TO DONATE: Bank of Ireland, Ennistymon, Lisdoonvarna Churches, IBAN: IE40 BOFI 9042 2930 184883

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THANK YOU FOR LAST WEEK’S COLLECTION: €1632

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BENEMERENTI AWARD TO MRS MARY COONEY: this is a medal awarded by Pope Francis for service to the Church. Mary, our long-serving and ever-gracious and patient sacristan of St. Augustine’s Church, Kilshanny, was nominated by her colleagues in Kilshanny Church Choir for the award. It will be presented to Mary please God at the 7pm Mass in Kilshanny on Saturday evening, July 20, by Monsignor Peter Rabbitte. I often tell people that Mary is the real PP of Kilshanny! Thank you, Mary, for all you do and are.

It would be great if choirs from the other churches of the parish could take part in this Mass, and also if parishioners from the other three churches could attend. There will be refreshments served afterwards.

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SINCERE THANKS from Mary Howley, for your generous donations of flowers to be put on God’s altar in memory of your deceased loved ones.

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LAY-MINISTRY TRAINING IN OUR DIOCESE: in response to the recent announcement, no one has come forward to offer their services.

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SUMMER FINANCIAL STATEMENT: please take a copy of the summer financial statement prepared for you by the Parish Finance Committee,chaired by John O’ Loughlin. Thank you so much to John and the Committee for their hard work. There’s also a summary-update of work undertaken during the past triennium.

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TOOVAHERA CAR PARK UPDATE: I am informed that Clare County Council will decide on the 29^th of this month.

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EXPERIENCE LOURDES AT HOME: relics of St. Bernadette of Lourdes will visit our diocese from September 5-8.

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KILSHANNY VILLAGE CLEAN UP: meet at Forge Cross, 7pm Wednesday, bring gardening equipment and plants.

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PARISH COUNCIL MEETING REPORT: we met last Monday night and reviewed the two recent diocesan meetings in the Falls Hotel with Bishop Michael and Fr. Gerard McCarthy. The impression was generally positive,but with the observation that these conversations have been held many times before, and that more guidance was needed from the Diocese in getting people involved. There was a proposal from the group regarding the training and hiring of a youth-minister who would work in the schools not just of the parish, but of the Kilfenora Deanery parishes, a sentiment in tune with Bishop Michael’s more open vision which encourages us to transcend traditional parish boundaries, and old ways of operating. It was also suggested that the PPC bring on board someone with skills in counselling and therapy. It was suggested that we send a “welcome back” bookmark to every home in the parish, with parish times, details, and contact-numbers, and that, arising from our parish mission,we use the mission-books for congregational singing at Mass once a month, with respect and gratitude to our parish choirs. The significant decline in attendance at daily Mass raised the question as to whether there is a demand for it, and led to the question as to why our numbers at daily Mass have dropped so low? Thank you and congratulations to the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Finance committee who have proven themselves to be ahead of the posse with regard to what the Diocese is asking of us.