News – Monasterboice Parish

Covid-19 Restrictions Ease

September 11, 2021Fr. Paddy

The parish Covid-19 Committee met this week to discuss the recent easing of restrictions (6th September – see here for webpage), and what that means for the parish – especially for the liturgies in the Churches.

50% Capacity (regardless of immunity status of attendees)

The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tenure can now accommodate up to 150 members of the congregation.

The Church of Our Lady of the Nativity, Fieldstown can now accommodate up to 75 members of the congregation.

Photo by Griffin Wooldridge on Pexels.com

Stewards will be on hand to assist parishioners find a place that is comfortable for them.

Protective Measures

Masks will still be required, as will hand sanitising. Please try and maintain as much social distancing as possible, especially when moving in/out of the Church, and while receiving Holy Communion.

Distribution of Holy Communion

Holy Communion will now be distributed at the traditional time in the Mass – ie, at The Communion Rite, following the Lord’s Prayer, and the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

Please follow the direction of the Stewards.

Please allow as much social distancing as possible while preparing to receive and following reception of the Eucharist.

Please only receive Holy Communion in the hand

Please try and sanitise your hands (gels will be freely available throughout the Church) after touching your mask.

After Mass

Please do not linger inside the Church after Mass is concluded.

The Church will be sanitised after each Mass.

All other measures (ie seats cordoned off, collection baskets at the Church doors, one way systems) will remain in place until the 22nd October, at the earliest. A further review will be held by the Parish covid-19 committee at that time.

Thank you to our committee members, our stewards, and indeed to all our parishioners for co-operating with these measures designed to keep the Church as safe a space as possible.

Swapping Pulpits

September 7, 2021Fr. Paddy

Last weekend saw the first in a new initiative among the parishes of St. Colmcille’s Pastoral Area, where the local priests celebrated Masses in neighbouring parishes. It seems to have gone very well, and we would love to hear your feedback about the initiative. Please feel free to contact any of the parishes by email.

This is part of a process to facilitate closer collaboration within the Pastoral Area as the future of all our parishes will lie in this direction.

The area takes in the four parishes on the east coast running from Togher in the North to Termonfechin in the South. Clogherhead in the East, and Tenure in the West. An area approximately 190 sq. Km. There are over 2,500 catholic families in this area. The area has 9 Churches, 9 schools, and is served by 4 active priests, with 3 priests ‘in residence’ in the area. Each parish has an active Parish Pastoral Council, and the four parishes together have a Pastoral Area Resource Team (PART), who along with the Vf (Vicar forane – an appointment by the Archbishop) promote closer working together of the Pastoral Area.

Many of the structures we have at the moment evolved in an Ireland where most people walked to Church, and at a time when there was a period of expansion in the Catholic faith in this country. Now we have entered a new phase.

There is a need for consolidation to take account of how faith practice has developed and will continue to develop into the future. The Covid-19 Pandemic has also had a significant effect with many people still choosing to engage with Church via webcam, and as priests become older and fewer in number, more things will happen together, rather than in individual parishes.

Facing the Future:
As we go forward, it will be unlikely that there will be sufficient priests to replace all those who retire. Therefore, remaining priests will become responsible for larger areas. In order to best prepare for this eventuality, we must begin now by working together on the things we can, and putting into place the structures which will help us meet the challenges of the parishes of the future.

Change is not easy – for any of us! It can bring many challenges, and often make people very fearful. However, it is important to remember as a people of faith that we do not face these realities alone. God’s Spirit is with us as we seek to navigate the way forward, especially in these post-pandemic times.

While the future will certainly bring change, there will be many things which will stay the same, and there will be new opportunites to engage with faith and Church both in our own parish and the wider Pastoral Area.

1. Praying for the future;

2. Taking part in the life of your parish/pastoral area using your gifts/talents to benefit the life of the parish/area;

3. Share your faith in Jesus with those around you;

4. Keep yourself informed and up to date with developments on this front.

Cemetery Sunday Blessings of Graves 2021

July 30, 2021Fr. Paddy

Will NOT take place this year because of the restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.

People may wish to bless their own graves at this time.

Fr. Paddy, in consultation with the committees of each graveyard; Mullary, Monasterboice & Ballymakenny, will arrange to hold the traditional graveyard Mass at a later time (possibly October), or if restrictions still remain, Fr. Paddy will celebrate the Masses privately, and record them, as happened last year;

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Mullary 2020 Blessings

Monasterboice 2020 Blessings

Ballymakenny 2020 Blessings

World Day of Prayer for Grandparents & the Elderly

July 24, 2021Fr. Paddy

Pope Francis has established a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will take place for the first time on Sunday 25 July 2021 on the theme ‘I am with you always’ (Mt 28:20)

Today is a day of joy and hope for all of us in celebrating and giving thanks for our grandparents and the elderly.

Pope Francis has also granted a plenary indulgence to grandparents, the elderly, and all those who participate in a solemn celebration of this day as well as to those who spend time (actually or virtually) with an elderly brother or sister in need on this day.

Grandparents Day Prayer

I thank You, Lord, for the comfort of Your presence: even in times of loneliness, You are my hope and my confidence, You have been my rock and my fortress since my youth! I thank You for having given me a family and for having blessed me with a long life.

I thank You for moments of joy and difficulty, for the dreams that have already come true in my life and for those that are still ahead of me. I thank You for this time of renewed fruitfulness to which You call me. Increase, O Lord, my faith, make me a channel of your peace, teach me to embrace those who suffer more than me, to never stop dreaming & tell of your wonders to new generations.

Protect & guide Pope Francis and the Church, that the light of the Gospel might reach the ends of the earth. Send Your Spirit, O Lord, to renew the world,

that the storm of the pandemic might be calmed, the poor consoled & wars ended.

Sustain me in weakness & help me to live life fully in each moment that you give me, in the certainty that you’re with me, until the end of the age. Amen.

Parish Webcam in The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tenure

January 1, 2021January 30, 2021Fr. Paddy

A high-quality camera system has now been installed, in this Church and you can view any Mass/Wedding/Funera/Baptism held in the Church by visiting www.churchservices.tv and searching for our Church by name or county.

Please share this news with friends and family who live away from the parish.

It is possible to view the live stream on PC’s, laptops and a range of Apple and Android and other devices. They also have Roku app – for their TV box and stick.

If you would like make a donation to support the installation of the camera, or to support it’s monthly costs, please speak to Fr. Paddy.

Coming out of Level 5

November 28, 2020December 5, 2020Fr. Paddy

COVID-19 Update:

Our Churches remain open – for solitary prayer – during daylight hours;
Thanks to Kathleen & Teresa parishioners are able to drop in & pause for a moment of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the Tabernacle.

This time next week, THANKS BE TO GOD, we will be able to gather for Mass at the usual times; 6.30pm (Vigil Mass) and 11.15am (Sunday Morning), in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tenure, and 9.45am (Sunday Morning), in the Church of Our Lady of the Nativity, Fieldstown.

Please note: There is a maximum attendance of 50 people in each of two ‘sections’ for Tenure (i.e 100) for each Mass; and a maximum of 50 in Fieldstown;
Please do not be offended if you are turned away because the Church is at it’s limit.
Remember, the ‘Sunday Obligation’ has been removed for the time being, so if you can come to Mass during the week, that will help facilitate everyone who wants to attend.

The usual safety meausres apply;

Please sanitise your hands entering/leaving Church;
Please wear a mask at all times inside;
Please observe Social distancing & follow the guidance of our stewards;
Holy Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass, after which please leave promptly, and try not to ‘gather’ outside for a social chat.

March 27th Government Announcement

March 28, 2020Fr. Paddy

We have al been shocked that we have reached this point in the Nation’s fight against Covid-19.

We, in the Parish, will follow the government’s advice, available here

This will have consequences for our Church buildings, and general operation of the parish. We are awaiting further direction from the Archbishop.

In the meantime, let us all stay safe and well, follow government advice, and continue to pray for one another.

The Journey Begins…

November 8, 2019March 14, 2020Fr. Paddy

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Welcome to the new Parish Website. It’s a work in progress so, please be patient with us, as we find new ways to share the Gospel message to all in our parish.

Hopefully this will be the first and best place to visit for the up-to-date information about all that is happening in our parish.

Unfortunately, we begin at a difficult time for our country and the wider world. As from 13th March, 2020, all public celebrations of Mass, and any non-essential parish gathering or function is suspended.

Let’s all ‘do our bit’ in the National effort to kerb the spread of this virus and keep as many people as possible – especially the most vulnerable – safe.

We will keep you up to date on this site, our Facebook Page, and Twitter feed, and we ask that you share the information especially with those who may not have access, or who may not be familiar with the technology.

Mass will be broadcast as per the schedule above, here;

Thank you, and may God bless you, your families, and all in our parish community.

Fr. Paddy