – Friday, 12th January @ 8.00pm sharp
Friday, 9th February @ 8.00pm sharp
Friday, 9th March @ 8.00pm sharp
We relie on donations of prizes in order to keep going – this is one of
a few fundraisers we have during the year and is also an opportunity to
socialise.
Singing Group – Friday, 5th
January 2018 @ 8.00pm in Old St Mary’s
Wed,
17th January 2018 @ 8.00pm in Old St Marys
Friday, 2nd February 2018 @ 8.00pm in Old
St Marys
All are welcome to join in!
Christmas
Fair – This was well
attended in spite of the weather. We do not have a final result as of yet!
Thank-you to those who supported their fellow parishioners who worked to make
this event happen!
Greeting Cards – Greeting cards with pictures of all our 5 churches are
available in each church at
€2 each. The inside is blank to facilitate personal greeting.
Parish Records – At the moment we have a participant in the Tus scheme
who is checking out
database to ensure all entries in our registers have been recorded.
Recommissioning of Lay Readers – This took place in St Canice's
Cathedral on Advent Sunday.
Our Lay Readers play a very large part in the conducting of worship in our
parishes. Without them, many of our churches would be closed on Sundays. The
undergo a Level 7 course with six modules which is accredited to St Patrick's
Pontifical College, Maynooth) It is quite challenging. If you would like to do
the course for your own interest or with a view to becoming a Lay reader; speak
to the Rector. As part of the recommissioning; Readers who were not previously
Garda Vetted began the process. The recommisioning was preceded by a Quiet Day
with the Bishop of Limerick; the Rt Revd Kenneth Kearon.
The ceremony included the Installation of Canon Brian O'Rouke as
Prebenary of Killamery and the presentation of the Bishop's Adult Medal' which
wa awarded to Ms Clare Jackson, Kilkenny.
Book Launch – Ms Aileen Acheson launched her 3rd book
“Tales of the Copper Coast in Old St Mary's on 16th December 2017.
Her old friend, Sean Healy, did the honours!
Welcome – We welcome a former Rector of Kilcooley back to our
Diocese. The Rev Ian
Cruickshank was Instituted to the Parish of Kilanne on 15th of December 2017.
CHURCH
SERVICES
Jan 2018
|
St Pauls, Cahir
9.30am
|
Holy Trinity Fethard
9.30am
|
Old St Marys
Clonmel
8.30am
11.00am
|
Tullaghmeelan
11.00am
|
Dec 31st
|
Central Service in Old St
Mary's @ 11.00am
|
|||
Jan 7th
Epiphany 1
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
Worship in
other church
|
Jan 14th
Epiphany 2
|
H.C.
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
Jan 21st
Epiphany 3
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
Worship in other
church
|
Jan 28th
Epiphany 4
|
H.C.
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
Service of the Word
|
Worship in other
church
|
Feb 4th
2nd bef Lent
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
Worship in other
church
|
Feb 11th
Sun Bef Lent
|
H.C.
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
Feb 14th
Ash Wednesday
|
M.P.
@ 9.00am
|
E.P.
@ 7.30pm
|
H.C
@
10.30am
|
Worship in other
church
|
Wednesday Weekday
Service – Service at 10.30am on Wednesdays in Old St Marys. Refreshments
afterwards
Your
Prayers – Please
remember those who are unwell, at home & in hospital. At this time we
need to pray, especially, for peace.
Sunday Life -This is an hour-long programme on TippFm which is
broadcast from 7- 8am on
Sunday mornings. It usually comprises music, reading and interviews. We keep it
light as most of our listeners have just woken up!
Confirmation – The bishop
will visit our parish to administor Confirmation on 22nd April 2018. If there is
anybody who wishes to be confirmed (12 upwards), please speak to the Rector.
Classes will begin in the Rectory at 4.00pm from 24th January 2018.
Diocesan Magazine – This is a monthly production of news and information
on 10 months of the
year. The cost is €40. Payment for some 2017 editions is still outstanding;
talk to me.
Clergy Moving – The Dean of Ossory, the Very Rev Katherine Poulton has
been appointed
Rector of Julianstown, Co Meath. She has done tremendous work in St Canice's
and Kilkenny
Parish. We will be the poorer for her departure.
The Rev Robert Jones has been appointed Rector of Kiltegan Union of
Parishes and will arrive during the Spring.
Rugby Club Concert – The church was full and the music was out of this
world! Kelly Lonergan was in top form and the choir has gone from strength to
strength.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Interest in
this event has waned in recent years.
We should take every opportunity to pray with other Christians in our troubled
world. We have so much to share with those who interpret the Bible in a variety
of ways, have a developed doctrine somewhat unlike us and who worship Almighty
God in ways not familiar to us. On Sunday 28th January we are
invited to share in an act of worship in which we will celebrate our common
Christian faith in St Mary's Church, Cahir by kind invitation of the new Parish
Priest, Fr Tom Rogers. Come along and share in this celebration. Our Lord
prayed that we might all be one!
Local
Ordained Ministry – The
Church of Ireland has been considering this ministry for some time. It is about
those who feel called to ordained Ministry; but not in the wider Church. This
will involve an academic course that will be accredited to a theological
institution combined with the support of the candidate's Rector who will tutor
in practical theology and practice. It will certainly require time away from
home and, from my own experience, a change in lifestyle at home and outside the
home! This month's diocesan magazine has an article about it. The idea is that this
ministry will be served in one's own parish; which in itself may prove, for
some, to be challenging. It will not be a direct pathway towards fulltime
ordained ministry.
I served my 1st
two years of ministry in my own parish. If you wish to talk about it or a group
wishes to discuss it; I am there to listen, guide and help in any way I can.
Carol
Services – As this
newsletter is being put together Carol Services have taken place in Cahir and
Fethard.
In Cahir we had
a truly ecumenical evening with the Parish Priest, Fr Tom Rogers, the
Presbyterian Minister, Rev William Montgomery, a representative of the Rockwell Community, Fr Matt and the
Coptic Community being represented by Fr Dimitri. Maureen Purcell's choir were
in full voice with the Suirvale Choir absent due to many of its members not yet
being home for the festive season.
In Fethard,
we had a full church with everybody in full voice. The Choral Society sang a
number of festive carols and also
present were; Fr Liam Everard PP, Fr Izzy Donovan from the Abbey and Dean RB
McCarthy; all of whom read. Thank-you to parishioners for the beautifully
decorated churches and the sumptuous feasts before we went home!.
Inishlounaght
, St Patrick’s ( Marlfield)– As
you know, the avenue at Marlfield Church has been in need of refurbishment for
some time. We were so grateful for the help we received from local people in
clearing up the mess caused by Hurrican Ophelia.
Now our
neighbour, Mr Clancy, who accesses his farmyard along the driveway has
resurfaced the avenue. It looks great. We should never underestimate the kindness
and generosity of others; especially our neighbours!