HOLY WEEK & EASTER was celebrated with a full programme of worship from Palm Sunday to Easter Day. On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, the Rector gave reflections on three Christian personalities (St Paul, Florence Nightingale and Thomas Cranmer) from different periods of Christian history whose lives give us a pattern for taking up our cross and following Christ in today’s world. On Maundy Thursday, the Eucharist celebrated at St Mary’s Doneraile included the washing of feet and stripping of the altar. On Good Friday, the preacher at the Solemn Liturgy was Bishop Richard Clarke, formerly Archbishop of Armagh. Easter began on Holy Saturday evening with the lighting of the new fire, vigil, renewal of baptismal vows and the first Eucharist of Easter, with festive celebrations of the Eucharist on Easter morning. Many people contributed to the worship, decorated our churches, welcomed worshippers – and our younger parishioners were involved in preparing the Easter Garden in St James’s Church, Mallow. This will be a focus for worship throughout the fifty days of the Easter season.
Scroll down to see more photos of the Easter garden
CONFIRMATION PREPARATION for candidates from Mallow and Fermoy unions has begun as we look forward to the Bishop being with us to confirm young people in St James’s Church, Mallow, at 4.00pm on Sunday 21st May. This will be the only service in Mallow Union on that day. On the following Sunday, we look forward to our candidates receiving holy communion for the first time, as we commit ourselves to supporting them – and praying for them – as they continue their life-long journey of exploration and discovery on the Christian way.
AN ORTHODOX EASTER before our own Easter Vigil was celebrated at St Mary’s Church, Castletownroche, on Holy Saturday, we were delighted to host our Jacobite Syrian Orthodox brothers and sisters from North Cork, who met for the first time in St James’s Church, Mallow, to begin their Easter celebrations. We look forward very much to their presence among us for the future, and to experiencing some of the earliest known Christian worship, as we continue to delight in growing ecumenical relationships across the large area served by this union of parishes – not least through the monthly ecumenical meeting at the Convent of Mercy in Charleville on the last Sunday evening of each month at 7.30pm.
GENERAL VESTRY the meeting of the Easter Vestry took place in St James’s Church, Mallow on 18th April.
DAY OF STUDY & REFLECTION Just before Holy Week began, were glad to welcome Readers from across the Diocese to a day of study and reflection, led by the Reverend Terry Mitchell, the Diocesan lay training officer, at St James’s Church, Mallow. As well as time for encountering the scriptures and celebrating the Eucharist, everyone enjoyed a soup and sandwich lunch provided by Mallow parishioners.
FARMERS’ MARKET A reminder that the market continues to offer a wide range of local produce, including bread, fish, eggs, poultry, vegetables, preserves, handmade crafts and more on Friday mornings in the grounds of St James’s Church, Mallow from 10.0am to 1.00pm.
CASTLETOWNROCHE FUNDRAISER On Friday, May 5th, a fundraising supper is to be held in Castletownroche Community Hall. This is a highlight of the social calendar in Castletownroche as the church community continues to be a presence in the community whilst caring for the church building which has been entrusted to its care.
EAster Garden Gallery
