Issue 55 “UNION NEWS” September 2014

Dear Parishioners,
I do hope you enjoyed the summer months and the very nice weather that we have had. At the beginning of September the activities all recommence and I hope we will have a lovely time over the next few months in the Parish. I would like to congratulate all the young people on their successful exam results and wish them well with their future studies and employment.

All Saints’ School
The Parish School reopened on Thursday 28th August. I would like to wish the Principal, staff and children every success and happiness for the year ahead. It is a very special time in the lives of those children commencing their National School education and I hope they will be particularly happy at school. We welcome a new member of staff this year – Melanie Houston. We hope Melanie will very much enjoy being with us and we look forward to the contribution that she will make to the life of the School.

Bi-Centenary Celebrations
There will be a number of special occasions in the autumn to celebrate the Bi-Centenary of All Saints’ Church. On Friday 26th September, at 8.30 p.m., a special Whist Drive will be held and the proceeds will go to North Westmeath Hospice. I would like to urge parishioners to support this occasion and if anyone would like to donate a prize, please contact Olive at the Rectory (tel. 044-9348376) as she is collecting the prizes at the moment.

Ordination
As you know, the Bishops have appointed Ruth O’Kelly as an ‘intern Deacon’ to the Parish. Ruth will be ordained Deacon at a special Service in All Saints’ on Monday 22nd September at 7.30 p.m. I do hope that parishioners from all the churches will come to support her on this very special occasion. It is also the Bishop’s first ordination in the Diocese. Ruth, of course, will not be Parish Curate as this is part of her Final Year training. By living in the Parish she will just be involved for two and a half days a week and I will be involved in her training. The rest of her time will be spent in study. I know you will be very supportive of her as she learns about Parish life. She will be taking up her position as a full-time Curate next summer in another Parish.

Confirmation
The Confirmation Classes will be commencing in the autumn and if any young people would like to be confirmed by the Bishop next year, please drop a note into the Rectory so that I can add your name when I am compiling the list.

Messy Church
It had been intended to launch the new session of Messy Church this Sunday 31st August. However, after consultation with the leaders, it has been agreed that Messy Church will be launched on Sunday 28th September in All Saints’ at 11.30 a.m. The Bi-Centenary Children’s Party will be held at a later time. I do hope that the Messy Church will be well supported this year. Messy Church provides an opportunity for children to really become nurtured in the faith through the church.

Killucan Children
The Family Service in Killucan will commence again on Sunday 5th October and it is hoped that a number of events will be held during the year for the younger families in the Parish in Killucan.

Special Preachers
This November there are three special Services being held in All Saints’ to celebrate the Bi-Centenary. I am delighted that three well-known preachers have agreed to preach at these Services –
Sunday 2nd Nov: Archbishop Robin Eames, former Primate of Ireland; Sunday 9th Nov: Bishop Richard Henderson, former Bishop of Tuam; Sunday 23rd Nov: Very Rev. Bill McMillan who is one of the leading
floral arrangers in the world.
I hope each of these Services will be very well supported by parishioners.

Harvests
The Parish Harvest Services will be held on:
Killucan Sunday 12th October 11.30 a.m.
Kilbixy Sunday 12th October 5.00 p.m.
All Saint’s Sunday 19th October 11.00 a.m.
Almoritia Sunday 19th October 3.30 p.m.

Congratulations
There were two lovely weddings in All Saints’ during the month of August. We congratulate Avril Collier and John Keane, Jennifer Kelly and Kieran McNicholas. We wish both couples a very happy and long married life with good health and happiness. We extend these good wishes to all who were married this summer.

Bible Study
The next Bible Study will be held on Saturday 20th September at 10.30 a.m. in All Saints’. Acts 13, verses 1-12.

Select Vestry
The next meeting of the Select Vestry will be held on Monday 29th September at 8.00 p.m. in the Rectory.

Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association
The new Session begins on Tuesday 23rd September at 7.00 p.m.

Diocesan Synod
The Diocesan Synod will be held on Saturday 27th September.

Coffee Morning
On Saturday 30th August Doreen and Peter Lynch are very kindly holding a coffee morning at their home in Kilpatrick from 11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. in aid of the North Westmeath Hospice. Your support will be very much appreciated and I hope parishioners will be able to attend.

Congratulations
We congratulate Cathy Finnegan on her appointment as Vice-Principal of Wilson’s Hospital School and we wish her well with all her new responsibilities.

Parish Dinner.
The Parish Dinner will be held on Friday 14th November in The Greville Hotel.

Bereavement
We offer our deepest sympathy to Phyllis, Keith and Niall and their family following the sudden death of Archdeacon Ralph Straford. Ralph’s long ministry in the Church was greatly appreciated and valued. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather to Nicholas, Robin and Amy. We pray that Phyllis and all the family will be comforted in their sad loss and that Ralph, now in the fuller presence of god, may rest in peace. The funeral was held in Killucan Church.

Parish Web Address
You may like to keep in touch with the Parish through the website and your family and friends may also like to have the web address. The address is www.mullingarunionofparishes.net. also our Facebook page can be found here

Rev. Jean Wynne
Jean will be available to deal with any pastoral emergency from Friday 5th – Tuesday 16th September. Her telephone number is 086-3564590.

With God’s blessings,
Rev. Alastair Graham, Rector

The Rectory, Gaol’s Hill, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Telephone No. 044-934 8376 Mobile 087 7870985