Dear Parishioner(s)
New Year
I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. We have a great deal to look forward to in the Parish in 2017. I hope you will enjoy our Parish life and participate in the different events. We also pray that, in the world, Christ’s peace will be shed abroad in the hearts of all people and the spirit that makes for war will be banished, as we learn to live as members of one family in obedience to God’s laws.
Christmas 2016
The Christmas season in the Parish was really full of spirit and energy this year and all the events were so very well supported. The number of people at church on Christmas Day was the highest since we came to the Parish. The Parish gave a total of €10,000 to support the good work of different charities meeting the needs of people in very difficult circumstances. We were delighted to be able to support the work of SVP, the Northwest Meath Hospice, T.E.A.M., Meals on Wheels, and Doctors Without Borders. The young people who organised the “Good Hour” are to be thanked for their great success in raising over €1500 for SVP, which was accompanied by bags and boxes of lovely food items.
January Events
*The Epiphany Family Service in Killucan on Sunday 8th January
* Service of Crowns – the Children’s Gift Day – in All Saints’ on Sunday 15th January
*Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with special Prayer Services in the Abbey, Multyfarnham, on Wednesday 18th January at 8.00 p.m. and in Collinstown Parish Church on Wednesday 25th January at 8.00 p.m.
*Film Night on Friday 27th January at 8.00 p.m.
*A special Service of Blessing and Thanksgiving will be held in All Saints’ at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday 29th January to mark the beginning of the Principalship of Mrs. Lesley Denniston as Principal of All Saints’ School, Mullingar.
Epiphany
A Service of Holy Communion to celebrate Epiphany – the coming of the Wise Men – will be held in All Saints’ at 10.30 a.m. on Friday 6th January.
Canon Patrick Lawrence – Will be available for any pastoral emergencies between Monday 16th – Monday 23 of January – Telephone 086 0562944
Parish Film Night – As part of the Year of Faith I would like to invite you to a film night in All Saints’ on Friday 27th January at 8pm. We will watch a very interesting film and following the film there will be an opportunity to discuss some of the key issues raised in the film. This promises to be a very interesting evening and I hope it will be very well supported. The film is suitable for all parishioners over the age of 14.
Coffee Morning every Thursday from 10.30a.m – 1.30p.m in All Saints’
We warmly invite parishioners and friends to call in for a coffee and a chat in the very friendly atmosphere of All Saints’
Arthur and Marion O’ Toole provide delightful refreshments and this month all the donations will be given to St Vincent De Paul to support the good the Society undertakes.
Tiny Tots
The Tiny Tots continue to meet on Friday mornings 10am – 12 pm in All Saints’ during term time. It is lovely to meet the babies, small children and parents. Zoe Hales organises a most interesting programme. Do call in – you will be most welcome text Zoe on 0866052292
Bereavement
A number of families were sadly bereaved over the Christmas period and we offer them our deepest and heartfelt sympathy. Florrie Taylor a long standing parishioner passed away just before Christmas. Florrie lived a very long life and died in her 93rd year. In her early years she was very actively involved in the community and Parish and highly respected. We offer our deepest sympathy to Derek, Helen, David, Brian and Ken her children and the wider family.
The funeral took place in All Saints’. Stewart Mitchell also sadly passed away on Wednesday 4th January. Stewart’s untimely death will leave a huge gap in the hearts of so many people. He was widely respected and admired by so many people and his integrity, compassion and kind manner will be long remembered.
We offer our deepest sympathy to Grainne his wife, his dear mother, Birdie, his sons Gareth, Andrew and Adam, his sister Sandra and his wide family circle and friends. The funeral took place in All Saints’.
We were also saddened to hear of the death of Alec Bodel’s brother Billy who died at his home in the North, the death of Tom Bell who died in Southampton. Tom grew up in the Parish and we offer our deepest sympathy to all the members of the Bell Family and Florrie Nash his sister and to Frank and Billy Small. Tom’s wife is a sister of Frank and Billy.
We offer sympathy to John Hales whose uncle Frank Hales died on New Years Eve His funeral took place in Kilmallock.
We also offer sympathy to Kim and Linda Williams. Kim’s dad passed away on Christmas Day having not been well for some time.
We remember all those families in the Parish who have recently been bereaved. We pray that the hope of the Christian Gospel, that their loved ones are in God’s safe keeping, will be both a comfort and an assurance.
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. I encourage you to continue to look at the website and to also advise your family and friends about it.
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/mullingarunionofparishes.net Keep up to date
on our Parish Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @MullingarUP
I would like to wish you all a very happy and holy Christmas. Wherever you may be spending Christmas this year, I hope you will have a most enjoyable time and I wish you good health and happiness for the New Year.
With God’s blessings,
Rev. Alastair Graham, Rector
The Rectory, Gaol’s Hill, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Telephone No. 044-934 8376
