CHRISTMAS & EPIPHANY WORSHIP : We had very good Christmas & Epiphanytide celebrations across the Union as 2023 merged into 2024. We were glad to welcome large numbers of parishioners and friends, as well as many new faces. Nearly €3,000 was donated to charities from the collections at our carol services, including The Irish Red Cross, Christian Aid, UNICEF and the Bishop of Cork’s Pastoral Fund. The carol service in St James’s, Mallow, included the participation of our Syrian Orthodox friends, who worship in the church once a month, led by their priest, Fr Bishoi, who joined the Rector in giving the blessing at the conclusion of the service. On Sunday 7th January (the feast of the Epiphany of our Lord), there was an atmospheric Christingle Celebration in St James’s, Mallow, followed by refreshments. We concluded our Christmas celebrations on the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord (Candlemas) on Sunday 28th January, one of the oldest Christian festivals. On that day, the Eucharist in both St Mary’s Doneraile and St James’s, Mallow, included the traditional ceremonies as we mark this turning point in the year and look forward to Lent, Holy Week and Easter.
FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS IN CASTLETOWNROCHE: It was good to have fifty communicants at the eucharist on the last day of 2023 when our fifth Sunday was held at St Mary’s Castletownroche. The Reverend Eileen Cremin presided, the Rector preached and our two Diocesan Readers, Avril Gubbins and Emmanuel Adebisi, read a lesson and led the prayers. Our parish reader, Susan Buckley, was at the organ and refreshments were ably provided by the ‘home team’.
CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY IN DONERAILE : Three young organists helped us with music over the Christmas/ Epiphany season. Thanks to Michelle, Ciarán and Isobel for their ministry.
ASH WEDNESDAY is the beginning of the season of Lent, which falls this year, on Wednesday 14th February. There will be celebrations of the Eucharist with the traditional imposition of ashes in St James’s Church, Mallow, at 11.00am; and in St Mary’s Church, Doneraile, at 8.00pm.
ECUMENICAL WORSHIP : There will be the monthly Ecumenical gathering for Anglicans, Methodists, Roman Catholics and Christians of other traditions to worship & share fellowship in the hall at the Convent of Mercy, Main Street, Charleville, on Sunday 25th February at 7.30pm. All are very welcome.
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS : 2024 marks the bicentenary of the consecration of St James’s Church, Mallow, and a number of events have been planned to mark this year of celebration. Scallop shells, the traditional emblem of St James as patron saint of pilgrims, were given as gifts to the young people at our Christingle celebration on the feast of the Epiphany, to remind them of the journey they began at their baptism and how the Christian faith is a lifelong pilgrimage of exploration and surprising new discoveries. On Thursday 29th February, there will be a Table Quiz in Albert Lynch’s bar, O Brien Street, Mallow, next to the Courthouse (P51 EK25) at 8.00pm. Albert’s bar occupies the original site of the first Church of Ireland School in Mallow. All are very welcome to join us.
CERTIFICATE IN CHRISTIAN STUDIES : We wish Mary St Ledger well as she begins the Diocesan Certificate in Christian Studies course validated by NUI Maynooth. We are grateful to Mary for leading the way by demonstrating how continuing adult education and theological exploration is a key element of lay discipleship and ministry.
BELLRINGING IN DONERAILE: It was a delight to hear the bells rung again on Christmas Eve to herald the beginning of our Christmas celebrations in Doneraile. It’s good also to report that new bellringers, of the younger generations, are being initiated into the old art of campanology.
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 9am to 12 noon.