MARY’S MEALS MEETING with Patricia F for interested adults, Parochial House, Tuesday, March 5 th , at 7pm.

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ASH WEDNESDAY MASSES: with distribution of blessed ashes, early bird special in Kilshanny at 7.30am, and

Lisdoonvarna at 7pm. Blessed ashes will also be offered in the schools of the parish.

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GETTING THE MOST OUT OF LENT: our best friends love, accept, and forgive us, even when we are at our

most unpleasant. They give us many chances. Our best friend Jesus brings this to a new level altogether, by

providing us with a new start every year with the holy season of Lent. The Letter to the Hebrews tells us

beautifully that we are always welcome to approach God’s throne of grace, where we are guaranteed to find

divine mercy. This is especially so in the holy season of Lent. Sometimes the changes we need to make are so

great that we haven’t a chance to doing it on our own. That’s why we need the supernatural strength which

comes from outside of ourselves, which can only come from God, which we call amazing grace. This is

particularly “on tap” in the beautiful, healing Sacrament of Confession, which will be available to you after

7pm Mass on Ash Wednesday. Let us never delude ourselves into thinking that we have no sins! A cursory

glance through the ten commandments will cure us of that! A lovely way to give God more time this Lent is to

take part in our candle-lit Holy Hour on Wednesday evenings at 6pm, beginning with Our Lady’s Rosary and

ending with Holy Mass at 7pm. Surely we can give Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament one hour a week in Lent,

where we praise and thank him for His blessings, tell Him we love him, ask His amazing grace for ourselves

and our loved-ones, and ask forgiveness for our sins? Last week’s collection: 1553, thanks so much.

MUSINGS ART EXHIBITION in aid of the RNLI , Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, February 16/17.

PREP SESSION FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION: Monday March 4 th , at 7pm in

Lisdoonvarna church, conducted by Patricia Friel, for children and parents/guardians.

MEDUGORJE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL: from July 31 to August 7, 2024, led by our Bishop, Michael

Duignan. Open to adults between the ages of 18 (by July 31, 2024), and 35. Subsidised fare euro 680, all

inclusive. Contact Galway diocesan office on 091 563566, or email info@galwaydiocese.ie. Closing date is April

12. The Parish Finance Committee would consider subsidising an interested applicant.

CLERGY PLANNING MEETING IN ARMADA HOTEL: taking place next week on Tuesday, February

20/Wednesday, February 21, with Bishop Michael and the clergy of our diocese of Galway-Kilfenora. Because

of this meeting, there will be no 9.30am Mass in Lisdoonvarna on Tuesday, February 20 th . This meeting will

look at the challenges facing us as we try to find the best way to continue to provide pastoral care in North

Clare with a significantly smaller number of priests. After this meeting, Bishop Michael plans to have another

meeting with yourselves. Please keep this whole process in your prayers that it will be guided by the Holy

Spirit and Our Lady His Beloved Spouse.

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MARY’S MEALS:

Patricia Friel has sent a thank you Mass bouquet from Knock to the people of the parish for

your gracious hospitality and welcome. Thank you so much to those who invited us to their homes. Patricia

hopes to return in a few weeks to help set up a branch of Mary’s Meals in the parish. We already have the

names of an interested group from Mary Immaculate Secondary School, but it would be great to have some

adult members as well. Please let me know if you are interested.

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CLARE OLDER PEOPLES’ VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024:

to nominate someone who gives of their time, energy, and skills to help others in the local community, please email agefriendlyclare@clarecoco.ie, or

phone 065 6846240. PRIMARY SCHOOL ENROLMENT: parents/guardians are advised that application forms

for Junior Infants are available by email request from each school. Closing date is Friday, February 23 rd .

lisdoonvarnans@gmail.com, 065 7074231 kilshannyns@gmail.com, 065 7071344

doolinns@gmail.com 065 7074403

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Thank you for last week’s collection of 1768 euro, and to the kind anonymous donor of the new altar cloth to

Lisdoonvarna church

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