Happy New Year to everyone and all the best for 2013.
This year we started our Christmas events with our Concert for Parish Funds in St. James’ Church Mallow on Friday the 14th December at 8pm. Thanks to all our performers to Cór Mhágh Ealla, Ryan Morgan, Angela Davis (nee Hartnett), Richard Hammond, the children of Mallow No.1 National School and other guests and friends. Thanks to all who helped with this concert to make it such a success. The total raised was over €2000. A very special word of thanks to those who provided the mince pies and mulled wine for the occasion.
On Sunday the 16th December the children and young people of the parish took part in the service in Castletownroche. The children acted out the Christmas story and the young people did the readings and something was missing. JESUS “Yes, you see that this Christmas as indeed every Christmas, many many people in this country and indeed all over the world, have forgotten Jesus”.
This service just made us realise what Christmas is about and that we should not forget Jesus in our lives with all our rushing around at Christmas and indeed any other time of the year.
Thanks to all who took part in the service and to the bible club leaders for preparing it and to Susan the organist. Thanks also to all who provided the tea. Also at this service we had a surprise birthday cake for our Church Warden, Aoife Ladd who was 21 during the week previous. So Happy Birthday to Aoife and we wish her well.
On Sunday the 23rd December we had our Carol Service in Mallow Church with our nine carols and lessons. Thanks to all the readers, singers and the organist Shirley for playing all the Carols. Thanks to all who provided the tea.
Thanks to Canon Eithne for all the Christmas Eve and Day services.
Mallow 8pm on the 24th and Doneraile at 11.30pm
Castletownroche 10am and Mallow at 11.45am on Christmas Day.
And our final Carol Service was a United Service in Doneraile on Sunday the 30th December at 3pm. Again thanks to all the readers from different parts of the parish and to the organist Edward for playing all the Carols. Thanks also to all who helped with the tea.
Our final Service of 2012 was in Doneraile Church on the 31st December when we had a short service of Compline before the Bell-ringers tolled out the Old Year 2012 and rang in the New Year 2013. Thanks to all our Bell-ringers for making themselves available for ringing. After the ringing everyone enjoyed a cup of tea.
Our Mothers’ Union opening service is on Tuesday 22nd January at 8pm in St. James Church Mallow followed by our AGM. The Fermoy branch is joining with us for this service. All are welcome to join in this service if they wish.
Tex-Mex Supper
It is hoped to have a Parish fundraising Tex-Mex meal – cooked by genuine Americans – originally this was to be on 26th January. Unfortunately the necessary spices have become lost in the post somewhere between America and here. So we have rescheduled it to Saturday 16th February. Be ready then to come and enjoy some good warming food to help you through the cold winter days.
Charleville Inter-Church Service
Charleville Inter-church Service will be held on the usual 3rd Sunday in the Mercy Centre. We had intended to hold a much larger service than usual to celebrate Christian Unity Week. The Kilkenny Gospel Choir were going to lead the worship. This event will have to take place later in the year as the new Roman Catholic Bishop of Cloyne is to be ordained on the day we had chosen for this service.
Sympathy
We wish to express our sympathy to Mary St Leger Mewis, Gordon, George and Henry on the death of Geraldine St. Leger on the 14th December. Also, our sympathy to Cliff and Anna O’Hanlon on the death of Cliff’s sister, Deen in the South of England.
Congratulations to Mrs. Dorrie Daly of Lissa, Doneraile, who celebrated her 90th Birthday recently.
Diocesan Magazine subscription is now due. Please give to Susan Buckley as soon as possible.