Dear Parishioner(s)
August
Traditionally August is one of the holiday months in Ireland and I hope that, if you are taking your holidays this month, you will have a very enjoyable and restful time. During the month the Leaving Results will be announced. We wish all the young people who sat the Leaving, every success and wish them well for their future.
Heritage Week
Heritage Week will run from Saturday 19th- Sunday 27th August. During the week the churches in the Parish will be open for visitors and I would like to thank the parishioners who are so kindly giving their time to act as stewards in church.
All Saints’ will be open on 22nd August 2p.m. – 4p.m.
24th August 2p.m. – 4p.m.
27th August 2p.m. – 4p.m.
Kilbixy will be open from 26th – 27th August 2p.m. – 4p.m.
Almoritia will be open from 21st – 26th August 2p.m. – 4p.m.
Killucan will be open from 21st – 26th August 2p.m. – 4p.m.
Flowers at All Saints’
We recently erected three hanging baskets at All Saints’, which enhance the church and provide beautiful colour. We would like to thank Derek Farrell the florist in Mullingar who provided the flowers and has very kindly undertaken to maintain the hanging baskets at no cost to the Parish.
Christmas Day RTE Television Service.
RTE has invited the Parish to broadcast the Christmas Day television service this year. The Service will be pre recorded on Sunday 3rd December at 1p.m. in the RTE studios in Donnybrook, Dublin. This is a very special pleasure. If you would like to be part of the congregation at the Service will you please give your name as soon as possible to one of the Church Wardens in your Parish. We can either use the studio that accommodates 55 people or one that accommodates 100 people. I have to advise RTE which studio we require so please do not delay on advising the Church Wardens. A dress rehearsal for the service will be held in All Saints’ on Saturday morning 2nd December. Special choir rehearsals will be held on Saturday 7th October, 25 November and 2nd December from 10.30a.m. – 11.30 a.m.
Holy Baptism
We recently welcomed in to God’s family through baptism, Molly Kate Wright-Langley and Lydia Edith Clendenning. We pray for the children, their parents and godparents as they begin their journey of faith.
Holy Matrimony
We warmly congratulate James and Sarah Kane, and Pat and Frances Fletcher who were married last month. We pray that God will richly bless their marriages with good health and happiness.
Bereavement
We offer our deepest sympathy to three families who have recently been bereaved. Audrey Leahy’s uncle died and we offer our deepest sympathy to Audrey, David and the family, and pray that Audrey’s uncle, now in the fuller presence of God, may rest in peace.
We were also very sorry to hear of the death of Brendan McKeogh’s brother, James, who died in Chicago and whose funeral was held in the US. James emigrated to the US as a young man and made his life there. We remember his family and friends in the US, and Brendan and Susan and their family in Ireland, who grieve his passing. We offer them our deepest sympathy and pray that James, now in the fuller presence of God, may rest in peace.
We also offer our heartfelt sympathy to Annie O’Leary, the Rector’s Churchwarden in Almoritia, whose darling son, Donal, died suddenly on Saturday 29th July. Donal was just 24 years of age and during his short life he had touched the lives of so many people in such a very special and tender way. His charitable work was already legion and his good nature and care for all people was deeply admired. Since his birth Donal, with great courage and dignity, had coped with his disability and overcame so many hurdles in his short life. Annie, his mother, devoted her life to his care and the love they shared together as mother and son was truly special. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to Annie, her daughters Niamh and Mia, and all the members of her family at this very sad time. Donal’s funeral took place in All Saints’ on Wednesday 2nd August and we pray that, in God’s fuller presence, he may rest in peace and rise in glory.
St. Bartholomew’s Day – 24th August
A celebration of Holy Communion will be held in All Saints’ Church at 12.00 noon to mark the Feast of St. Bartholomew.
All Saints’ School
The new school year begins on Thursday 31st August and we look forward to welcoming all the new children who will be starting school. We extend our very best wishes to all the young people in the Parish who are starting Secondary School. All Saints’ School has undergone a complete refurbishment over the summer and the children and teachers will be returning to a lovely fresh environment. We wish the Principal and staff everything good for the new school year.
Summer Duty
Canon Patrick Lawrence has kindly agreed to deal with all pastoral emergencies while Olive and I are away from Thursday 17th August – Wednesday 6th September. Canon Lawrence can be contacted on 044-9222109 or 086-0562944.
In the light of the recent increase in postal charges the Select Vestry would like to offer options for parishioners on receiving the ‘Union Notes’ each month.
Please Email info@mullingarunionofparishes.net with your Name Address and Mobile number� And let us know if you would like to receive your Union Notes as�
Email Version �
Collect a printed copy in the church�
Continue to receive by post �(we are happy to continue to do so)
Some parishioners have returned the completed forms or emailed their details and have recieved an email friendly version of the Union Notes. There will e printed copies of the notes available in the church.
Coffee Morning
Each Thursday Marion and Arthur O’Toole provide the most wonderful social occasion with fabulous homemade fayre and support a nominated charity each month. July will see the North Westmeath Hospice CLG being the nominated charity for the month. We do hope that you will support them in their endeavours to raise much needed fund for these wonderful groups and enjoy a very special social morning with a delightful group of people �- bring a friend or come along and meet some new ones. 10.30am – 1.30pm
Tiny Tots
The Tiny Tots �Group continues to meet on Friday mornings�10am – 12 pm�in All Saints’ . It is lovely to meet the babies, small children and parents. Zoe & Lorraine Hales organises a most interesting programme. Do call in – you will be most welcome�text Zoe on 085 2026188 to confirm if group will be on on a particular Friday during the summer months. During term time the group will run each Friday. The Group is strictly for preschoolers and under no circumstances will older siblings be allowed to attend during holiday, this is for the safety of the young children that attend regularly.�
Website
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
With God’s blessings,
Rev. Alastair Graham, Rector
The Rectory, Gaol’s Hill, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Telephone No. 044-934 8376
