ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH, BALLYHAUNIS PASTORAL MESSAGE …
Transcript of ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH, BALLYHAUNIS PASTORAL MESSAGE …
PARISH NEWSLETTER 7th MARCH 2021
Parish Priest: Fr. Stephen Farragher, 094-9630006 / 087-9210305
Email: [email protected] Parish Office: 094-9630006
PARISH WEBSITE: http://www.ballyhaunisparish.ie
PARISH RADIO: 105.2FM Newsletter on line: Parish website Web-cam: http://www.ballyhaunisparish.ie or www.mcnmedia.tv
Local Safeguarding Representative (LSR) Jacinta Flynn, (contact the parish office)
Emergency numbers:
Knock: 094-9388100
Fr. Feeney, Ballinlough: 094-9640155
Fr. McGuinness, Bekan: 094-9313937
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10.00am. Saturday 7.30pm. Nora, Michael & Judith Regan, Killinaugher
Mariam McGoldrick, Abbey St.
Patrick & Elizabeth Devane & decd. Kilvine
Jack, Sarah, John & Patrick Mangan, Roy, Doohoma
Anne Byrne, Main St.
John Byrne, Main St.
Brendan Quinn, Knox St.
Pam Loiacunu
Michael Murray, Doctor’s Road & decd. of the Murray Family, London
Anthony Coyne, Leenane, & decd. of the Coyne & Gavin Families
*****************************
Sunday 10.00am Month’s Mind: Tom McCormack, Clare Court
Please use the lighters for lighting can-
dles as the hand sanitiser is highly flam-
mable.
All weekday and weekend Masses, and the
daily rosary at 9.00pm continue to be
broadcast on parish radio 105.2FM and
streamed on the parish webcam: https://
www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/st-patricks-
church-ballyhaunis
The 10 o’clock Mass on Wednesday morn-
ings is being broadcast on Mid West Radio.
WEEKLY ENVELOPES: Sincere thanks to all who
are returning their weekly contributions either by
envelope or by direct debit. Envelopes can be
dropped in the letter box of the Parochial House. If
you wish to set up a direct debit, the account details are as follows: Ballyhaunis Parish
Church. BIC: ULSB IE 2D IBAN: IE69 ULSB 9852 7005 5200 31
CHY3 TAX CERTIFICATES: Thanks to all who have returned their CHY3 certificates
to date. If you received a certificate and have not yet completed and returned it, we would
ask you, please, to do so using the enclosed stamped self-addressed envelope or drop it in
the letterbox of the Parochial House at your earliest convenience.
LENT: Trócaire packs containing the Trócaire box and information on this year’s Lenten
campaign are available in the church porch. Please take one home and make a contribution
to help those suffering hunger and injustice in many parts of the world. This year’s cam-
paign focuses on South Sudan and we learn more about the suffering of people who have
lost their homes and loved ones to war, and how they are rebuilding their lives through love,
friendship and solidarity
PRAYER GUIDE FOR THE SEASON OF LENT – A booklet produced by and circulat-
ed with the permission of the bishops of Clonfert and Elphin, is available on our website
www.ballyhaunisparish.ie
MASSES:
Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Friday 10.00am.
Saturday Evening Vigil: 7.30pm.
Sunday: 10.00am.
CONFESSIONS:
Before Saturday Vigil Mass
EUCHARISTIC
ADORATION
Friday: 10.30am. - 1.00pm.
BAPTISMS
Saturdays & Sundays 11.00am.
Minimum of two weeks’
notice required. Contact the
parish office, 094-9630006, for
updates due to ongoing Covid-
19 restrictions.
ANNIVERSARY MASSES 8th - 14th MARCH 2021
ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH, BALLYHAUNIS
8th - 14th MARCH READERS
Monday Martin Fitzmaurice
Tuesday Mary Donnelly
Wednesday Tommy Caulfield
Friday Christina Concannon
Saturday 7.30pm. James Reidy
Sunday 10.00am. Anne Durkan
Recently Deceased
We remember in our prayers
Kevin Finn, Nottingham, UK & formerly Pattenspark
PASTORAL MESSAGE from the Bishops of the Six
Dioceses of the Tuam Province 3rd March 2021 Dear Parishioners, brother Priests and Deacons, Religious and
Friends
Covid-19: A Year On
This week we mark the first anniversary of the appearance of the
Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland. As we consider how this has
touched our parish communities, particularly given the tragic loss
of so many lives, we wish to share some thoughts with you, the
people of the six Dioceses of the Tuam Province.
Further to Climb
Many of us will be familiar with the experience of arriving at
what we thought was the top of a mountain only to discover that
there is still further to climb. Sometimes the last bit can be the
hardest of all. We understand the experience of disappointment
and frustration that many people feel, at the news of an indefinite
extension of lockdown. We are delighted, however, that children
have the opportunity to return to school and we wish them and
their teachers every blessing.
Until we are all “Ok”
All of us appreciate the efforts and the sacrifices of those in our
community who provide essential services. For many people,
however, the continued high level of restriction poses practical
and emotional challenges. We want to say very clearly that, in the
Christian vision of things, every person is essential and no person
is more important or necessary than any other. When we pray the
Stations of the Cross, we celebrate people like Veronica, who
wiped the face of Jesus, and Simon of Cyrene who shard with
Him the burden of the cross.
Serving the Common Good and Supporting Restrictions
As Church leaders, we have consistently supported the public
health restrictions on the grounds that they serve the common
good. The state has a particular responsibility for the common
good and, on that basis, the Church teaches that Catholics must
obey the law unless it is manifestly unjust or immoral. That does
not mean that we cannon or should not speak out when we believe
that something seems unfair or could be done better. We have
consistently made representations, not only for the timely reopen-
ing of the public pastoral life of the Church, but also for better
protection for elderly residents in nursing home, for equity in the
delivery of critical care in our hospitals and for a fair distribution
of vaccines both in our own society and in the wider world.
Difficulties with “Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The
Path Ahead”
We recognise the need for prudence and caution at the present
time, in the light of the terrible loss of life in January and Febru-
ary, and we accept absolutely that now is not the time for a major
reopening of society. We have carefully considered the five stage
plan “Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead”,
published by the Government last week. There are two things in
this plan which we find very difficult to support.
One is the fact that at level 5, all funerals are still limited to 10
people. We believe that a modest increase to 25 would, without
compromising safety, bring much consolation to grieving
families.
Our second concern is that public worship is still excluded even
at level 3. This would suggest that we may not have the oppor-
tunity to celebrate Mass together for months to come. It ignores
the important contribution of communal worship to the mental
and spiritual well-being of people of faith. The fundamental im-
portance of Holy Week and Easter for all Christians, makes the
prohibition of public worship particularly painful. While, as
Christians, we are obliged to obey these regulations, we believe
that it is our responsibility as Church leaders to make the case for
change. We will continue to make fair and reasonable representa-
tion and we encourage you to do likewise.
Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation
In so far as the Government plan currently offers no clarity about
when we might expect to return to public Sacramental life, we
find it difficult to have any confidence that the Sacraments of First
Communion and Confirmation can be celebrated before the end of
the present school year. As of now, we have decided to defer the
Sacrament of Confirmation for the 2021 class until the Autumn,
and we encourage our parishes to consider doing the same in rela-
tion to First Communion. Should circumstances change for the
better, this decision can be revisited in each Diocese. In the
meantime, we encourage young people and their parents to contin-
ue with their preparation. We have provided online resources to
support what is being done through the Religious Education pro-
grammes with the teachers in the schools.
Continuing Pastoral and Sacramental Care
Bearing all of the foregoing in mind, it is also important for us to
do as much as we can within the current restrictions to provide
pastoral and sacramental care to our parishioners. Experience
teaches us that with suitable precautions, the individual celebra-
tion of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is possible, as is the sacra-
mental care of the sick. These, together with various other pasto-
ral initiatives, can supplement the various online outreaches that
have proved so helpful and successful.
Towards Easter 2021
God’s love for us is revealed in the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus, who shared our human condition, with all its joys and sor-
rows. As his disciples today, we can have confidence in his prom-
ise to be with us always, even to the end of time. During this sea-
son of Lent, He walks the way of the cross with us and we journey
in hope toward the joy of sharing in his Resurrection which, one
way or another, we will celebrate together at Easter.
Sincerely in Christ,
Michael Neary (Archbishop of Tuam), John Flemin (Bishop of
Killala), Michael Duignan (Bishop of Clonfert), Brendan Kelly
(Bishop of Galway), Paul Dempsey (Bishop of Achonry). ******************************************************************
FAITH RENEWAL EVENTS Online www.knockshrine.ie/
‘Living Christian Faith’ - Lenten Conversations
Thursday 11th March: ‘Living Christian Faith in Public Life’
Baroness Nuala O’Loan, Senator Ronan Mullen discuss their own
faith, how it informs their public service and the challenges peo-
ple of faith encounter in the public sphere today.
Join Fr. Eamonn Conway and guests online each Thursday even-ing at 8.30pm. To watch, simply log on to www.knockshrine.ie/watch-live Full programme details are avail-
able at www.knockshrine.ie/news
BALLYHAUNIS COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGM will be
held on Monday 29th March at 8.00pm. via Zoom. For further
details please contact 087-9777899 or 087-6982473. Email: bally-
[email protected] Visit our website
www.ballyhauniscc.ie or Facebook page: Ballyhaunis Community
Council