HARVEST CELEBRATIONS The services of thanksgiving in celebration of the harvest in all three churches of the Union were great occasions. As well as large numbers of parishioners, it was good to welcome friends and neighbours from other Christian churches in our communities and from further afield. We are especially grateful to our three visiting preachers: the Reverends Tom Sherlock of Kingston College; Meghan Farr of St Anne’s, Shandon & St Luke’s Home; and Abigail Sines of the Carrigrohane Union. At the service at St James’s, Mallow, our worshippers of African heritage brought a good deal of colour and joy to the occasion, along with the Syrian Orthodox community who sang a hymn of thanksgiving in Aramaic. Grateful thanks to everyone in each of our parishes who gave of their time, skill and energy to make these great occasions of welcome, hospitality and real thankfulness for all God’s gifts to us and to the world.
ECUMENICAL WORSHIP The regular monthly meeting for prayer and fellowship for Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists and people from other Christian traditions takes place on the fourth Sunday of each month, in the hall at the rear of the Convent of Mercy, Main Street, Charleville. The next occasion will be Sunday 26th November at 7.30pm. All are very welcome.
ALL SAINTS & ALL SOULS By longstanding tradition, when there is a fifth Sunday in the month, there is one act of worship in the Union. At the time of writing, we are preparing for a celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday 29th October at 11.00am when we will anticipate the feast of All Saints, followed by an abundance of refreshments which enable us to continue to ‘keep the feast.’ On the following Sunday, 5th November, at 4pm, we will welcome people to St James’s, Mallow, for a Service of Remembrance and Reflection. This annual service in All Souls’ tide, is a good occasion to welcome the recently bereaved, to celebrate our faith in the resurrection, and to recall with thanksgiving those we love who are parted from us by death. This service is meeting a very real pastoral need and is greatly valued.
REOPENING OF ST MARY’S DAY CARE CENTRE The Rector joined with clergy colleagues of other churches, local councillors and people in the caring professions for the re-opening of St Mary’s Day Care Centre in Mallow at the beginning of October, organised by the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland. The Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, officially cut the ribbon on the new dementia-specific day centre, which has undergone a significant transformation and will continue to provide a home for support and services to people living with Dementia and their families in North Cork.
CULTURE NIGHT Two of the churches of this Union hosted events at the end of September to celebrate Culture Night. In St Mary’s, Doneraile, there was an entertaining evening which gave pride of place to the way women dressed during the Regency period. Later in the evening, St James’s Church, Mallow, hosted a concert which focussed on the growing multicultural life of Mallow.
PLACEMENT It has been very good to welcome Michael Kenning, a Diocesan Ordinand training for the priesthood at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin, who has been with us since the beginning of September until December.
CONGRATULATIONS We were delighted to mark the 64th wedding anniversary of Castletownroche parishioners, George and Betty Buckley, on 22nd September, as we assured them of our love and prayers on this significant occasion – as well as thanking them for all they do throughout the year to encourage and support the life of this Union of parishes.
PRODUCE SALE Also in September, parishioners and friends from far and wide enjoyed one of the annual treats in the Parish calendar when John and Jean Gardiner welcome us to their home for refreshments and a sale of produce from their land. It is always a good occasion and the proceeds of the sale are given to support the life and mission of the parish, for which we are very grateful.
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 9am to 1.00pm.