Parish Newsletter
March 23/24
Parish
The Parish of Lisdoonvarna, Kilshanny, Doolin & Toovahera
Author
Very Rev. Robert McNamara PP
Mass Offerings
OUR LADY OF LOURDES, TOOVAHERA 5pm: Deceased members of the Donnellan family: J. and Lucy, Gerard and Geannie, Pearse and Kathleen, Mary, and young John, Mary and Michael Connolly. No Mass next week
ST.AUGUSTINE’S, KILSHANNY 7pm: John Joe and Mary McKeen. Matthew McInerney, Ballingaddy. PJ and Mary Considine, Porsoon.
HOLY ROSARY, DOOLIN 10am: Tess Jackson Months Mind. John, and John Gerard McNamara, Ballysallagh. McCarthy family, Ballyreen. NEXT WEEK: Mary Fitzgerald, 1st Anniversary. Paddy Garrahy, and deceased of the Garrahy and Hurley families, Riverfield House.
CORPUS CHRISTI, LISDOONVARNA 11.30am: William Hillary Caherbarna and Ruan, 1st Anniversary. NEXT WEEK: Martin Lafferty, 1st anniversary, his parents Mary and Paddy, and his daughter Mary.
9.30am Mass Monday in Lisdoonvarna, Nancy Kildea, Noughaval.
HOLY WEEK LITURGIES 2024.
Palm Sunday: all Masses this weekend begin 15 minutes earlier outside, weather permitting, for the blessing of palms and remembrance of Our Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem.
Holy Thursday: Chrism Mass: 11am, Cathedral of St. Nicholas and Our Lady, Galway. This Mass celebrates the unity of the Church-priests and people-of our Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh, and Kilfenora. Did you know that the ancient seat of our diocese was Kilfenora, and one of the bishops was Bishop O’ Tighearnaigh, who had also been Abbot of Kilshanny? If you want a lift please let me know.
Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Church of our Lady of Lourdes, Toovahera, 7pm.
Good Friday: Remembering what Jesus did for us on the Cross: Corpus Christi Church, Lisdoonvarna, 3pm, the hour of Divine Mercy.
Stations of the Cross: Holy Rosary Church, Doolin, 7pm.
The Easter Vigil: Church of St. Augustine, Kilshanny, 7pm. No Mass in Toovahera this evening.
Easter Sunday of Our Lord’s Resurrection: Toovahera 8am, Doolin 10am, Lisdoonvarna 11.30am.
Parish News
Thanks for last week’s collection: €1543.
NORTHCLARE HISTORCIAL SOCIETY: Early 19th century innovations in currach design and construction on the West Clare Coast, by Criostoir Mac Cartaigh, Monday, March 25th, 8pm, Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon.
TENDERS SOUGHT: resurfacing of parochial house avenue and grounds. Please revert to me by March 27th.
MARY’S MEALS: meeting on Spy Wednesday evening at 7.30pm in the parochial house.
ST. ENDA’S N.S. PILGRIMAGE AND MASS IN KNOCK: thank you to Mr. Carthy and Lourda for a great day.
KILSHANNY UPDATE: On Tuesday last, John Treacy and Ann-Marie Cusack, Heritage and Conservation Officers respectively, from Clare County Council, Fergus Merriman, heritage architect, Gerard Guerin of Guerin and Considine builders, John O’ Loughlin, Chair, Parish Finance Committee, and myself, met at Kilshanny church with the aim of getting the heritage grant of €25,000 to begin renovations. I am indebted to John O’Loughlin for his time and effort with this application.
ST.PATRICK’S PROTECTION BLESSING (from all evil): Christ be near at either hand, Christ behind before me stand, Christ with me where ere I go, Christ around, above,below. Christ be in my heart and mind, Christ within my soul enshrined, Christ control my wayward heart, Christ abide and ne’er depart. Christ my light and only way, Christ my lantern night and day, Christ be my unchanging friend,guide and shepherd to the end.
SOME REFLECTIVE MATERIAL FOR THE HOLIEST WEEK OF THE YEAR:
HOLY THURSDAY: WHY?
Why did it have to be a friend who chose to betray the Lord?
And why did he use a kiss to show them, that’s not what a kiss is for!
Only a friend can betray a friend, a stranger has nothing to gain,
And only a friend comes close enough to ever cause so much pain.
And why did it have to be a thorny crown pressed upon His head?
It should have been a royal one made of jewels and gold instead.
It had to be a crown of thorns, because in this life that we live,
For all that would seek to love, a thorn is all the world has to give.
And why did it have to be a heavy cross He was made to bear?
And why did they nail His feet and hands? His love would have held Him there!
It was across, for on a cross a thief was supposed to pay,
Jesus had come into the world to steal every heart away. (Michael Card.)
GOOD FRIDAY: THE FOURTH STATION (Jesus meets His afflicted Mother):
Where do you go my only Son in the springtime of the year? Is there another feast at Cana and other guests to cheer?
But why the wood upon your back and on your brown a thorn? And why those weary steps and slow upon this Friday morn?
And where have your disciples gone, Peter, James, and John? And why these cruel soldiers,and why this vengeful throng?
O tell me you go to Galilee, where the grape grows on the vine, that you go once more to Cana, to change water into wine!
I go no more to Cana, the wedding guests have fled, I travel now this Calvary Road, my living blood to shed. For I must shed my living blood upon the hill of shame,because it is my Father’s will, that I must take the blame.
I take all sin upon my head to set the captives free, I’ll let myself be mocked and scourged, and nailed upon a tree, my cross shall smash the fowler’s snare, my singing birds shall soar, my blood shall cleanse the world of sin, and open Heaven’s door. (Frank Holohan.)
EASTER SUNDAY: everywhere hope triumphs, Jesus is risen! Alleluia! Vera Drennan, a primary teacher, lost her beloved husband John of the New York Fire Department in 9/11. “Each spring, we would grow butterflies in the classroom. “Look, Mrs. Drennan!” the children would exclaim. Beautiful orange and black painted ladies on legs no thicker than an eyelash. We watch them wobble and fly. One perfect day, they went out to release them. The child who carried the box held it aloft with great honour. And we let them go one by one and watch them flutter weakly and then soar, and we felt such pride, such joy in being part of the wonder! A bird swoops, and swallows one of them. We learn the feeling of powerlessness. We could only stand by and watch. It’s a harsh reality, whether it’s a bird or hot flames that gobble up your dream,that steals what you love. Yet from the moment the cocoon shakes, or the labour begins, we know the fragility of life. We know the vulnerability once we allow ourselves to love. And still, isn’t life great, because in spite of it all, in spite of losing and pain, it’s worth loving, and we would have it no other way. Let’s take our chances. Loving is worth it. Miracles happen even if we can only treasure them for a little while.There’s no other way to do it.”