Tuesday, February 23, 2016

1st Sunday of Lent, 14th February 2016

Extra Mass for Lent
There will be an evening Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church at 6.15pm on each weekday of Lent.  We offer this extra Mass  as a way of allowing people who would like to include the Holy Mass as part of their preparation for Easter.  You are welcome to join us.

Monday Exposition
Every Monday, after the 10.30am Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church, we have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  This lasts until 9pm (with a break for evening Mass).  Many people find spending time in front of Jesus, present in the Sacred Host in the monstrance on the altar, a most precious time with the Lord.  If you can’t make Mass every day during lent, why not join us each Monday?  Time spent before the Blessed Sacrament  is time well spent indeed.

Trócaire Family Fast Boxes
The annual Trócaire Lenten Appeal began last  Wednesday.  Trocaire Boxes are available at the back of all our churches .  The ‘Trocaire Box’ has become a traditional way for families to give practical help to the needy during the 40 days of Lent.  We invite you to take a box and contribute from the money saved from ‘giving up’ something during lent,.  The money raised from the annual Trocaire appeal is used to help the most vulnerable people in many parts of the world.

Lenten Station
Sincere thanks all who contributed to the Lenten collection for the support of the priests of the parish and the bishop.  Your generosity to this collection, and every collection is greatly appreciated.

Lourdes
St. Patrick’s Parish Lourdes Committee are inviting anyone from the Parish to avail of a sponsored trip to Lourdes in May 2016. So if you are ill, or have been ill, elderly or have just gone through a bad time, please contact the Parish Office. 056 7764400. 

Pray for Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased:  Very Rev. Kieran Cantwell, Danesfort.  Séamus Curraoin, Circular Road.
Months Mind: Kitty Sweeney (Sun 11.00).
Anniversaries: Thomas Kavanagh (Sat 6.15). Michael Walsh & Milo Bourke (Sat 7.00). Peggy Shanahan (Sun 9.30). Mary, Mick & Liam Costello (Sun 10.00). Michael & Stella Hynes (Sun 10.30). Peter Quinn (Sun 12.00). Ursula Maher (Sun 12.30). Rosemary Nichols (Tues 10.30). Jenny Clancy (Tues 6.15). Michael, Annie & Rita Bourke, Dorothy McGirr & Rena Flanagan (Wed 10.30). Ann & Michael Kelly (Fri 10.30). Seamus Culleton. Catherine Beckett. Jack Talbot. Peggy Beckett. Tina O’Driscoll. Michael O’Dwyer. Eileen Cooper. Elizabeth & Edward Geoghegan. Elizabeth & Patrick Fry. Michael Dargan. William Ayres.  JJ Murphy. Joseph Kirwan.  Christopher Walsh.  Daniel Cody. Bill Carroll. Catherine Maher. Colm Kennedy.
Intentions for Next Weekend:  Nicholas Healy (Sat 6.15). Stephen Bennett (Sat 7.00), John Walsh (Sun 10.00). Molly Johnston (Sun 10.30). Sadie McGrath (Sun 11.00). Patrick & Teresa O'Rourke (Sun 12.00).

Foulkstown Cemetery
We appeal to people visiting the cemetery, especially in cars to take extra care while in the cemetery.  We especially ask people to think of others and park responsibly.  This is especially important at the top end of the cemetery where the road is narrow.  Some visitors have  been ‘abandoning ‘ their cars on the roadway resulting in other motorists being unable to pass.
Please note that those who enter the cemetery, either driving or walking do so at their own  risk.  The parish does not  take responsibility for damage, injury or loss  to any person, vehicle or property,  Thank you for your cooperation.

Ossory Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Bookings are now being taken for the annual Ossory Diocesan a Pilgrimage to Lourdes which takes place from 22nd to 27th May 2016. Please call Eleanor at 051 880 414 or glenmore@ossory.ie for further information and booking.

IPT Cake Sale
The Irish Pilgrimage Trust will hold a cake sale in the Parish Centre after all Masses next weekend.  Please help send a young person with special needs to Lourdes at Easter. The Parish Centre will open at 3.30pm on next Saturday to enable people to drop in the cakes and buns. 

Divine Mercy
An hour of prayer in honour of Divine Mercy will be help in the Friary on Sunday 14th from 3 -4pm. 

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Rome
From 29th August to 3rd September 2016.  Staying in the heart of Rome at the Irish College. Visiting all the major pilgrimage places of Rome. Audience with the Holy Father. Half day trip to the beautiful town of Castelgandolfo on Lake Albano. Mass beside the tomb of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica.  Cost: €860 per person sharing.  Ossory Adult Faith Development.  Tel: 056 775 3624. Email: afd@ossory.ie. 

LARC Community Childcare
A community based childcare centre located at 54/55 Hollybank Lawn, Clongowan. Now taking bookings for Easter Camp for children from 4yrs – 12yrs running from Monday 21st March to Friday 1st April 9.30am – 3.30pm daily.  Enrolling for ECCE Pre School places for Sept 2016, register now to avoid disappointment. Places available in our Playschool, Preschool and After Schools programmes. or more information call Annette on 056 7764700

Fundraising Bag Pack
GROW Mental Health, are holding a Bag Pack in Dunnes Stores, Kieran Street, Kilkenny, Saturday, 20th February, 2016, 10 am to 6pm, to help raise funds that are vitally important to continue supporting people with Mental Health problems.  Please come along and support, any contribution big or small, would be gratefully received.

Kilkenny & Carlow Contact
A befriending & support organisation for older people. Befriending is all about building a one to one relationship based upon trust, confidentiality and support.  This service is free to the older person. 
If you would like to avail of our befriending service or become a volunteer please contact Eleanor Doyle at 086 8530994 or 7772151

Parish Newsletter
All items for inclusion must be submitted by Thursday afternoons. As usual parish and diocesan notices take priority. Late notices will appear on our Facebook and web page (see banner above for addresses).  Due to limited space it is not possible to keep repeating an item each weekend.

Loughboy Library
Writing Course for beginners commences on Friday March 4th from 6-8pm and continues for 6 weeks. Cost €40.00. Tel 7794176 to book a place.
Getting Ireland Online. A free computer course will take place on Friday mornings commencing shortly. Participants will attend for 2 hours per week for 4 weeks. The course will cover email and attachments, transferring photos to your computer, buying online etc. Tel 7794176 to book a place.

Our Parish Shop
There are lots of items of a religious nature, including Confirmation medals and badges, available at reasonable prices in our Parish Shop which is located in the foyer of the Parish Center.  Papal blessing parchments to mark weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, jubilees and some other occasions are available through the Parish Shop.

Lost & Found
A sum of money was found in St. Patrick’s Church in November.  Please contact the Parish Office 056 776 4400.

Retrouvaille a Lifeline for Marriage
Is your marriage stressed, unloving or cold? Do you feel alone or distant from your spouse? Have you lost the desire to communicate with each other?  Do you feel disillusioned or bored in your marriage? Have you separated, divorced, or are you thinking of doing so, but want to try again? The Retrouvaille programme can help you recover your marriage. Next programme 5th – 7th February. For information contact Tony & Anne 01 495 3536 or visit www.retrouvaille.ie.
 
Thinking of Getting Married Soon?
Couples wishing to be married in our parish are asked to note the following: 
· Contact the Parish Office (776 4400) as early as possible to book your preferred date.  Bookings are on a first-come-first-served basis. 
· Please note that it is a civil requirement to inform the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths of your intention to marry at least three months before the date - see www.gro.ie for more information about this.
· Contact the parish where you now reside where pre-marriage papers will be prepared for forwarding to the place of marriage.
www.gettingmarried.ie is a useful source of information for couples as they plan the big day.