To mark the recent Word of God Sunday(3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time – 22nd January), Monasterboice Parish has organised a Facilitated Online Zoom to highlight the importance of the Bible in our Spiritual life.
Mr. Patrick Logue who has a Masters degree in Scripture will facilitate the presentation, which will focus on how we might be better able to spend time with God’s Word. The Zoom has been organised by Fr. Paddy Rushe, PP of Monasterboice Parish, and Vf of St. Colmcille’s Pastoral Area.
Everyone is welcome to join in. The Zoom will begin at 5pm and the login details are;
MEETING ID – 885 7300 2895 PASSWORD – 657146
Patrick will make a small presentation on Scripture – especially as it pertains to Pope Francis’ call relating to the Word of God Sunday. There will be an opportunity for questions, and sharing, and the Zoom will finish with a Scripture prayer.
At a recent meeting of the Pastoral Council, the dates for Masses for the Parish for Christmas Eve(Saturday 24th December) & Christmas Day (Sunday) were finalised.
We are pleased to be able to offer THREE Masses on Christmas Eve 5pm & 6.30pm – in The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure 8pm – in The Church of The Nativity of Our Lady, Fieldstown
Christmas Day Masses are as follows; 9.45am – in The Church of The Nativity of Our Lady, Fieldstown 11.15am – in The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure
Please note that demand is expected to be high, and while there will be NO booking ahead this year, please be aware that Churches may well be more full. Covid precautions (Masks, Hand Sanitising, etc) are encouraged. Please do not attend Mass if you are unwell. All Masses will be broadcast online.
There will be more updates here in the coming weeks about The Advent Mass Themes, as well as Carol Services and other special parish celebrations & events in the run up to Christmas.
Last year, Pope Francis encouraged us all to remember and contemplate that God did not choose to come into the world in grandeur, but as a humble child born into poverty. Pope Francis said on Dec. 24.
“Brothers and sisters, standing before the crib, we contemplate what is central, beyond all the lights and decorations … We contemplate the child. In his littleness, God is completely present,”
One thing we could do is decide to be more ethical in our Gift giving this year. There are many worthy charities, but CAFOD(The international development charity and official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales) provides a wide range of special gifts.
Recently, at the end of a Sunday Angelus, the Holy Father announced that the upcoming 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be held in two ‘moments’, that is, in two sessions, spaced one year apart: the first from October 4 to 29, 2023, the second in October 2024.
This decision stems from the desire that the theme of a Synodal Church, because of its breadth and importance, might be the subject of prolonged discernment not only by the members of the Synodal Assembly, but by the whole Church.
This listening process began in 2021 by the local Churches, that is, by the People of God gathered around their Pastors, and has culminated in the release of The Document for the Continental Stage (DCS), which is the fruit of the ‘Syntheses’ (listening & reflecting) resulting from the consultation of the People of God in the first phase of the synodal process – and which will be the focus of the listening, dialogue and discernment of the Continental Synodal Assemblies (which will be held between January-March 2023).
There will be a Diocesan Gathering in the Carrickdale Hotel on Thursday December 1st to discuss this document and provide feedback which will inform the national input at the Continental Ecclesial Assembly that will take place in Prague from the 5th to the 12th of February, 2023. Please contact the Parish Office is you would like to attend this meeting.
It calls for a major change in the Church’s attitude to women, the LGBTQ+ Community, those married, divorced and single parents. It also recommends the removal of mandatory celibacy for priests.
Some thought the bishop would fudge it, not so. In his covering letter, Archbishop Martin of Armagh said, “Our listening process has identified the need for a more inclusive outreach, reaching out to those who have left the Church behind and in some cases feel excluded, forgotten or ignored”. It’s really worth a read.
Some have expressed disappointment that important issues outside the Church structures barely got a mention. Social justice, care for the poor, care for the earth etc.
We of course need to provide new structures of lay leadership and inclusion. We need to prepare for a lay-led parish, or at the least, more lay involvement in leadership. We need to prepare new leaders especially among the young but, it all has to be based on personal transformation, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and renewal based on the Gospel.
One possible way forward is to use The Alpha Experience – a wonderful introduction to Jesus Christ, and his mission to save our world. We will be running the Alpha Programme in the Pastoral Areasome time later this year. However, before then…
Alpha will help you get to know Jesus!
Alpha Ireland: Conference for those interested in making MORE of Parish – will be held in St Catherine’s Church, Dublin 8 on Saturday 24 Sept 2022. See the full lineup on our website https://alphaireland.org/multiply Our theme for AIC22 is Multiply as we bring together the best minds in mission to offer a one-day bootcamp of mission. Come together to be inspired, encouraged and equipped for evangelisation. Tickets are just €25 pp (Parish will sponsor these if you are interested) We would love to see you there!
Contact Fr. Paddy or The Parish Office for more information.
We were delighted to be able to hold all three of the Blessings of the Graves in beautiful summer sunshine. Thanks so much to everyone who prepared for and participated in the liturgies, and all who came from near and far to attend the blessings. Thanks especially to Joe Finnegan who recorded them – they are linked here, and on our parish Facebook Page. Please share with family and friends who weren’t able to attend or who live abroad, and please God, we’ll see you all again in Summer 2023.
Mullery was on Sunday 24th July @ 12noon;
The Blessing of Mullery on 24th July 2022
Ballymakenny was Sunday 31st July @ 12 noon
The Blessing of Ballymakenny on 31st July 2022
Monasterboice was Sunday 7th August @ 12noon(NB Change of Time)
During Holy Week, the Church celebrates the mysteries of salvation accomplished by Christ in the last days of his life on earth, beginning with his messianic entrance into Jerusalem. The Lenten season lasts until the Thursday of this week. The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.
Times are as follows;
Holy Thursday – Mass of The Lord’s Supper
Church of St. Michael, Clogherhead @ 7.30pm (Adoration at Altar of Repose until Night Prayer at 9.20pm)
Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure @ 8pm (Adoration at Altar of Repose until Night Prayer at 10pm)Confessions available
Church of The Immaculate Conception, Termonfechin @ 7pm (Adoration at Altar of Repose until Night Prayer at 9.30pm)
Church of St. Colmcille, Togher @ 7pm (Adoration at Altar of Repose until 9pm)
Good Friday – Celebration of The Lord’s Passion
Church of St. Michael, Clogherhead @ 3pm Stations of the Cross in The Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Walshestown @ 7pm (Collection for The Holy Land in both Churches)
Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure @ 3pmConfessions 4-5pm Stations of The Cross in The Church of The Nativity of Our Lady, Fieldstown @ 8pm Confessions available afterwards
Church of The Immaculate Conception, Termonfechin @ 3pm Stations of The Cross in The Church of The Assumption, Sandpit @ 7pm
Church of St. Colmcille, Togher @ 3pm Stations of The Cross in The Church of St. Finian, Dillonstown @ 7pm
Holy Saturday – The Easter Vigil
Church of St. Michael, Clogherhead @ 8.30pm
Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure @ 9.30pm
Church of The Immaculate Conception, Termonfechin @ 9pm
Church of St. Colmcille, Togher @ 8.30pm
Easter Sunday – Mass
Church of St. Michael, Clogherhead @ 10am Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Walshestown @ 11.30am
Dawn Mass outside The Church of The Nativity of Our Lady, Fieldstown @ 5.30am Church of The Nativity of Our Lady, Fieldstown @ 9.45am Church of Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure @ 11.15am
Church of The Assumption, Sandpit @ 9.30am Church of The Immaculate Conception, Termonfechin @ 11am
Church of St. Colmcille, Togher @ 10am Church of St. Finian, Dillonstown @ 11.30am
In conjunction with the Pastoral Councils of our Parishes, we wish all our parishioners every blessing for Holy Week, and joy in the Resurrection of The Lord.
A special collection for the People of Ukraine will taken up at all Masses in Ireland this weekend.
People are also invited to support the charitable initiatives of Aid to the Church in Need, the Jesuit Refugee Service, and Trócaire, which is currently responding to the crisis through its partners Caritas Ukraine and Caritas Poland which have a strong presence in the region and can use resources strategically to the greatest effect.
A fundraising ‘bring and buy’ is being organised by PPC members & others in Drumshallon Forge on Sunday 27th from 2.30 to 5.30, all proceeds going to The Irish Red Cross Ukraine Fund – please lend your support.
You are invited to gather – in person – at The Forge, Drumshallon on Wednesday 23rd February, 2022 at 8pm – to participate in a consultative process. All Welcome.
As many of you already know, Pope Francis has called on the Global Catholic Church to engage in a process of ‘Listening’ in a new way to the voice of the Spirit, about how the Church is to face the challenges of the future.
Each Country, and each Diocese has been asked to organise opportunities for all people to participate in the process;
Together, all the baptised are the subject of the sensus fidelium, the living voice of the People of God. At the same time, in order to participate fully in the act of discerning, it is important for the baptised to hear the voices of other people in their local context, including people who have left the practice of the faith, people of other faith traditions, people of no religious belief, etc. For as the Council declares: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts” (GS, 1). For this reason, while all the baptized are specifically called to take part in the Synodal Process, no one – no matter their religious affiliation – should be excluded from sharing their perspective and experiences, insofar as they want to help the Church on her synodal journey of seeking what is good and true. This is especially true of those who are most vulnerable or marginalized.
The Synodal Process is first and foremost a spiritual process. It is not a mechanical data-gathering exercise or a series of meetings and debates
Our Country has a website dedicated to the process – you can find it here
The Armagh Diocesan Synodal Core Group is very mindful of the difficulties Covid-19 has posed for parishes. It has organised a virtual consultation that will broadcast twice a day 3pm and 8.30pm, Monday to Friday, from the 7th February to the 25th February on the St. Patrick’s Cathedral Webcam.
The video can be tuned into at those times by anyone who wishes to learn more about the synod and to take time to reflect on the questions posed. It lasts approximately 45 minutes and can be used by individuals, family groups, parish groups and indeed any group or organisation who wants to be involved.
Finally, our Pastoral Area, St. Colmcille’s (The parishes of Clogherhead, Monasterboice, Termonfechin and Togher), all have the chance to gather – in person – at The Forge, Drumshallon on Wednesday 23rd February, 2022 at 8pm – to participate in a consultative process. All Welcome.
In this sense, it is clear that the purpose of this Synod is not to produce more documents. Rather, it is intended to inspire people to dream about the Church we are called to be, to make people’s hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission (PD, 32). Thus the objective of this Synodal Process is not only a series of exercises that start and stop, but rather a journey of growing authentically towards the communion and mission that God calls the Church to live out in the third millennium. This journey together will call on us to renew our mentalities and our ecclesial structures in order to live out God’s call for the Church amid the present signs of the times. Listening to the entire People of God will help the Church to make pastoral decisions that correspond as closely as possible to God’s will (ITC, Syn., 68) The ultimate perspective to orient this synodal path of the Church is to serve the dialogue of God with humanity (DV, 2) and to journey together the kingdom of God (cf.LG, 9; RM, 20). In the end, this Synodal Process seeks to move towards a Church that is more fruitfully at the service of the coming of the kingdom of heaven.
Fr. Paddy is asking you to consider joining him in taking on this course. It will be good for anyone, but especially for those who – as he says in this video – have found themselves drifting away from the Church, or disillusioned by it or the scandals, or if you simply dont know what faith teaches.
Would you consider spending 11 Tuesday evenings investing your time in exploring how Faith can relate to your life in normal but powerful ways? This can happen online from the comfort of your own home for just 1 hour each night
What is it? The Alpha Course is a friendly, engaging, non-judgemental approach to exploring the ‘big’ questions of life from a Christian standpoint. Why are we here? Does God really guide us? Where does Faith and Prayer fit in? Why is there Evil in the World?
Who is it for? It can be for those who are already heavily involved in their Parish of for those who would like to be involved or more involved. Whatever about involvement, it certainly is for those who are seeking and searching for deeper meaning in life which can easily relate to Life to Faith.
What can I expect? 25 Minutes of a thought provoking DVD followed by group discussion with a facilitator. This Course is not a heavy learning session but about reacting to the clip you’ve seen and sharing your thoughts.
For the first time, this Alpha is being run on a Nationwide basis with each parish having its own small group of 7 to 8 people.
Course starts Tuesday 18th January @8pm
If you’re interested please check out alphaireland.org/refocus for more details and online Registration.
On behalf of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), and indeed all involved in our parish community, Fr. Paddy extends prayers for the blessings of health and happiness to all our parishioners, and indeed the whole community. May the New Year be a peaceful and joy-filled time for us all.
Fr. Paddy shared part of this reflection for the first Masses of the New Year.
God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly, thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others, mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power.
May we walk gently. May we speak only after we have listened well.
Creator of all life, help us enter the New Year reverently, aware that you have endowed every creature and plant, every person and habitat with beauty and purpose.
May we regard the world with tenderness. May we honor rather than destroy.
Lover of all souls, help us enter the New Year joyfully, willing to laugh and dance and dream, remembering our many gifts with thanks and looking forward to blessings yet to come.
May we welcome your lavish love. In this new year, may the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead.
Vinita Hampton Wright; Offered by Douglas Ruschman from the http://www.xavier.edu website
With the help of God, in 2022 we will deepen our faith in God, and come closer together as a community of faith.
There are some exciting projects in the pipeline for this year, so please do continue to connect with us and thank you for your support of our Parish.
Monasterboice Parish 