Issue 177 “UNION NEWS” February & March 2025

Dear Parishioners,
Please see the combined notes for February and March with services detailed up to the 23rd
of March. As we are all settled into 2025 can we the Vestry wish one and all a peaceful and
healthy year.
Thank you to everyone who decorated the Churches for Christmas so beautifully, to all who
brought greenery, decorative items, time and imagination to the magnificent displays. There
were many enjoyable services and a particular delight was the Killucan Carol service where
all the children sang Away in a Manger and Ella, Will, Poppy and Olivia were soloists in
their respective hymns. Thank you to Richard, Jean and Maria for organising.
We are pleased to let you know that the Parish nominators are scheduled to meet with Bishop
Storey on Tuesday 4th February. We wish all involved well as they commence the process to
appoint a new Rector.

Youth Notes
Board Games Saturday, an afternoon of fun and laughter for all returns on:
8th February and 8th March from 3.00pm to 4.30pm. Please note the time.
The Hub: Unfortunately the Hub group for secondary school goers is temporarily stopped as
the landlord of the building required the facility back.  If anyone has any ideas or thoughts
regarding this activity, please feel free to contact Barbara at  barbaradoran1974@gmail.com.
All suggestions greatly appreciated.

Sunday School will be held on the 9 th  February.
Sunday 23 rd March

There will be an All Saints’ School Service at 10a.m. Members From Sunday School will be
joining us for this Service

Safeguarding Trust training:  We are hoping to run a Safeguarding training session to
increase the number of adults available to help out at the children’s activities if they wish.  It
will help prevent cancellations due to lack of leaders or supervision and assistance would be
requested on an ad hoc basis. If interested, please send an e-mail to
barbaradoran1974@gmail and an evening can be organised for training.

Vestry Meeting
The next Vestry meeting is Monday 10th February at 7.30pm in All Saints’ Hall.

Ladies Lunch
A most enjoyable lunch of soup and desserts was held on Saturday 4th January in All Saints’
Church hall for the inaugural Ladies Lunch. 30 ladies of all ages were seated and we are
delighted to have raised €572 for the Westmeath Support Service against Domestic Abuse
unit based in Mullingar. Thank you to the Whist Drive team who organised and hosted this
event.

Whist Drives
The following Whist Drives will held in All Saints Church Hall at 8pm: Friday 7th February,
Friday 7th March and Friday 4th April.

Baptism
At the beginning of Advent we welcomed into the Church family Oliver Forristal, son of
Yvonne and Paul Forristal and another grandchild for Jennifer and Brendan Coady.
All Saints’ N.S. Fundraising- Support your School!
Since September, All Saints’ National School has been successfully collecting and recycling
bottles and cans with the Re-Turn Deposit Return Scheme. The proceeds go back to the
school and have already made a huge difference, with the purchase of a new set of goal posts
for the playground! If you have bottles or aluminium cans that you would like to donate,
please drop them into the school, just remember, they must have the Re-Turn logo, be empty
and un-damaged. If you have already donated, thank you very much and please keep them
coming!

All Saints’ National School- School Enrolment

All Saints’ National School is accepting applications for enrolment for the school year 2025 – 2026
from Monday 6 th January to Friday 14 th February. The school admission notice and application form
are available online on our website – allsaintsnsmullingar.ie.
Please return the form by closing on Friday 14 th February We look forward to hearing from you.
Hard copies of application forms are available from the school office 04493 48206

Food for Thought: Resolutions
As we read this piece at or near the beginning of February, it might feel a little late in the
year to think about New Year Resolutions!
I think that Groucho Mark had some valuable piece of advice about New Year Resolutions,
but maybe not so suitable for printing here!
A resolution, whether at the start of the year or during any twelve-month period is a good
thing- either to think about or to implement.

Human nature, and indeed for that matter, Christian discipleship provides for regular review
of the ‘Reset’ button on our natural instincts and desires. 
Of course our natural instinct and desire is that, having broken a resolution, the natural
response is to abandon our resolve and simply forget about reordering our life pattern until
another opportune time arises.
The theology of resolutions finds its grounding in Holy Scripture. ‘I desire mercy, not
sacrifice’ (Hosea 6:6)
Self-sacrifice may well be required of us when we commit to a New Year Resolution, but
breaking the resolution will, according to Biblical principle, be met with mercy, forgiveness,
and above all, the assurance that a second, and even third chance to self-commit is laudable. 
Jacob found fresh incentives even after a pattern of collusion and deception of his elderly
father, in the presence of a devious mother. 
The ‘Prodigal Son’ in Luke’s Gospel had to eat ‘humble pie’ and resolve to do better as a
family member, in returning to his father’s and his brother’s home after having had ‘a good
time’. Resolutions. 
The resolution actually occurs when we have self-examined, weighed up the pros and cons,
and recommitted to the path we should have been on all the time.
Keep up your resolve, if you have made a New Year Resolution, and if you have stumbled,
do not stay down.
Get up and start again!                                                          

Patrick Lawrence

May Sale
Planning is underway for the annual sale and a date will be finalised for the April notes. If
you are digging up in the garden please pot on any extra cuttings for this event. Thank you in
advance.

Holy Days

There will be Holy Communion in All Saints’ at 11am for the following two dates:
Wednesday 5th March Ash Wednesday. This will be followed by a traditional Lenten lunch
and the proceeds will be donated to the Mullingar Famine Graveyard Restoration.
Tuesday 25th March, The Annunciation of our Lord

Emergency Pastoral Care
During the vacancy Canon Patrick Lawrence is available for emergency pastoral care. His
contact details are 0449222109 or 0860562944

February Church Services

2nd February Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
All Saints’ 10am Holy Communion
Almoritia 11.30am Holy Communion

9th February Fourth Sunday before Lent
All Saints 10am Morning Prayer
Kilbixy 11.30am Morning Prayer

16th February Third Sunday before Lent
All Saints’ 10am Holy Communion
Killucan 11.30am Holy Communion

23rd February Second Sunday before Lent
All Saints’ 10am Morning Prayer
Killucan 11.30am Morning Prayer

March Church services

2nd March Sunday before Lent
All Saints’ 10am Holy Communion
Kilbixy 11.30am Holy Communion

9th March First Sunday in Lent
All Saints’ 10am Morning Prayer
Killucan 11.30am Morning Prayer

16th March Second Sunday in Lent
All Saints’ 10am Holy Communion & St Patrick’s’ Day celebration along with blessing of
the Shamrock
Almoritia 11.30am Holy Communion

23rd March Third Sunday in Lent
All Saints’ 10am Morning Prayer with All Saints’ National School to celebrate Spring
Killucan 11.30am Morning Prayer

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