Dear Parishioners,
50% Less
Not in retail sales but 50% less parishioners attending church over the
summer months. It was naturally discouraging to see such small
congregations. Ironically, this has happened at a time when Christianity and
faith has never been more needed. The daily news reminds us of the fragility
of the world and how much God’s sovereignty is needed to restore hope. I do
hope more parishioners will start attending church services and I can assure
everyone of a very warm welcome.
Gratitude Sunday – 3 rd September at 11.00 a.m.
Olive and I warmly invite you to attend Gratitude Sunday in All Saints’
next Sunday 3 rd September and to refreshments afterwards in the
Rectory. Showing our gratitude and saying ‘thank you’ is so important. This
occasion gives all of us the opportunity to thank God for His many gifts to us,
to thank parishioners for all they do and for Olive and I to thank all of you for
your kindness and support.
Let’s hope a large number of parishioners will
come together this Sunday for this opportunity of thankfulness.
Wednesday Prayers
From Wednesday 6 th September and each Wednesday at 11.00 a.m. in All
Saints’ there will be a prayerful Service of Holy Communion. Each week
parishioners will have the opportunity of a prayerful 30 minutes and I hope, if
there is a sufficient number of parishioners attending, that we might be able to
conclude with a cup of coffee and conversation. So, if you can come on
Wednesday 6 th I would be delighted to meet with you.
Climate Sunday
On Sunday 17 th September we are holding a special service in Leney Church
at 2.30pm. Parishioners are asked to gather at Tormey’s Pub at Bunbrosna at
2.15pm. We will then all walk to the churchyard together. This summer has
again reminded us of the urgency of climate change and what we can do in the
Parish for creation care.
Grandparents Sunday – 24 th September
It seems no time since last year when we were gathering for Grandparents’
Sunday. This is an opportunity for grandparents to invite their grandchildrento church with them, and of course parents and other family members are
warmly invited. The service will be held in All Saints’ at 11.00 a.m. Like last
year it would be lovely to have a good congregation.
Diocesan Synod
The Diocesan Synod will be held on Saturday 30 th September in the Parish
Hall in Dunboyne. Those elected at the recent Easter General Vestry will
represent the Parish.
Remembrance Service
The Hospital Remembrance Service will be held in St. Paul’s Church on
Thursday 21 st September at 6.00 p.m. This is a very prayerful occasion when
we remember those patients who have recently passed away in the hospital
and offer our support to their families.
Holy Days in September
Friday 8 th September Birth of the blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday 21 st September St. Matthew’s Day
Friday 29 th September St. Michael and All Angels
On each day there will be a Service of Holy Communion in All Saints’ at
11.00 a.m.
Safeguarding Trust
A training evening for new leaders will be held in All Saints’ on Thursday 28 th
September at 8.00 p.m.
Fleadh Cheoil
The Fleadh Cheoil was held in Mullingar from 6 th – 14 th August and was an
enormous success. The Fleadh was opened at an ecumenical occasion by An
Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. This year it is estimated the numbers far exceeded
the 500,000 expected. All Saints’ Church was open during the Fleadh and it
was lovely to see so many people visit the church. One of the delightful
features of the Fleadh is the number of children and young people who attend
and many of whom play their musical instruments in the streets. Next year the
Fleadh will be held in Wexford town.
Bereavements
We offer our deepest sympathy to Vivienne Mulligan following the sudden
death of her mother Mabel, to Billy Small following the passing of his sister
Marie in Southampton, to Miles and Wendy Gillespie following the passing of
Miles’s mother Dorothy in Boyle, and to Edel Cahill following the passing of
her father Edmund who was a much loved member of the All Saints’ Whist
Club. These deaths sadly took place in July and August and we would likeeach of the families to know they are prayerfully remembered by all of us in
the Parish.
We pray that each of these families will be comforted by their
loving memories of their loved one who has departed this life and also in
knowing that, for Christians death is not an end but an entrance to a fuller life
in God’s presence where we pray that Mabel, Marie, Dorothy and Edmund
may rest in peace and rise in glory.
We also offer our deepest sympathy to Hilary Gillmor and her family
following the passing of Olive Gillmor in the Sligo Hospice. Olive and her
husband Fred were greatly loved by everyone in the Parish when Fred was
Rector. Olive is fondly remembered by parishioners, of whom Maud Long
was such a faithful friend and made many visits to Olive in the hospice.
Muriel Ray was also a great friend and made many visits with the family to
visit her Olive’s daughter-in-law, Hilary, and Jordan, Alex and Bevan, Olive’s
grandchildren, surrounded Olive with much love in her illness and we offer
them all our deepest sympathy. Olive was a person of great faith and we pray
that now in the fuller presence of God she may rest in peace and rise in glory.
Wedding Congratulations
We warmly congratulate Lucy Hynes and David Mitchell who were married in
All Saints’ on Saturday 19 th August. Their wedding was a lovely occasion and
we wish them a very happy and long life together. We pray that God will
bless them with good health and happiness.
New School Year
We wish the Principal, staff and children of All Saints’ School a very happy
and successful new school year. We also wish the Warden, staff and students
of Wilson’s Hospital School a very successful school year. I would also like
to congratulate all the young people on their success in the Leaving Certificate
Examinations and I would like to wish all of them a fulfilled happiness in
whatever path in life their lives now take, either with further study or in
developing other opportunities.
Frank McNamara Concert
As I mentioned in church, Frank McNamara, of former Late Late Show
success, has offered to do a concert in All Saints’ on Friday 20 th October at
9.00 p.m. The concert will last one hour. Frank will donate part of the
concert proceeds to the Parish and so in attending his delightful concert you
will also be supporting the Parish. Please contact Arthur O’Toole (087-
9733233), the churchwarden in All Saints’, for tickets.
Confirmation
The Confirmation Service will be held on Sunday 5 th November at 11a.m.
Candidates should be aged from 1 st Year in Secondary School upwards. The
first Conformation Class will be on Saturday 9 th September at 9.30 a.m.in All
Saints’ – can parents please let me know before then if any of their children
wish to be confirmed
Select Vestry
The next meeting of the Select Vestry will be Wednesday 27 th September in
the Rectory at 8.00 p.m.
With God’s blessings,
Revd. Alastair Graham Mobile: 087-787 0985
Church Services this Month – September 2023
Sunday 3 rd September – Gratitude Sunday
All Saints’ 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion, (said)
10.15 a.m. Choir Practice
11.00 a.m. Songs of Praise Service followed by
refreshments
in the Rectory
Sunday 10 th September
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Sung Matins, Rector
Kilbixy 11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Rector
Killucan 11.30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Sunday 17 th September
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Rector
Killucan 11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Rector
Leney Church 2.30 p.m. Climate Sunday Service
Meet at Tormey’s Car Park, Bunbrosna at
2.15 p.m.
Almoritia 7.00 p.m. Evening Prayer, Rector
Sunday 24 th September
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, (said), Rector
11.00 a.m. Grandparents’ Sunday Service
