Issue 167 “UNION NEWS” February 2024

MULLINGAR UNION OF PARISHES

Dear Parishioners,

Retirement
Olive and I would like to thank you all very much indeed for your very
kind words and compliments following the announcement of my
retirement as Rector of the Parish after 15 wonderfully happy years.
Both Olive and I will miss you all very much. My last Sunday as
Rector of the Parish will be on Sunday 10 th March. I will conclude my
ministry with you by holding a Songs of Praise Service in All Saint’s
Church Mullingar at 4p.m. in the afternoon.. If you are able to attend
we would be delighted.

Whist Drives
The next two Whist Drives will be held on Friday 2 nd February and
Friday 1 st March at 8.00 p.m. in All Saints’. Olive has been involved in
the organisation of the Whist Drives for the last 15 years and would like
to thank all those who have helped her so generously over the years. If
you would like to join us at the Whist Drives it would be lovely to see
you. They are always so enjoyable. If anyone has any prizes they
would like to donate perhaps you would let Olive know.

Patronal Festival for St. Etchen’s
The Patronal Festival for St. Etchen’s falls on Sunday 11 th February.
There will be a special service held at 11.30 a.m. in Killucan Church
and the Parish Choir will lead the music.

Christian Voices Together
During my time in the Parish there has been a very warm relationship
established between the leaders of the different Christian churches. On
Sunday 25 th February we will hold a special Ecumenical Service in the

Cathedral at 4.00 p.m. We hope the Service will involve
children from all the Parishes and it would be lovely to see
the Service supported by parishioners from the different
Christian churches. Arthur and Marion O’Toole organised a
coffee morning for the churches and a light lunch for the
clergy during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which
was very much appreciated.

Lighten Our Darkness
The young leaders will be travelling to Liverpool Diocese on the
weekend of Friday 16 th February to make a presentation and to engage
with a large number of young people in the different Parishes. This will
be a very special trip for them and it is lovely to see how the young
leaders are involving themselves in so many different ways. Their
Christian influence and leadership is very much appreciated.

Ash Wednesday and Lent
This year Ash Wednesday falls on Wednesday 14 th February. There will
be a special Service with music in All Saints’ at 11.30 a.m. followed by
a Lenten Lunch. Lent is a very important time in our Christian life and
I would like to wish you all a holy Lent in the Parish. It would be
lovely if a good number of parishioners were able to come to the Ash
Wednesday Service and to the lunch. I extend a very warm welcome to
everyone.

All Saints’ School
On Sunday 3 rd March there will be a special Service held in All Saints’
at 11.00 a.m. to mark the 60 th Anniversary of the location of All Saints’
School in the church grounds. Bishop Pat Storey will be the special
preacher and the young people in school will participate in the Service.
We warmly invite not only the parents in the school but also former
parents and past pupils to this very special celebration.

Revd. Hazel Scully
Hazel and Ray have been wonderful parishioners of Killucan for many
years. Hazel’s ministry over the years has been so valued and
appreciated by everyone and her sensitive and compassionate pastoral
ministry, fine preaching and wonderful singing has made a very big
impact in the lives of parishioners. On Sunday 25 th February at 11.00
a.m. in St. Etchen’s Killucan we will hold a special Service to celebrate
Hazel’s ministry in the Parish and to show our deep appreciation of her
and her family who have always been so supportive. To mark this
important event there will just be one Servicein the Parish at Killucan
and I hope parishioners from each of the churches will come in good
numbers to show their appreciation to Hazel at this special Service.

Holy Baptisms
This month there will be a number of baptisms in the Parish and we
pray for the children who will be baptized and their parents and
godparents.

Bereavement
We offer our deepest sympathy to Christopher and Louis Lomax and
their familyfollowing the very sad and untimely passing of their dad,
Ron. Ron was so dearly loved by all of us in the Parish and his
contribution in so many ways was deeply appreciated, most notably in
his role as librarian to the Choir. Ron faced his illness with amazing
courage and we pray that, now in the fuller presence of God, he may
rest in peace and rise in glory.

We also offer our sympathy again to Bill McConnell following the
death of his brother Derek last year. A lovely memorial service was
held on Saturday 27 th January in All Saints’ which was attended by
Derek’s widow and daughter Saoirse and dear friends. We pray that
Derek will rest in peace.

Women’s World Day of Prayer
The Service this year will be held on Sunday 3 rd March at 7p.m. in
Killucan.

Holy Days this month
There will be a celebration of Holy Communion in All Saints’ at 11.00
a.m. on Thursday 1 st February for St. Brigid’s Day and on Friday 2 nd
February for the Presentation of Christ in the Temple
Revd. Alastair Graham Mobile: 087-787 0985

Church Services this Month – February 2024

Sunday 4 th February
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion
Killucan 11.30 a.m. Holy Communion,
Sunday 11 th February
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion,
Killucan 11.30 a.m. Patronal Festival,
Almoritia 7.00 p.m. Evening Prayer,
Sunday 18 th February
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion,
Kilbixy 11.30 a.m. Holy Communion,
Sunday 25 th February
Killucan 11.00 a.m. Service to celebrate the ministry of

Revd. Hazel Scully

Mullingar
Cathedral 4.00 p.m. Ecumenical Service

All Saints’ National School- School Enrolment
All Saints’ National School is accepting applications for enrolment for
the school year 2024 – 2025 from Wednesday 10 th January to Friday 09 th
February. The schools admission notice and application form are
available online on our website – allsaintsnsmullingar.ie.
Please return the form by closing on Friday 09 th February We look
forward to hearing from you. Hard copies of application forms are
available from the school office 04493 48206