THANK YOU FOR LAST WEEK’S COLLECTION: €1250

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LIVE CRIB in Kilshanny church grounds this Sunday from 4 to 6pm. Children who wish to dress up, please assemble at Kilshanny hall at 3pm. There will be hot chocolate and carol singing.

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GUEST SPEAKER AT OUR ADVENT MASSES: Patricia Friel. We welcome back Patricia from Mary’s Meals.  

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The Parish Finance Committee wish to remind you that CHRISTMAS DUES ENVELOPES are available for those who don’t use the weekly envelopes. As I’m sure you know by now, the priest does not have access to the weekly collection. For income, he relies primarily on the Christmas, Autumn, November and Easter Dues. Thank you so much for supporting the continued presence of a priest here.

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Mary Immaculate Secondary School Carol Service, 7pm on Thursday 19^th in Lisdoonvarna Church will be in aid of Joe Slattery’s treatment. Tickets €10 for adults and €5 for children available at the school reception.

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FIRST CHILDREN’S ROSARY GATHERING:  was a resounding success thank God with a great turn-out. Thanks and congratulations to Lourda and the team. The next gathering is on Sunday evening, January 5^th, at 6pm.

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CHRISTMAS MASSES:

‍Christmas Eve: Children’s Mass in Doolin at 3pm, Kilshanny, 7pm, Lisdoonvarna 10pm (by candlelight). No Mass on Christmas Eve morning.

‍Christmas Day: Toovahera 8am, Doolin 10am, Lisdoonvarna 11:30am. Masses on St. Stephen’s Day and the feast of St. John the Beloved Disciple (Thursday and Friday 26th/27th) at 7pm.

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RECENT MEETING WITH BISHOP MICHAEL AND PRIESTS OF THIS AREA (KILFENORA DEANERY): Bishop Michael was very challenging and foresaw the possibility of only 2 priests being left to serve the North Clare part of our diocese in 5 years’ time! He asked us if we could plan to manage with less than the 6 of us presently serving. For example, could we have 6 or 8 Saturday Vigil Masses and 6 or 8 Sunday Masses across the entire deanery? Sunday Mass should not be a matter of “Tesco Express” but celebrated well, quality not quantity. These Masses would most likely be celebrated in the bigger centres of Lisdoonvarna, Ennistymon, and Ballyvaughan. He will permit the Holy Communion Service led by a lay minister on weekdays, but not on Sundays. He asked us was there a demand for daily Masses and were they well-attended, and sadly we had to say “no.” One priest has reduced to two daily Masses a week. We also discussed cover for when someone unfortunately passes away at the Cliffs. Lay funeral ministers could help here. Bishop Michael stressed that, given our present reality, some good things will have to be dropped because we cannot do everything and highlighted the importance of priests’ mental and physical health. He gave the example of a priest going for a break and informing the people of the times of Masses in surrounding parishes. He had, of course, arranged emergency cover, but it is getting harder and harder to get longer-term cover. In addition, there is so much more administration and compliance for priests to deal with now. He suggested a regional hub for a shared parish secretary for parishes which cannot afford one of their own.  In future people will book Masses on condition that the Mass might be said in another Church or moved to another day. He knows this is not ideal. I strongly feel that nothing should be decided without informing and consulting Parish Councils, Finance Committees, schools, and parishioners in general.

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THANK YOU to Carol McGann of Fancy That, Ennistymon for her donation of Christmas decorations for Lisdoonvarna church, and to Neville Engineering, Lisdoonvarna, for the church Christmas tree.

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