Parish Newsletter
February 8/9
Parish
The Parish of Lisdoonvarna, Kilshanny, Doolin & Toovahera
Author
Very Rev. Robert McNamara PP
Mass Offerings
OUR LADY OF LOURDES, TOOVAHERA 5pm: Gertie Collins, Church St., Lisdoonvarna. Seamus McNamara, Ballydonohue. Pa Haugh, Rooska.
ST. AUGUSTINE’S, KILSHANNY: Nestor family, Caherduff. O’Dwyer family, Carrowkeel.
NEXT WEEK: Diane McMahon, Month’s Mind.
HOLY ROSARY, DOOLIN 10am: Martin and Susan Shannon, Roadford. Tim Shannon, Fisher St. Thomas and Willie Shannon, Toomullin. John and Bridget Queally, Ballyvara. Greene family, Roadford. The late Joe Queally, Doolin and Boston, USA.
CORPUS CHRISTI, LISDOONVARNA 11:30am: Gerry Howley (3rd Anniversary), and his parents Mary and Tommie (both 24th anniversaries), Bog Road. Eamon Kilderry, Rooska, 8th anniversary.
NEXT WEEK: Tom O’Gorman, Carnane, Doolin, 1st anniversary. Peter Griffin, Church St., 2nd Anniversary. Frank Hillary, Caherbarna, anniversary and birthday remembrance. Kevin Moloney, Carnane, Doolin, 3rd anniversary. Stephanie Fitzpatrick, 3rd anniversary.
Monday morning the 10th, 9:30am Lisdoonvarna: Kevin Mc Namara, 10th anniversary.
Parish News
THANK YOU FOR LAST WEEK’S COLLECTION: €1454
WE NEED A NEW VOLUNTEER FLOWER-ARRANGER FOR KILSHANNY CHURCH PLEASE. No one came forward.
HARRY’S MIRACLE RIDE: warm thanks and congratulations to Harry O’Dwyer and his Kilshanny community and the wider parish community for putting on a wonderful day. We will keep you informed of the final tally which will go to Temple Street children’s hospital, Dublin. Thank you to all involved.
PUBLIC MEETING with June Dillon and Peadar Toibin of Aontu in the West County Hotel, Ennis, on Thursday, February 13th at 8pm for the launch of their Safer Clare campaign.
URGENT APPEAL FOR BLOOD DONATIONS in the wake of Storm Eowyn, Falls Hotel, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th from 5-8pm.
JUBLIEE YEAR YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY with Bishop Michael and some of the younger and cooler priests of the diocese! From July 29th to August 8th, for 18-35 year olds. €995 per person. info@galwaydiocese.ie
AN OASIS OF PEACE: here in our parish, there’s a lovely mid-week oasis of peace available, completely free of charge! Even Wednesday evening at 6pm, beginning with Our Lady’s Holy Rosary, we have a candlelit Medjugorje-style hour with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This hour concludes with traditional Benediction, individual healing blessings for everyone, and Holy Mass. You can drop in for 5 minutes or an hour, and don’t worry, the heat is on and working, thank you again Mr. Stringer! It’s a lovely island of calm in the middle of your week when you can just pop in, slow down, and say “it’s me, Lord, here’s what’s going on my life. Please give me your grace to cope with this or, thanks Lord for that, and now I lift up to you in prayer the needs of others, and the greater world.” St. Alphonsus Liguori advised that our prayer-time should be a time of quiet meditation on a few lines of Scripture(the previous weekend’s missalette would be ideal), comprised of three things, preceded by a Hail Mary: affections (telling God we love Him, praising and thanking Him for His blessings), petitions (obvious!), and resolutions(determination to repent and change some area of my life, preferably with the help of a good and humble Confession.) In his lovely little book, still available, Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, St. Alphonsus said that when praying, use formal prayers, yes, but then talk to God as if you were talking to an old friend. He also added that when you’re finished talking, it’s important to take time to listen to God’s reply! Here is the opening prayer for one’s prayer-time which I learned as a Redemptorist novice and still use:
My God, I believe that You are here present, and I adore You with my whole soul. I am sorry for the offences I have given You; have mercy on me, forgive me. Eternal Father, for the sake of Jesus and Mary give me light in this meditation that I may draw fruit from it. Hail Mary, then read your few lines, then affections, petitions, resolutions.