ECUMENICAL WORSHIP All are very welcome to this regular monthly meeting for prayer and fellowship for Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists and people from other Christian traditions, which takes place on the last Sunday of each month, in the hall at the rear of the Convent of Mercy, Main Street, Charleville at 7.30pm. On Sunday 26th November the Rector led Night Prayer and gave a brief reflection, for the Sunday of the Kingship of Christ, on Jesus Christ who reveals the human face of God. There will be a pause for December and the next meeting will be on Sunday 28th January.
ALL SOULSTIDE It was very good to welcome a large congregation of parishioners, families of those recently bereaved, and friends from further afield to a Service of Remembrance and Reflection in St James’s Church, Mallow, on Sunday 5th November. This is becoming a much-valued opportunity to proclaim the Easter faith and to offer space for people to express their grief as well as their hope, as people lit candles, heard the scriptures, and offered prayers within a liturgical framework, before meeting one another over refreshments afterwards.
PLACEMENT This month we willbid a fond and grateful farewell to Michael Kenning, a diocesan ordinand training for the priesthood at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin. Michael has been assisting with the leading of worship and preaching on Sundays, as well as being involved in funeral ministry, accompanying the Rector on pastoral visits, and meeting with the Rector to reflect on his experience in our three parishes. It has been a good experience for us as parishes to contribute in this way to Michael’s training and formation. We will be keeping him much in our prayers as he continues his preparation for ordination.
CHRISTMAS WORSHIP There will be a full round of worship in preparation for Christmas – and during the festal period that begins on Christmas Eve and extends until Candlemas Day – in all three churches of the Union.
There will be Carol Services as follows:
- Sunday 10th December at 7.00pm in St James’s Church, Mallow;
- Thursday 14th December at 7.30pm in St Mary’s, Castletownroche
- Sunday 17th December at 3.00pm in St Mary’s, Doneraile.
On Sunday 24th December (Christmas Eve) there will be:
- The Eucharist at 10.00am in St Mary’s, Castletownroche (for the Fourth Sunday of Advent)
- The First Eucharist of Christmas at 8.00pm in St James’s, Mallow
- The First Eucharist of Christmas at 11.15pm in St Mary’s, Doneraile
On Monday 25th December (Christmas Day) there will be
- Festal Eucharist at 9.45am in St Mary’s, Castletownroche
- Festal Eucharist at 11.30am in St James’s, Mallow
On Wednesday 27th December (the feast of St John the Evangelist)
- 11.00am The Eucharist in St James’s, Mallow
On Sunday 31st December (The First Sunday of Christmas), being the fifth Sunday of the month, there will be one celebration of the Eucharist in this Union
- 11.00am at St Mary’s, Castletownroche
Sunday 7th January (the feast of the Epiphany of our Lord)
- 10.00am Morning Prayer in St Mary’s, Castletownroche
- 10.00am The Eucharist in St Mary’s, Doneraile
- 4.00pm Christingle Celebration in St James’s, Mallow followed by a party for our young (and not-so-young!) parishioners.
Wednesday 10th January (the feast of the Baptism of the Lord)
- 11.00am The Eucharist in St James’s, Mallow.
CONCERT The annual candle-lit concert of Christmas music takes place in St James’s Church, Mallow on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th December at 7.30pm. We all look forward to these concerts as an early beginning to our Christmas celebrations.
NORMAN BOLSTER The large congregation that gathered for the Funeral Eucharist in St James’s Church, Mallow, on 10th November, was a fitting testimony to the respect and affection in which Norman was held by a wide circle of family, friends and parishioners. Baptized in Kilshannig church before its closure and growing up in the townland of Lahern in the parish of Kilshannig, Norman and his wife Margaret raised their family of three daughters on the family farm in that rural part of North County Cork. After retirement from the farm, Norman and Margaret moved to Mallow, where Norman drove buses, both at home and abroad. He was a gentle, courteous and generous presence in St James’s Church, Mallow, over many years. We assure Margaret, along with Carol, Jean, Hazel and the extended family of our love and prayers at this time.
CELEBRATING DONERAILE the Rector and several parishioners joined with representatives of community groups and many others to celebrate the launch of ‘Doneraile Memories’ at Springfort Hotel in November. The guest of honour was Doneraile native and RTÉ’s Gaelic Games Correspondent, Marty Morrissey.
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 much more on Friday mornings in the grounds of St James’s Church, Mallow from 10.0am to 1.00pm. Several stalls will feature some suggestions for Christmas gifts.