New Parish Pastoral Council: The list of members of the new Parish Council will be finalised in the first week of June. There were a large number of nominees and the uptake has been really positive. Later in the year we will be holding a special event to thank past Parish Pastoral Council Members and to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism with the whole Parish community.
Family Mass: Thank you to all the children who made last Sunday’s Family Mass so special for everyone who attended. On Saturday 31st May at 8pm in St Molua’s we will have our ‘Exam Mass’ to pray for, and together with, all our students who will sit Junior and Leaving Cert soon.
Holy Island Pilgrimage: To mark this special Jubilee Year of Hope, launched by the late Pope Francis, Ogonnelloe Parish will on Sunday afternoon, June 15th next make our first major commitment to the year with a pilgrimage to Holy Island.
This will be a special day for our parish as we celebrate together at the spiritual island the great theme and legacy of Hope – a legacy, due to the turbulent times we are in terms of peace and hunger globally, we will joyously embrace on this pilgrimage. We will do so with a prayer service, readings, poetry, song and finish by breaking bread together with a parish picnic!
The pilgrimage will depart by boat from Knockaphort with tickets priced at €15 per adult and €8 per child. So bring yourselves, some food, prayer and enjoy a celebration of Hope in a special location. More details to follow re tickets and other arrangements.
Graveyard Mass: Date for your diary: Mass will take place in the New Cemetery on Friday evening, 11th July. Time to be confirmed.
New Altar Servers: we are looking for new recruits! Children from Second Class upwards are invited to attend Altar Servers’ training at a date in June to suit them. Please contact the Parish Office or speak to a member of the Parish Council if you would like more information or if you would like to put your child’s name forward.
Family Eucharistic Adoration: Families are invited to come to Eucharistic Adoration at a day and time that suits them. This would be just 10-15 minutes, once a month, to be in the quiet of the church, light a candle and spend time in contemplation with Jesus. Please contact Frances McKenna on 0874153583 and to see how this has worked elsewhere in Ireland, see https://childrenoftheeucharist.ie/
We offer and pray for good wishes that the pontificate of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, his service of the Church and of the world, be guided by divine wisdom, strength and serenity, as he leads and inspires us all. Inauguration will be on Sunday 18th May in St Peter’s Square, Rome
Rosary on Friday’s for the month of May at 7pm in St Molua’s Church. Weather permitting it will be outside at statue. All are welcome
Our next Family Mass will be on 18th May at 11am in St Mary’s. For this special Mass, the children who will have received their Confirmation and First Holy Communion will be helping to prepare and participating in the Mass.
A Pastoral Council meeting was held on 10th April and Joe Mooney was elected as Chair for the coming year. Anna McElhinney will stay on as Secretary and will represent Ogonnelloe on the Cluster Coordination Group. A full list of new PC members will be issued as soon as it has been finalised. It was agreed that there would be a contact person for each church to coordinate items of cleaning equipment / small maintenance issues. For St Molua’s this will be Margaret Mooney (087 2983487)and for St Mary’s, Matthew O’Brien (086 1512098). Please contact Margaret or Matthew if you notice anything that is needed.
First Friday Visits: We invite sick or housebound parishioners who would like to arrange a First Friday visit from the priest to please call Kieran on 087 9302214 or the parish office on 085 877 9113. Also, those who are currently on the list might contact us again to confirm their details.
It is requested that people would take a copy of the parish newsletter home with them after Mass each weekend. Using the newsletter to refer to it for reminders of parish and community events will assist in keeping in touch and remembering what you wish to remember from what is included in each weeks issue.
Hospital Visits: If anyone has family members in hospitals in the region at present and would like them to receive a visit from the priest please call Kieran on 087 9302214 or the parish office on 085 877 9113.
Contributions: Thanks for your continued financial support of the parish at this time, your support is greatly appreciated in these difficult times. A number of payments have been received through the diocesan online donation facility and we are very grateful.
Raheen Hospital: Masses on Saturdays at 2.15pm and Wednesdays at 11.00am.
Pastoral Minister: Michael Daly – 086 3813677 email: mdaly178@gmail.com – Our recently appointed Pastoral Minister for the Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area, Michael Daly, introduced himself at Masses recently. We wish Michael the very best in his new role and we hope to work closely and effectively with him in the coming years.
Baptisms: Bookings for baptisms are now being accepted; please contact the Parish Office or Fr Kieran.
Anniversary Masses: If you wish to book an anniversary Mass you can do so through Joanne at the parish office.
Planning to get married ? You need to give at least six months notice for the completion of church and civil papers and so it would be a good idea to contact Fr Kieran to chat through the necessary requirements. This applies whether you are getting married in the parish, elsewhere in Ireland or overseas.
The new graveyard extension is now completed and graves are available for purchase. If you are interested in buying a plot you can contact one of the following; Michael McNamara -086 8202917 or Ger O’Brien – 087 6349429 or Pat O’Brien – 087 7924202Readers: Can you please check with the celebrant before Mass.