Dear Parishioner(s)
General Easter Vestry
The General Easter Vestry was held on Monday 30th April. The names of those appointed and elected to the Select Vestry are listed in these Notes. Just 11% of parishioners now attend church on Sunday. This is well below the national average for Church of Ireland parishes. Of the young people confirmed in the last 9 years, over 92% rarely, if ever, attend church. The puzzling irony is that those who don’t attend church expect the churches to be open, and the clergy available, for their family baptisms, weddings and funerals. The Parish is blessed that a small number of dedicated parishioners, who know the importance of faith and the upholding of Christian values and principles, work tirelessly to keep the church doors open. How long they can keep up this commitment is, of course, the question?
I will continue to work to promote Christian faith and practice, as I firmly believe it gives purpose and meaning to our lives. The absence of Church in our lives, communities, country and world, will create an impoverishment we will all regret.
Mayfair – Saturday 12th May – 10.00 a.m.-2.00 p.m.
I do hope the Parish Sale will be very well supported and all help and donations will be greatly appreciated. A Raffle Card is enclosed with these Notes. The organiser of the Sale Emma Coburn 0876374131, the Cake Stall (Olive Graham 087 2110521); the Plants Stall (Arie Gorrison 087 2742260) will be delighted to hear from parishioners with their donations. Help is required on Friday 11th at 7.00 p.m. to set up marquees, and on Saturday 12th at 2.00 p.m. to take them down. We need as much help as we can get – do please support the Sale.
Pentecost – Sunday 20th May – All Saints’ 11.00 a.m.
On this important Sunday there will be just one morning Service at 11.00 a.m. in All Saints’. I warmly invite parishioners of all ages to come and hope the church will be packed to capacity as we celebrate the birthday of the Church. The Confirmation Class will be invited to cut the birthday cake and there will be plenty of inspiring singing. Do come and support your Parish.
Ascension Day – Thursday 10th May
There will be a Service of Holy Communion to mark Ascension Day in All Saints’ at 12.00 noon on Thursday 10th May. We are blessed to have two inspiring stained glass windows depicting the Ascension and it would be lovely to have a good attendance.
Prayer Circle- There will be a meeting on Ascension Day, Thursday 10th May, at 8.00 p.m. in All Saints’ to establish a Circle of Prayer in the Parish. I do hope this meeting will be well supported.
Visit to Greystones Parish-We have been invited to share in the worship of Greystones Parish, on Sunday 27th May. The choir will be singing at the Service. A bus will be leaving All Saints’ at 8.00 a.m. to be in time for the 10.30 Service in Greystones. We will be provided with lunch after the Service. If you would like to come on this special visit please contact Arthur O’Toole 087 9733233 to book a seat on the bus.
Rock Solid Youth Club
As I mentioned at the General Easter Vestry, and in a letter to the families with young teenagers, we are going to begin a Parish Youth Programme with the support of Youth for Christ team leaders. The Rock Solid Club will hold its’ first meeting on Thursday 17th May at 8.00 p.m. in All Saints’. The first night is for parents only and parents will receive an invitation.
Emma Rothwell
Emma Rothwell, the Chaplain of Wilson’s Hospital School, will be preaching in All Saints’ at 10.00 a.m. this Sunday and some students from the school will be coming with her. I hope that young people attending Wilson’s Hospital School, and their parents, will also attend the Service. We warmly welcome Emma and support the good work she is undertaking.
Data Protection – New legislation will be enacted from 25th May. Church of Ireland House has advised the Parish as to what this will mean for Parish life. You will receive a letter next week with details of what each parishioner must do. I urge you to return the signed form enclosed with the letter to the Parish as quickly as possible.
Referendum on the 8th Amendment
Next month special prayers will be offered in the Parish as we prayerfully reflect on the sensitive and sacred issues arising from the forthcoming Referendum on the Appeal of the Eighth Amendment to the Irish Constitution. This is a very personal issue indeed. I invite you to discern the comments of the Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin in their published statement, where they stated that what is now being proposed by the government, if the Article is repealed, is unrestricted access to abortion up to twelve weeks of pregnancy. “This is not an ethical position we can accept” the Archbishops state. They went on to say that there is, for Christians, a very clear witness in the scriptures, that all human life, including before physical birth, has a sacred dignity in the eyes of God. As we consider these sensitive and important matters, as Christians we are clearly called to prayerful discernment and I hope you will find time for prayerful discernment as we approach the Referendum on 25th May. The Archbishops position is supported by our own Bishop. I commend her statement to you in the Diocesan Notes. https://www.meathandkildare.org/news/item/1140-bishop-pat-storey-voices-opinion-on-the-eighth-ammendment-referendum
Westmeath Protestant Orphans Society -The Committee would like to thank everyone for their support at the Coffee Morning in All Saints’. The sum raised was €650 which is a wonderful amount.
Select Vestry Meeting
The next meeting will be held in the Rectory at 8.00 p.m on Monday 28th May.
Bank Holiday Concert – Monday 7th May – All Saints’ –
On Monday 7th May at 3.00 p.m. a classical concert will be held in All Saints’. Everyone is welcome.
Bible Study
: Bible Study will be held in All Saints’ on Saturday 26th May at 10.30a.m.
Killucan Sports Day – Sunday 3rd June
After a short Service at 11.30 a.m., a Sports Day will be held in the grounds of the Parish Hall. We look forward to welcoming all the younger families.
Select Vestry 2018
Churchwardens
• All Saints’ – Arthur O’Toole, Brigid Geoghegan;
Kilbixy – Watson Mills, Violet Medforth;
Killucan – Vivienne Mulligan, Arie Gorrison;
Almoritia – Annie O’Leary, Billy Small.
• Glebewardens – Christopher Manzira, Mark Potterton
• Members
David Miller, Doreen Lynch, Emma Coburn, Pat Tipper, David Webster, Jean Kilmartin (Hon.Trea), Richard Williamson (Hon. Sec), John Hales, David Gibson Brabazon, Patrick Pilkington, Hazel Scully
Baptism
We recently welcomed into God’s Family through Holy Baptism Millie and Jacob Doyle. We pray for them as they begin their journey of faith, and also for their parents and godparents.
Bereavement
We offer our deepest sympathy to John and Lorraine Hales following the death of John’s uncle in Cork, and to Rita and Augustin Uyi following the sudden death of Rita’s sister in Nigeria; to Ralph Tyrrell and his family following the death of Ralph’s mother, Phyllis, who passed away peacefully in Mullingar Hospital. She had lived all her life in Carbury, Co. Kildare and was very highly regarded by the parishioners of Killucan. Phyllis is buried in the churchyard at Carbury alongside her late husband.
We also offer our sympathy to Audrey and Justin Gunning following the death of Audrey’s delightful mother and to Annie O’Leary following the death of her much-loved aunt. We pray that both their loved ones are in the fuller presence of God and may rest in peace.
All Saints’ Parish was saddened to hear of the death of Hazel Mahood, a much-loved parishioner whose long-standing support for the Parish had won the admiration of everyone. We offer our deepest sympathy to Lesley, Eddie, Douglas, Winifred, Hazel’s three grandchildren in Mullingar – Caroline, David and Lauren – and her other grandchildren and all the members of the family and her wide circle of friends. In her life, Hazel represented all that is good in Christianity and faith. We pray that her good influence will continue to inspire us. May she now rest in peace as she is reunited with her husband Derrick and her much-loved son Sidney.
Parish Website
You may like to keep in touch with the Parish through the website.. The address is www.mullingarunionofparishes.net.
With God’s blessings,
Rev. Alastair Graham, Rector,
The Rectory, Gaol’s Hill, Mullingar, Co.Westmeath. Phone No. 044-934 8376
