Parish Newsletter 1 February 2009

NEWSLETTER

CASTLEPOLLARD, CASTLETOWN & FINEA PARISH

1st.February .FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME AND DIOCESAN CELEBRATION OF SILVER JUBILEE OF EPISCOPAL ORDINATION OF BISHOP MICHAEL SMITH, and Feast also of Sts;Brigid, Mary of the Gael and Patroness of Ireland.Last day of week of prayer for The Catholic School.


THE COMMENCEMENT OF SPRING PUTS US IN TOUCH WITH LIFE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINING IT AS A GIFT FROM GOD TO US ALONG WITH OUR WORLD.


The feast of St.Brigid brings the touch of Spring into our hearts at this time of year.Even though the sting of this severe winter is still with us, the recent growth of snowdrops and other little jewels of Spring in gardens and hedges, tell us life is beginning to burst out.This hopefilled time is symbolic of the love for life that St.Brigid had and the respect she showed for all the gifts of God.Followed by the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple next day, we find the symbol of the lighted candle put before us.This also shows the path of hope and light and life which Jesus offers us as the Light of the Nations.One of the great gifts of Spring is that the days lengthen and there is more light around and so more hope brightening up our lives.Later in the week we celebrate St.Blaise and a little later World Day of prayer for the Sick and the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on February 11th.

On St.Blaise`s day, we think of the sick and we celebrate the blessing of throats, which is very traditional and gives people confidence to feel that God is close to them and helps them have good health and heals them from bad health.God does not want us to be unwell and so He gives sustenance to our well being and health.On World Day of the Sick, which is now celebrating its 17th year ,since it was established by Pope John Paul, people who are ill get great hope and a helpful boost to know that the whole Church is praying for and with them.It also highlights the Sacrament of the Sick, which is lifegiving for those who want to be healed.Then, this Day of the Sick is associated deliberately with Lourdes and the healing arena of prayer that Lourdes has become over the years.Anyone who pilgrims to Lourdes for healing usually gets more that expected in inner peace and joy, coming from the great atmosphere of prayer and respect and care for those who are ill, giving us a deep appreciation of the gifts of life and health.Let us pray that in the coming week and month, we will all deepen our respect for life, from womb to tomb and thank God for all He has given us in our faith, our spirit, minds, bodies and world.


Fr.Patrick A. Moore P.P.VF. Fr. B. Condron.C.C.

Parochial House. Castletown Finea.

044.9661126/0872510855. 043.81141.

Email: moorep@eircom.net


Sunday Masses

10.15 St. Peter's Centre. Weekday Mass 8.15.a.m. St.Michael`s

11.00. Castletown or Finea Saturday Mass at 10.a.m.

11.15. St.Michael's Confessions. 10.20.a.m.; 3.00.p.m. and

Vigil 7.p.m. St. Michael's 6.45.p.m. and 7.30.p.m. Sats.

Vigil 8.p.m. Castletown or Finea.

Adoration. 3-8.p.m. Mon-Thurs incl.

10.a.m.-12 noon. Tues and Wed.



LITURGICAL CALENDAR FOR THE COMING WEEK

POPE`S INTENTIONS FOR PRAYER DURING THE MONTH.

FEASTS OF SAINTS AND IMPORTANT CELEBRATIONS.


Collection for January 24th./25th.Weekly Envelope,€834.87 and Offertory Collection €636.12. Thank you for supporting the Weekly Collections and the Retired Priests` Fund Collection,for which we are most deeply grateful. Month of January dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.Year of intense prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life..Year of St.Mark in the Liturgy.Year of St Paul in the Universal Church and 150th.Ann of the Apparitions by Our Blessed Lady at Lourdes.U.N. Year of Astronomy.

Sunday 1st.FOURTH SUNDAY OF YEAR,SILVER JUBILEE OF ORDINATION OF BISHOP SMITH. and Feast of St;Brigid and End of Week of Prayer for the Catholic School.Blessing of St.Brigid Crosses.New boxes of envelopes commence today.Candlemas Offerings this Weekend.Silver Jubilee Mass in Cathedral at 3.p.m.

THE SEASON OF ORDINARY TIME CONTINUES.

Monday 2nd.Fourth Week in Ordinary Time and Feast also of Sts;Simeon and Anna and THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.CANDLEMAS DAY AND DAY OF PRAYER FOR THOSE LIVING THE CONSECRATED LIFE.Blessing of Candles today.You may leave in candles for this.

Tuesday 3rd.Fourth Week in Ordinary Time and Feast of Sts;Blaise and Ansgar.Blessing of Throats today at 8.15.a.m. and 7.30.p.m. Masses.Maple Court Mass at 3.p.m.

Wednesday 4th.Fourth Week in Ordinary Time and Feast of Sts; John de Britto,Veronica,Gilbert and Andrew Corsini.

Thursday 5th.Fourth Week in Ordinary Time and Feast of Sts;Agatha and Catherine de Ricci.Legion of Mary Meeting 8.p.m.

Friday.6th.Fourth Week in Ordinary Time and Feast of Sts;Dorothy,Paul Miki and his Companions, The Nagasaki Martyrs.First Friday of the Month with calls to ill and housebound and evening Mass at 7.30.for those whose names are on the Parish List of the Dead.

Saturday 7th.Fourth Week in Ordinary Time and Feast of Sts;Mel,Theodore, Luke the Wonderworker,Romuald and Blessed Rizzerios.Mass at 10.00.a.m.Confessions after Mass and before and after Vigil Mass.Confessions at 3.p.m.Vigil Mass at 7.p.m.

Sunday 8th.FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME and Feast also of Sts;Jerome Emiliani,Josephine Bakhita,John of Matha and Honoratus.Anointing of the Sick will take place at 11.15.a.m. Mass to anticipate World Day of Prayer for the Sick on 11th February.


MASS INTENTIONS (1st February to 8th.February.2009.)

Sunday.1st.Readings;Deut.18.15-20.Ps.94.I Cor.7.32-35.Mk.1.21-28. Mass.Sat.at 10.00.a.m.Ann.Peter Masterson, Robinstown and Patrick..Confessions after Mass and at 3.p.m.and before and after Mass at 7 p.m. Vigil.Ann.Thomas O Driscoll, Limerick. Sunday.St.Peter`s 10.15.a.m. 11.15.a.m.Anniv.Jospeh Markey, Cresley 3.p.m.Mass Cathedral for Silver Jubilee of Bishop Smith. Offerings Weekend.

Monday: 2nd.Readings;Mal.3 1-4.Ps.23. Lk.2.22-40.Mass at 8.15.a.m. Mass 8.15.a.m.Blessing of Candles.

Tuesday 3rd.Readings.Heb.12.1-4.Ps.21.Mk.5.21-43.Mass at 8.15.a.m.Followed by Blessing of Throats with similar blessing after 7.30.p.m. Mass This Mass also is to pray for the support of a helpful counsellors good work, positively experienced by many, in the area. Maple Court Mass at 3.p.m.

Wednesday 4th.Readings.Heb.12.4-7,11-15.Ps.102.Mk.6.1-6.Mass at 8.15.a.m.

Thursday 5th.Readings.Heb.12.18-19,21-24.Ps.47.Mk.6.7-13.Mass at 8.15.a.m.Legion of Mary meet at 8.p.m. Room I.Parish Centre.

Friday 6th.Readings.Heb13.1-8.Ps.26.Mk.6.14-19..Mass at 8.15.a.m.List of Dead Mass and Ann for Decd members Gaynor Family, Milltown at 7.30.p.m.Pioneers meet after Mass.

Saturday 7th.Readings.Heb.13.15-1720-21.Ps.22.Mk.6.30-34.Mass at 10.00.a.m Ann.Lily and Mattie Fagan, Dublin and Castlepollard. Confessions after Mass and at 3.p.m.and before and after Vigil Mass 7.p.m.Ann.Mary Devine, Pakenhamhall Rd.

Sunday 8th.Readings.Job.7.1-4,6-7.Ps.146.I Cor.9.16-19,22-23. Mk.1.29-39. St.Peter`s. at 10.15.a.m.Mass at 11.15.a.m. Ann.Jack Kennedy, Glenview.


R.I.P.

Please pray for all who have died in recent times,

Lil O Donoghue,Lanesborough, mother of Michael in St.Peter`s,

all whose anniversaries occur around this time and all whose remains are interred in our cemeteries,


May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NOTICES FOR THE WEEK.

Baptism preparation course on Third Wednesday at.8.p.m.

Those with babies for Baptism should register for this course

in the Parish Centre, two weeks beforehand.It will be run by the Multy Group,Wed,Feb.18th.at 8.p.m.Parents, who have no babysitters, may take the baby along.


Parish Centre Programme for week,Feb 1st.to Feb.8th.

Sunday 1st.MCH.3-5.p.m.Ballycomoyle G.A.A.

Monday 2nd.6-7.p.m.Weightwatching/ Gymnastic class.Room I. Bowles MCH 8.p.m.

Tuesday 3rd.Dancing Class 8.30.p.m. to 10.00.p.m. MCH.8.30.p.m.Room I. A.A. Meeting will take place.

Wednesday 4th.Dancing 4-5.p.m. MCH. Bowles MCH 8.p.m.

Thursday 5th.Art Class MCH. 10.30.a.m. to 12.30.p.m.Dancing 4-6p.m. MCH.Legion of Mary Meeting Room I. 8.p.m.Community Council Meeting 9.p.m.

Friday 6th.Block Booking.

Catholic Newspapers available each weekend in parish. Please support.

Please purchase the paper in the church or from the kind members of the Legion of Mary who sell them in the parish.We thank them for this.

Altar Servers Group for the
week.Feb.1st.2009.Group 7
Boys.Sean Lancaster, Thomas Brady and Barry Dowdall.Servers are expected to be present on their week of duty.


Alcoholics Anonymous Group weekly meeting in Parish Centre.

AA group will continue here on Tues,3rd.at 8.30.p.m. in Room I. Parish Centre.To get information,please tel. 087.6282646 Bill..

Pope`s intentions for your prayer for the month of February.

That,the Pastors of the Church may always be docile to the action of the Holy Spirit in their teaching and in their service of God`s people.

That,the Church in Africa may find adequate ways and means to promote reconciliation, justice and peace, efficaciously, according to the indications of the Synod of the Bishops` Special Assembly for Africa.

Annual Weekly Envelope Collection.Dispensation of Boxes.Notice.

The boxes have been dispensed by those who kindly do this work each year at end of January.Please support your parish through this system.

North Westmeath Suicide Outreach Group Monthly Meeting Notice

The monthly meeting will take place in the Annebrook Hotel, Mullingar,on Thurs.3rd.Feb. New Volunteers very welcome.Contact no. is 087.7979890.Please support.