Union Notes

Dear Parishioner(s)

New Year
I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. We have a great deal to look forward to in the Parish in 2017. I hope you will enjoy our Parish life and participate in the different events. We also pray that, in the world, Christ’s peace will be shed abroad in the hearts of all people and the spirit that makes for war will be banished, as we learn to live as members of one family in obedience to God’s laws.

Christmas 2016
The Christmas season in the Parish was really full of spirit and energy this year and all the events were so very well supported. The number of people at church on Christmas Day was the highest since we came to the Parish. The Parish gave a total of €10,000 to support the good work of different charities meeting the needs of people in very difficult circumstances. We were delighted to be able to support the work of SVP, the Northwest Meath Hospice, T.E.A.M., Meals on Wheels, and Doctors Without Borders. The young people who organised the “Good Hour” are to be thanked for their great success in raising over €1500 for SVP, which was accompanied by bags and boxes of lovely food items.

January Events
*The Epiphany Family Service in Killucan on Sunday 8th January
* Service of Crowns – the Children’s Gift Day – in All Saints’ on Sunday 15th January
*Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with special Prayer Services in the Abbey, Multyfarnham, on Wednesday 18th January at 8.00 p.m. and in Collinstown Parish Church on Wednesday 25th January at 8.00 p.m.
*Film Night on Friday 27th January at 8.00 p.m.
*A special Service of Blessing and Thanksgiving will be held in All Saints’ at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday 29th January to mark the beginning of the Principalship of Mrs. Lesley Denniston as Principal of All Saints’ School, Mullingar.

Epiphany
A Service of Holy Communion to celebrate Epiphany – the coming of the Wise Men – will be held in All Saints’ at 10.30 a.m. on Friday 6th January.

Canon Patrick Lawrence – Will be available for any pastoral emergencies between Monday 16th – Monday 23 of January – Telephone 086 0562944

Parish Film Night – As part of the Year of Faith I would like to invite you to a film night in All Saints’ on Friday 27th January at 8pm. We will watch a very interesting film and following the film there will be an opportunity to discuss some of the key issues raised in the film. This promises to be a very interesting evening and I hope it will be very well supported. The film is suitable for all parishioners over the age of 14.

Coffee Morning every Thursday from 10.30a.m – 1.30p.m in All Saints’
We warmly invite parishioners and friends to call in for a coffee and a chat in the very friendly atmosphere of All Saints’
Arthur and Marion O’ Toole provide delightful refreshments and this month all the donations will be given to St Vincent De Paul to support the good the Society undertakes.

Tiny Tots
The Tiny Tots continue to meet on Friday mornings 10am – 12 pm in All Saints’ during term time. It is lovely to meet the babies, small children and parents. Zoe Hales organises a most interesting programme. Do call in – you will be most welcome text Zoe on 0866052292

Bereavement
A number of families were sadly bereaved over the Christmas period and we offer them our deepest and heartfelt sympathy. Florrie Taylor a long standing parishioner passed away just before Christmas. Florrie lived a very long life and died in her 93rd year. In her early years she was very actively involved in the community and Parish and highly respected. We offer our deepest sympathy to Derek, Helen, David, Brian and Ken her children and the wider family.

The funeral took place in All Saints’. Stewart Mitchell also sadly passed away on Wednesday 4th January. Stewart’s untimely death will leave a huge gap in the hearts of so many people. He was widely respected and admired by so many people and his integrity, compassion and kind manner will be long remembered.
We offer our deepest sympathy to Grainne his wife, his dear mother, Birdie, his sons Gareth, Andrew and Adam, his sister Sandra and his wide family circle and friends. The funeral took place in All Saints’.

We were also saddened to hear of the death of Alec Bodel’s brother Billy who died at his home in the North, the death of Tom Bell who died in Southampton. Tom grew up in the Parish and we offer our deepest sympathy to all the members of the Bell Family and Florrie Nash his sister and to Frank and Billy Small. Tom’s wife is a sister of Frank and Billy.

We offer sympathy to John Hales whose uncle Frank Hales died on New Years Eve His funeral took place in Kilmallock.

We also offer sympathy to Kim and Linda Williams. Kim’s dad passed away on Christmas Day having not been well for some time.

We remember all those families in the Parish who have recently been bereaved. We pray that the hope of the Christian Gospel, that their loved ones are in God’s safe keeping, will be both a comfort and an assurance.

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.
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/mullingarunionofparishes.net Keep up to date
on our Parish Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @MullingarUP

I would like to wish you all a very happy and holy Christmas. Wherever you may be spending Christmas this year, I hope you will have a most enjoyable time and I wish you good health and happiness for the New Year.

With God’s blessings,
Rev. Alastair Graham, Rector

The Rectory, Gaol’s Hill, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Telephone No. 044-934 8376 

Dear Parishioner(s)
All Saints’ School
I have great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Mrs. Lesley Denniston as Principal of All Saints’ National School. Everyone is delighted with her appointment. Mrs. Denniston has been teaching in the school for the last 18 months and has won the admiration and affection of children, parents and the teachers and staff. Under her Principalship I am quite confident the school will go from strength to strength. We certainly wish her well with her new responsibilities. She will take up her appointment on 6th January 2017.

November
November was a month to remember. The special Services went exceptionally well. It was so encouraging to see the increase in the number of people coming to church and we hope this continues. I thank everyone for the wonderful contribution made to ensure that all the events passed off so well.

Advent
Advent began last Sunday, 27th November, and the Ecumenical Advent Candlelit Carol Service went particularly well. The Choir and organist were superb. I would also like to thank all the Readers and the churchwardens for their good work and commitment. This year, from 19th – 23rd December, I will be conducting a Prayer Service in All Saints’ each day at 12.00 noon. I would be delighted if parishioners would like to join me. This will allow us time for some spiritual preparation for the wonderful season of Christmas.

Christmas Whist Drive
The Christmas Whist Drive will be held on Friday 2nd December at 8.30 pm in All Saints’. This is always a very special and enjoyable occasion, with a delicious supper, and everyone is most welcome.

Christmas Cookery Demonstration
Robin Aust, the executive chef in the Parish, will hold a Christmas Cookery Demonstration in All Saints’ on Thursday 8th December at 8.00pm. Robin has a magnificent gift for cooking and you will learn what special treats you can provide at Christmas. Everyone will be invited to make a small donation to charity.

Christmas Carol Concert
The traditional Christmas Carol Concert will be held at 7.30 pm. in All Saints’ on Saturday 10th December This annual event with the Midland Youth
Orchestra, the Musical Allsorts and the Senior Parish Choir, is always a lovely festive occasion and I commend it to you. You will not be disappointed.
Musical Allsorts
The Musical Allsorts have been invited to sing at the Mullingar Choral Christmas Concert in the Cathedral on Sunday 11th December at 7.00 pm. This is a wonderful recognition of their talent and the amazing work that Mrs. Diane Ashmore, the musical director, has accomplished with the Choir. I do hope parishioners will come to the Cathedral to support Mrs. Ashmore and the young people at this special concert.

Coffee on Thursdays
Every Thursday morning in All Saints’ coffee and tea is served between 10.30 am and 1.30 pm. A different charity benefits each month. During the month of December the charity will be St. Dominic’s Meals on Wheels. In addition to supporting this worthy charity there is also an opportunity for people to meet socially in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and I encourage parishioners to support the coffee morning by their attendance.

Tiny Tots
The Tiny Tots continue to meet on Friday mornings in All Saints’ during term time. It is lovely to meet the babies, small children and parents. Zoe Hales organises a most interesting programme. Do call in – you will be most welcome.

Parish Carol Services – Sunday 18th December
This year, on Sunday 18th December, the Ecumenical Carol Service for Kilbixy will be held at 4.30 pm in the Roman Catholic Church in Ballynarcargy. The Christmas Candlelit Carol Service will be held in All Saints’ at 7.00 pm and once again we welcome the Mullingar Town Band.

The Good Hour
The young people in the Parish invite all parishioners to join them for “the Good Hour” on Sunday 18th December from 5.30-6.30 pm in All Saints’. This is an inspiring opportunity to support a good charitable cause and the young people are warmly commended for this initiative. I hope parishioners will come in large numbers and stay on for the Carol Service afterwards.

Christmas Services
Christmas Services will be held in each of the churches this Christmas and we very much look forward to wishing everyone a very happy Christmas.

Services after Christmas
It is the tradition to hold Services on the three days after Christmas Day and these will be held in All Saints’ at 11.00 am each morning.

New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday and there will be a Service held in each church.

Bible Study
This month the Bible Study will be held at 10.30 am on Saturday 17th December in Killucan church.

Diocese of Bangor, Wales
On Saturday morning, 3rd December, members of the Diocese of Bangor, who are making a visit to our Diocese, will be attending a meeting in All Saints’.

Holy Baptism
We welcomed into God’s family Isolde Olive Ryan on Sunday 20th November and we will remember her, her parents and godparents as she begins her journey of faith.

Bereavements
We offer our sincere sympathy to those families who have been recently bereaved. Norman Black’s brother passed away after bearing his illness with great courage and dignity; Jean Gorissen’s mother passed away peacefully after also bearing her illness with extraordinary courage; and Rachel Leech’s mother also passed away after a very long illness, borne with extraordinary dignity. Each family has been remembered lovingly in prayer. We pray that the cherished memories they have of their loved one will be a great comfort to them and that their loved ones, now in the fuller presence of God, may rest in peace.

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.
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/mullingarunionofparishes.net Keep up to date
on our Parish Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @MullingarUP

I would like to wish you all a very happy and holy Christmas. Wherever you may be spending Christmas this year, I hope you will have a most enjoyable time and I wish you good health and happiness for the New Year.

With God’s blessings,
Rev. Alastair Graham, Rector

The Rectory, Gaol’s Hill, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Telephone No. 044-934 8376