The last bulletin published and available to Parishioners was for Sunday 8th March last. By the following Sunday attendance at Mass was suspended due to the coronavirus restrictions. The bulletin was published on-line for Parishioners and others to view or print off and share with family and neighbours. A liturgy page also appeared on the Parish website for the Sundays and solemnities that fell during the past months. I am gratefully to Mary McCann who uploaded all these for the benefit of Parishioners. The Bulletin will be published every two weeks – St Ciaran’s College, which is now open prints the bulletin.
As from Tuesday 1st September Parishioners can attend all Masses in the Parish.
Masks should be worn when attending Mass.
Please observe social distancing while in the Churches.
Those receiving Holy Communion can only do so on the hand – as was the norm last March.
In coming to receive please respect social distancing in the procession to the sanctuary.
Those attending are asked to bring a wipe with them to clean down the place where they were praying.
Like our homes, it is important to keep our Churches clean and hygienic.
After Mass, when outside the Church, please once again respect social distancing.
Attending any of the weekday Masses fulfils the Sunday obligation which has been suspended for the foreseeable future so please plan which Mass – you have six to choose from during the course of a week – suits you or your family.
Masses and intentions and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:
Saturday 5th 7pm* Church of the Immaculate Conception Isobel McDermott, Leta Quinn
Sunday 6th 11am St Malachy’s Church
Tuesday 8th 7pm* Church of the Immaculate Conception
Wednesday 9th 10am St Mary’s Church
Thursday 10th 7pm St Malachy’s Church
Friday 11th 7pm St Matthew’s Church Oliver O’Neill Month Mind
Saturday 12th 7pm* Church of the Immaculate Conception Seamus McCabe Month Mind
Sunday 13th 11am St Mary’s Church Conroy & McKenna Families
Tuesday 15th 7pm* Church of the Immaculate Conception
Wednesday 16th 10am St Mary’s Church
Thursday 17th 7pm St Malachy’s Church Rosaleen McDermott
Friday 18th 7pm St Matthew’s Church Frank McKenna Month Mind
Saturday 19th 11am St Mary’s Church Minnie Mullin Month Mind
Saturday 19th 7pm* Church of the Immaculate Conception John & Claire Devine
Sunday 20th 11am St Matthew’s Church John Donnelly, May Jane & Tommy McCrory
*webcam available via Parish website parishoferrigalciaran.com or mncmedia.com
Readers should check their rota especially for Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Readers for weekday Masses are always welcome.
Mass on Tuesday and Thursday evening should suit those working in the morning and facilitate families wanting to attend anniversary Masses and who wish to avoid the bigger crowds on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:
Wednesdays at St Mary’s Church, Dunmoyle after Mass til 11am
Thursdays at Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ballygawley 10am to 6pm at main Altar
Fridays at St Matthew’s Church, Garvaghey 4pm to 8pm
Please note that the above dates, times, and venues can change due to any change to guidelines during the present pandemic.
In our Parish risk assessment and preparing our Churches for public liturgy we had to work out numbers for each Church – Church of the Immaculate Conception 100; St Malachy’s Church 78; St Mary’s Church 66; St Matthew’s Church 50. This number is for single people attending, the number increases when family bubbles attend.
Sunday collection/Parish envelopes – in the new present day normal collections cannot be taken up but Parishioners can continue to contribute via Parish envelopes or loose plate by placing same at baskets provided as they enter the Churches or left at Parochial House. Please only leave envelopes or money when attending Mass – do not leave envelopes/money when the Churches are unattended. I am grateful to all who have contributed to Parish funds and the Priests Dues over the past months. Mod.
Sacrament of Baptism: we welcome into the Errigal Ciaran faith community Oisin Kevin McKenna; Peggy Jane McDermott; Cathair Dermot McCann; Padraig Conn Mullin; Daire Francis Kelly; Cobhlaith Eithna Conroy; Jason Ricky Harte; Grace Levi Kea Harte; Ailagh Áine-Márie Harte; Leo Mark Loughran; Emmett Joseph Wolfe; Cormac Patrick James McAnenly; Ethan Hugh McCullough who were Baptised during the past months.
Sacrament of Marriage: congratulations to Angela McGirr and Peter Rafferty; Laura Farrell and Finnian O’Callaghan; Maria O’Kane and Barry Campbell; Vincent Neil and Mary McCarthy who were married during the past months.
Lately deceased: Frank Gault, Fr Vin Darragh, Patrick Joseph (Joey) Quinn, Fr Tom Hamill, Charlie McMenamin, Kathleen Neary, Declan McGarrity, Anthony Goodwin, Margaret Montague, Dominic Small, Maureen Gaffney, Margaret Donnelly, Mickey Murphy, Rose-Ann Henry, Terence McGarvey, Mark Gillespie, Mostapha Tber, Dympna Mullin, Kathleen McCrystal, Kevin Murray, Maureen McLaughlin, Ada Early, Helen Ward, Francis McMullen, Philomena O’Rourke, Hughie McCann, Benny McNulty, Patrick McKenna, Jimmy Mullin, Teresa Whitehead, Kieran Hughes, Oliver O’Neill, Seamus McCabe, Ciara Cassidy, Frank McKenna, Minnie Mullin, John Donnelly who died during the past months.
May they all share the eternal life that Christ has won for us and may their families and friends be comforted and have the peace of the Risen Christ.
Errigal Ciaran Old Cemetery – Blessing of the Graves will take place this weekend, Sunday 6th September with Mass at 2pm at the cemetery.
Feasts: Tuesday 8th Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Wednesday 9th St Ciaran – Parish patron; Thursday 10th St Peter Claver; Saturday 12th St Ailbe, The Holy Name of Mary; Sunday 13th St John Chrysostom; Monday 14th Exaltation of the Cross; Tuesday 15th Our Lady of Sorrows; Wednesday 16th St Cornelius; Thursday 17th St Robert Bellarmine; Saturday 19th St Januarius; Sunday 20th Sts Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Paul Chong Ha-sang & companions’
A note from Fr. Leo. Some of you will know I’m about home these days. Due to concerns over the poor medical support, should there be a danger of contracting covid in my area, I was advised to take a repatriation flight out of Ghana. Thankfully things there are not to bad yet. Africa in general has fared better than other continents. I am now on transfer to Malawi and will be in Ireland until its borders open and my work visa for there is issued. Nothing is predictable at present. I know so many people who are unable to make any long-term plans. In the meantime, I’ll be based in Wicklow Town from Sept 6th taking a programme on Eco Spirituality following up on Pope Francis call to us to Care for the Earth – our common home. This course will help me in my work on the SELL Programme with young adults. (sharingeducationlearningforlife.org)
Those who have met me around know I’m walking as much as I can and greeting folk as I see them. I’ve not been going into people’s homes as that would be unwise in these present times. So, I just want to say Hello via our newsletter and I know you will understand if you don’t see me calling as I might have done in the past. We all pray together that this strange time will pass. I think of those who lost loved ones and could not be at their side, so sad. And for those who have family in nursing homes unable to freely visit them, very difficult.
I hope we will all learn from this time and will do all we can to support each other through life. It’s a short journey for all of us. Add a prayer that I’ll soon get back to where I should be! All the best and keep safe. Leo
Bulletin – the next bulletin will be published on September 20t