Dear Parishioners,
Mayfair – Saturday 11th May, 10.00 a.m.-2.00 p.m.
Our annual Parish Fair will be held on Saturday 11th May. Every year the Mayfair has been a great success due to the kind and generous support of parishioners and our friends and neighbours. I hope you will be all be able to come and offer your support again this year. The proceeds from the Mayfair help to meet the costs of running all the activities in our Parish and maintaining our four historic churches. The usual popular stalls will be well stocked with gifts from all the parishioners – Cakes, Plants, Jams, Books, Tombola, Teas and Coffees. I enclose a raffle card and would be very pleased if you could return it before the Mayfair, or bring it on the day. I look forward to meeting you all again this year and I am sure, as always, you will extend a warm invitation to your family and friends.
On Friday evening 10th May at 7.30pm we will be meeting to set up the Stalls and your support would be very welcome. If you are able to help in any way please contact the Mayfair organiser, Emma Coburn (087 6374131). If you can help with the clear-up at the end of the Fair at 2.00pm we would be very grateful indeed. Let’s hope this year we have another wonderful and successful Mayfair.
General Easter Vestry
The Select Vestry has decided to hold the General Easter Vestry on Sunday 12th May at 10.30 a.m. in All Saints’ Church. The Meeting will commence after the holding of a short church Service. Many parishes are now holding the Easter Vestry on a Sunday because of the pressure on parishioners with work and domestic commitments which has seen a decline in the numbers attending an evening meeting during the week. We are holding the meeting on Sunday to see if more parishioners will attend a Sunday meeting and I hope everyone will make a special effort to be there, as this is always a very important meeting for the Parish.
Holy Week and Easter
Holy Week and Easter this year was very prayerful and inspiring. The Holy Week Services, culminating with the poignant Service in All Saints’ on Good Friday evening, were very prayerful and the Services on Easter Day were uplifting and inspiring. There was an overall increase in the number of people attending the church Services in Holy Week and Easter this year. I would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way to the organisation of the ceremonies and in decorating the churches so beautifully. The All Saints’ Senior Choir excelled in their singing under the expert guidance of Bill McConnell the Choir Director. We also were so blessed with the wonderful organ playing by Lesley Denniston, David Lambe and Jean Kilmartin.
Easter Youth Camp
The Easter Youth Camp held on the evenings of Easter Week was a huge success and the young people who attended enjoyed the Camp to the full. It is so encouraging to find the young people showing such enthusiasm for this Parish Youth initiative and I hope it will be well supported by the prayerful support of parishioners.
Growing Together in Christ
It is very heartening to know that some 30 parishioners from each of the churches are now meeting together to explore how we can grown more closely together as a Parish under God’s guidance and wisdom. Along with the group of 30 adult parishioners, a group of young people are also meeting to discuss how we can grow together as a Parish. In the autumn both groups will come together for a very special event to share their ideas and to launch their suggestions. Again may I ask you, as parishioners, to prayerfully pray for the success of this venture which will provide such essential foundations for the growth of the Parish moving forward.
Ascension Day – Thursday 30th May
Ascension Day, which falls forty days after Easter, will be celebrated in the Parish with three Services in All Saints’. At 9.30 a.m., the young people will hold their Service. At 12.00 noon there will be Midday Prayers. At 8.00 p.m. there will be Service of Holy Communion. This is a day of obligation for all Christians and I hope the Services will be very well supported.
Pentecost
At Pentecost we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost falls this year on Sunday 9th June and we are going to have a very special celebration of song and prayer and liturgical dance in All Saints’ at 11.00 a.m. I hope the church will be well filled as we all come to celebrate the birthday of the Church and offer thanks to God for the coming of His Holy Spirit.
Rock Solid Youth Club
This month the Rock Solid Youth Club will meet on Thursday 16th May at 7.30 p.m. in All Saints’.
Thursday Coffee – Every Thursday you are most welcome to call in for coffee between 10.30am and 1pm in All Saints’
Westmeath Protestant Orphans Society
The Society is one of the oldest charities in Ireland and this year celebrates its’ 175th Anniversary. The Committee has organised four special events to mark the anniversary. The launch of the anniversary year will be held in the Parish Hall in Moate on Wednesday 29th May at 8.00 p.m. The special speaker at this meeting will be Emma Rothwell, the Chaplain at Wilson’s Hospital School. Emma will speak on “Children today and their needs” and we very much look forward to her lecture as her experience and expertise in working with young people, has given her a wonderful insight. As part of the anniversary celebration the Committee has produced a beautiful calendar for 2020 with photographs of each of the churches in Westmeath open for worship, and also a photograph of Wilson’s Hospital School. The calendars will be on sale at a modest price at each of the events. During the anniversary year we will also be celebrating the contribution of so many parishioners from the different parishes in Westmeath, who have given such invaluable service and have enabled so many children to benefit from the care and support they have provided. I would like to warmly welcome everyone from the Parish to join us for these special events. Each of the events will be highlighted in the Diocesan Notes.
Kilbixy Church
We were delighted that Kilbixy has recently been awarded a grant to undertake essential maintenance on the Leper Hospital. Kilbixy was the only project submitted by Westmeath County Council to be awarded a grant.
Confirmation Class– Sunday 11th May at 5p.m. in All Saints’
Liturgical Dance –After the wonderful success of the dance on Good Friday the next liturgical dance will take place on Sunday morning 9th June – Pentecost. If young people aged 11 plus would like participate please contact me on 087 7870985
Bible Study- the Monthly Bible Study will be held on Saturday 25th May at 10am in All Saints. Everyone will be most welcome.
Bereavements
We offer our deepest sympathy to Lilian Hampton and Grace Lynam and their families following the recent death of their beloved aunt in Roscommon. All the family have very rich and warm memories of the love and company of their aunt and we pray that, now in the fuller presence of God, she may rest in peace. May Lilian and Grace and their families be comforted by their loving memories of their Aunt and their sure faith in God.
We also offer our deepest sympathy to Bill McConnell following the death of his brother-in-law in Co. Clare. Many of us gathered some years ago for Bill’s sister’s funeral service in Kilaloe Cathedral and a large congregation gathered again for the funeral service of Bill’s brother-in-law who, we pray, will now rest in peace.
We also offer our deepest sympathy to parishioners who have recently lost loved ones and friends.
Parish 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.
All Saints’ School Appeal
All Saints’ School have been nominated for the Tesco Community Fund. If any parishioners shop in Tesco we would be delighted if you would collect the blue tokens and insert them into our donation box in the Mullingar Store.
The school is also running a ‘Cash for Clobber’ Event to raise funds for the school. If you are planning a clear out All Saints’ School would welcome any of your unwanted used clothes, bags, shoes, towels, curtains, sheets, hats and belts, of any quality. (but nothing electrical and no duvets or pillows).
Our collection date is Thursday 30th May.
