BAPTISM in the days following Christmas day, we were delighted to welcome Georgette Healy into the worldwide Church through baptism in St Mary’s Church, Doneraile. We continue to pray for her as she begins her Christian life, along with her parents Donal and Catriona, her godparents and her whole family.
EPIPHANYTIDE CELEBRATIONS Good numbers of parishioners and friends from the wider community attended a Christingle celebration on the First Sunday after the Epiphany in St James’s Church, Mallow. As we proclaimed Christ, the light of the world, we recalled the visit of the magi and rejoiced at the presence of many people in our Mallow congregation who represent different nations, languages and cultures. The service was followed by a party for our young (and not so young!) worshippers.
CANDLEMAS DAY we will bring our Christmas celebrations to a joyful conclusion on Sunday 29th January when all three congregations of this Union will join for a celebration of the Eucharist in St Mary’s Church, Doneraile at 11.00am.
SUPPORTING LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL CHARITIES We were delighted to be able to send proceeds of over €2,000 from collections taken at the Christmas Carol Services in this Union to Mallow Meals on Wheels, Mallow Day Care Centre, the Bishop of Cork’s Pastoral Fund, Cork Simon and the UNICEF Ukrainian Children Campaign. We are grateful for the generosity of all who donated to the collections.
THANKSGIVING & REMEMBRANCE we were sad, but deeply thankful, to celebrate the funeral of Doneraile parishioner, Anne Lysaght, in St Mary’s Church at the beginning of January. She regularly received communion at home and died, just a few days after receiving her Christmas communion, in CUH Cork. Anne moved to this part of North County Cork with her family from the English Lake District over 70 years ago and had become a well-known and active figure in the wider community, as she ran the family farm and was involved in Mallow Country Markets. Her grandfather had been a priest (the incumbent of a parish in rural Nottinghamshire) and influenced Anne’s keenly developed Christian faith and her love of well-ordered worship. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
THOMAS DAVIS PIPE BAND has been rehearsing in the Parish Hall in Mallow for some years and is soon moving to a new home in Mallow GAA complex. The band has expressed its gratitude for use of the hall and to wish the parish well. If other groups in North Cork are looking for a suitable meeting place, they are very welcome to contact the Rector to discuss booking the hall.
LENT begins on Ash Wednesday, 21st February. This season of preparation for Easter will be marked with two celebrations of the Eucharist, one in St James’s Mallow at 11.00am and another in St Mary’s, Doneraile at 8.00pm, with the traditional imposition of ashes for those who wish to receive it. A series of meetings will also take place during Lent to explore St Matthew’s Gospel (which is the scriptural focus of our worship this year), its origins, distinctive character and significance for today, in more detail.
FOR THE REGISTERS
Holy Baptism
December
- 30 In St Mary’s Church, Doneraile – Georgette Lysaght Healy
Christian Burial
January
- 2 In St Mary’s, Doneraile, followed by burial in the graveyard – Kathleen Anne Lysaght.