School Applications –

The date for application has passed, but if you wish, you may contact Ms Wallace –telephone the school at 0526127876 and speak to Joan or Ms Wallace. This is our parochial school, under Church of Ireland management.

Select Vestry Meeting –

Next meeting –Wednesday, 28th March 2012 @ 8.00pm in Old St Mary’s Church – if you attend a meeting and a date is set without your indicating you would not be available, it is assumed you will be attending!!!!

Please, if you cannot attend phone/email your apology at least 24hrs beforehand to the Secretary.

Whist Drives –

The season is progressing well with lots of people enjoying an
evening’s relaxation & social interaction once a month .
Donations of prizes welcome! All welcome!

Friday, 13th April 2012 @ 7.45pm

Location the school hall across the road from Old St Mary's Church of Ireland, Mary St., Clonmel

Concert Friday 23rd March 2012

Friday, 23rd March in Old St Mary’s, Church of Ireland, Mary St., Clonmel
Callino Quartet with clarinet
@ 8.00pm

Concert Friday 30th March

Friday, 30th March in Old St Mary’s, Church of Ireland, Mary St. Clonmel
“Hallelujah to Trad”
And evening with
The Brock McGuire Band
With special guests
Louise Morrissey & Morrissey & Daniels
@
8.00pm
Tickets €20 at Premier Music, Clonmel

Safeguarding Trust & Youth Work –

The membership of the panel will change shortly after new members are vetted by the Gardai & trained. But in those areas where we were questioned about youth work we had mostly blanks. We need volunteers to get some youth activities going. If you are interested in helping set up Sunday School or some other type of activity for our young people, talk to the Rector.

We have the facilities in Clonmel, Cahir & limited facilities in Fethard – we need help, but most of all we need to bring our children together to learn, play and become enthusiastic members of our Church – come on volunteer, encourage your friends to join you and make our parish a more lively and friendlier place for our young people!

I have been sending text messages reminding parents of the 4th Sunday family service, but I don’t have a mobile number for every family – text me at 0862750735 or email me at frydayb@gmail.com and your family will receive a monthly encouragement to wroship!

Lyric Fm -

Many people enjoy listening to Lyric Fm, particularly in the car. Niall Carroll, Clonmel hopes to record 2 programmes for this radio station in Old St Mary's, Church of Ireland Parish Church, Clonmel, later in the year in honour of William Vincent Wallace's (composer of Mauritania), centenary.
This will be a free concert and the parish church will receive a fee. The evening will be in 2 parts, each of which would be broadcast as a separate programme on Lyric Fm.

Concert

Wednesday, 17th Ocotber – Catherine Leonard (violin) & Hugh Tinney in concert @ Old St. Mary's (Church of Ireland parish church), Mary St, Clonmel

Further Activities to Come –

Sunday, 24th June 2012 – Outdoor Service @ Old St Mary’s Church of Ireland, Clonmel

Summer 2012 Date TBC - Barbeque at the Rectory (fundraiser) (date later)

Envelopes -

We started an envelope scheme last April to help people spread out their giving over the year by fillng an envelope every Sunday whether at church or not. It has gone well and anybody can join. The sum put in weekly is up to you. We suggest you decide how much you would like to ocntribute over the year, divide it by 52 and spread the burden over the longer period. You decide where the money goes:
Collection
Assessment
Combination of both
You indicate your wishes when you join and you receive an account of what you have given . As with all donations in excess of €250 in any one year, you may participate in the Tax Relief Scheme open to charitable organisations. The idea is that the charity (in this case the Church) would benefit). So, if you are PAYE, the form goes to the Diocesan Treasurer who claims the tax relief for the parish or if you are Self-Assessed, youshould give a little more than the €250 in lieu of the tax relief and you give the form to your accountant to claim for you. To receive a form, speak to the Treasurer or. Rector

Confirmation 2012

Confirmation Service in St Paul’s Church, Piltown on Sunday, 17th June 2012 @ 3.30pm – If you would like the bishop to lay hands on you in affirmation of your faith at this Service, please talk to the Rector. The candidates from this parish will receive Holy Communion on Easter Day, before their confirmation, in accordance with the BCP rubric which says that they may as they are “desirous of being Confirmed”.

Select Vestry Meeting –

Next meeting –Ash Wednesday @ 7.30pm in St Paul's Cahir – those who have responsibilty for the 3 Fs should be glad to worship together and commit their work to God. The Service is, of course, open to everybody!

Please, if you cannot attend phone/email your apology at least 24hrs beforehand to the Secretary.

Singing Group –

Fridays, 17th February & 2nd March 8pm at Old St Mary's Church of Ireland Clonmel
- New voices are always welcome –whether you want to sit near the organ or not! We practise well known hymns etc and learn new ones – the addition of bass/alto etc would enhance our efforts!

Bishop’s Visit –

Bishop Michael will join us for our services in Holy Week – further details in the next newsletter

Welcome! –

To Zara Harte, newborn daughter of Alan & Andrea.
Congratulations!

Confirmation –

If you are about 12 years or older and would like to be Confirmed in 2012,
It is now time to talk to the rector – telephone or talk at church. Four young people have already signed up! Classes will begin on Saturday, 18th February @ 11.00am.
Confirmation will take place in Piltown Church on Sunday, 17th June 2012

Hospital Chaplaincy –

Followinng a further meeting with STGH's CEO, the Church of Ireland will share the hospital chapel with the Roman Catholiic Church. Both chaplains will co-ordinate services and other areas of chaplaincy work so that the patients and their relatives will benefit from the best spiritual care we can provide. In order that we can provide the best opportunities for patients to worship God while in the hospital, I will need some of you to be prepared to join in worship in the chapel so that when there is only one or a few patients they will have company.
The committee I sit on will in the near future renovate the mortuary with monies raised through fundraising by friends of the hospital.

School Applications –

Applications for enrolment in St Mary’s Parochial School, Western Road, Clonmel must be in before 1st March 2012 – to apply telephone the school at 0526127876 and speak to Joan or Ms Wallace.

This is our parochial school (national school), under Church of Ireland (Anglican communion/episcopalian) management.

Grants from the Secondary Education Committee –

This committee operates under the auspices of the Church of Ireland and administers the government block grant granted to “Protestant” secondary schools. Application under this scheme should be with Mr David Wynne (01 4975034 or secgrant@iol.ie) before 28th February 2012 – for further information talk to the school you your child will attend from September 2012 or the Rector.

Tús –

Tubrid Churchyard & Tullaghorton (Castlegrace) will be part of Tus programme shortly. The possible inclusion of Tullaghmeelan in this scheme is still under consideration.

Windy Weather –

Part of one of the holoaks at St Paul's fell during the windy weather we had recently. No damage was done to either the recently renovated Glengall memorial or the church; but it was a close call! It is hoped that sale of the timber will cover the costs involved.

Whist Drives –

The season is progressing well with lots of people enjoying an evening’s relaxation & social interaction once a month. Donations of prizes welcome! All welcome!
Friday, 10th February 2011 @ 7.45pm
Friday, 9th March 2011 @ 7.45pm

Concerts

Friday, 23rd March in Old St Mary’s, Church of Ireland parish Church, Clonmel

Callino Quartet with clarinet @ 8.00pm

Safeguarding Trust & Youth Work –

Our triennial evaluation of our panel & our compliance with Safeguarding Trust has taken place and we have a little tidying up to do, but we are compliant. The membership of the panel will change shortly after new members are vetted by the Gardai & trained. But in those areas where we were questioned about youth work we had mostly blanks. We need volunteers to get some youth activities going.

If you are interested in helping set up Sunday School or some other type of activity for our young people, talk to the Rector. We have the facilities in Clonmel, Cahir & limited facilities in Fethard – we need help, but most of all we need to bring our children together to learn, play and become enthusiastic members of our Church – come on volunter, encourage your friends to join you and make our parish a more lively and friendlier place for our young people!

I have been sending text messages reminding parents of the 4th Sunday family service, but I don’t have a mobile number for every family – text me at 0862750735 or email me at frydayb@gmail.com and your family will receive a monthly encouragement to wroship!

Use of Our Churches –

During the last month, the Sisters of Charity National School has used Old St Mary's on 5 mornings to do project work in art, language, history and stainned glass. A number students from Loreto transition year have come with parents to learn about the history of the church and, particularly, to learn about its architecture and stained glass

Lyric Fm -

Many people enjoy listening to Lyric Fm, particularly in the car. Niall Carroll, Clonmel hopes to record 2 programmes for this radio station in Old St Mary's later in the year in honour of William Vincent Wallace's (composer of Mauritania), centenary. It owuld be a free concert and we would receive a fee. The evening would be in 2 parts, each of which would be broadcast as separate programmes.

Mothering Sunday –

This will be celebrated on 18th March. Last year this service was a “Songs of Praise” so it will be again this year. If you would like to have your favourite hymn sung, text/email it to me, giving the 1st line or any line that indicates what the hymn is – those not chosen, will be sung on Sundays during the year – an incentive to attend!

Cancer Care Bus –

For those who need to travel to received treatment, the lack of publictransport in rural Ireland poses major problems.

Here in South Tipperary, we are fortunate in having a dedicated voluntary group who fundraise to provide the vehicles and drive the vehiclesthemselves to enable people to get their lifesaving treatment. Canon Brendan Crowley and I blessed the latest addition to the fleet oon 24th January; a people carrier

Confirmation –

If you are about 12 years or older and would like to be Confirmed in 2012, It is now time to talk to the rector – telephone or talk at church. Four young people have already signed up! Confirmation will take place in Piltown Church on Sunday, 17th June 2012 and classes will begin at the end of February 2012.

Bishop’s Visit –

This Sunday visit when Bishop Michael celebrated Holy Communion and had an opportunity to meet parishioners went very well; there were a few hiccups, which only reminded his Lordship of what parish life can be like! – he misses this part of ordained ministry and takes it all in good humour. Well done to those who made the effort to join him in worship and brought their children to meet him. This is so important and essential to their growth within the Church- keep it up on those Sundays when we do not have a celebrity!

Baptisms, Marriages & Funerals –

By appointment with the Rector only – for weddings, you must make contact more than three months before the proposed date of wedding.

School Applications –

Applications for enrolment in St Mary’s Parochial School, Western Road, Clonmel must be in before 1st March 2012 – to apply telephone the school at 0526127876 and speak to Joan or Ms Wallace.

This is our parochial school, under Church of Ireland management.

Information Evenings –

For many “the diocese” is a faceless entity that “takes our money” and has little relevance to us . In our
diocese we are endeavouring to unite those two entities; The Diocese of Cashel & Ossory and the Diocese of Ferns which form our Bishopric. And, after 800 years or thereabouts, we have it in our sights; very evident in the growing interaction betwen those on the east of the Blackstairs Mts & those on the west!

Our latest venture was two information evenings on the management of property. I have spent almost 20 years working in this area of diocesan life. I sat on the panel in Kilkeeny &, almost a week later, attended the evening in Bunclody, Co Wexford, my “home” country! Others did the same things and we all have got to know each other better and have learned that attendance brings support, interest, friendship and a desire to work together!!!

Grants from the Secondary Education Committee –

This committee operates under the auspices of the Church of Ireland and administers the government block grant granted to “Protestant” secondary schools.

Application under this scheme should be submitted before 28th February 2012 – for further information talk to the school you your child will attend from September 2012 or the Rector.

Select Vestry Meeting –

Next meetings –Tuesday, 6th December 2011 & 12th January 2012 @ 8.00pm in Old St Mary’s.
Please, if you cannot attend phone/email your apology at least 24hrs beforehand to the Secretary.

BAG PACK –

Thank-you to all those who helped with our bag-pack. We raised €800, which is very good indeed!

Thank-you George for encouraging us.

School Board of Management –

Our new Board has met and begun the work we willcontinue to do over the next 4 years.
The Board consists of members in four categories:

1. Patron’s representatives : The Rector & the Rev Canon George Cliffe
2. Teachers: Miss Wallace & Mrs Brennan
3. Parents representatives (elected by parents): Mr Harry Everard & Mrs Susan Luke
4. Community Representatives (usually parishioners) – mrs Viv Levie & Mr Ken Harris

Each member has a specific role on the Board, which spreads the load.
Gender equality is an essential element of composing the Board.

Whist Drive

Whist Drives – The season is progressing well with lots of people enjoying an
evening’s relaxation & social interaction once a month .

Donations of prizes welcome! All welcome!

Friday, 9th December 2011 @ 7.45pm
Friday, 13th January 2011 @ 7.45pm
Friday, 10th February 2011 @ 7.45pm
Friday, 9th March 2011 @ 7.45pm

Retirement of the Town Clerk –

One of the 1st people I encountered when I arrived in Clonmel was Billy Doyle, Town Clerk. During the last, almost, five years we have worked together at trying to improve our historic town walls, promote the town through Walled Town Day, which he so successfully incorporated into Feile Cluain Meala. He is a gentleman with a “gra” for Clonmel that is infectious, a keen eye for opportiunity and an amazing ability for detail. John & I were privileged to be invited to the Civic Reception given in his honour and to be part of the celebrations that followed.

We welcome Mr Ger Walsh, his successor, and wish him well and assure him of our co-operation as he takes up the reins of this historic position in difficult times.

St Mary’s Parochial School –

Happy Christmas to everybody from the Board of Management, Teachers, Joan & pupils of our school, We are looking forward to our school play, which will take place in the GAA Centre, Western Road on Wednesday, 7th December @ 3pm. And most of all, we are looking forward to hte Christmas holidays!!!!!