Newsletter 18th / 19th March 2023

FOR PARISHES OF ARDFINNAN, BALLYBACON, GRANGE & NEWCASTLE, FOURMILEWATER

Weekly Mass Times This Week

Saturday Newcastle- Our Lady of the Assumption – 5pm

Saturday Ardfinnan- Holy Family – 6.30pm

Sunday Fourmilewater– Our Lady & St. Laurence – 9am

Sunday Grange– St. Nicholas – 10.30am

Sunday Ballybacon- St. Mary’s – 12pm

Monday Newcastle- Our Lady of the Assumption – 10am

Tuesday Ardfinnan- Holy Family – 9:30am

Wednesday Fourmilewater– Our Lady & St. Laurence – 10am

Thursday Newcastle- Our Lady of the Assumption – NO MASS

Friday Ardfinnan- Holy Family – 9:30am

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

This takes place in our parishes on:
Tuesday’s 10-11am in Ardfinnan
Friday’s 2.30-3.30 in Newcastle

Everyone is welcome to come and spend some time in quiet prayer and adoration.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN LENT

These take place immediately after morning Mass on the following dates:

Wednesday 22 Mar – Fourmilewater

Friday 31 March – Ardfinnan

GRANGE CHURCH Many thanks to the parishioners who are opening and closing the church most mornings so people can come in and say a prayer or light a candle in our beautiful church.

 

THANK YOU

Many thanks for your contributions last week for the upkeep of our parishes and churches:

Ardfinnan/Ballybacon/Grange: €1,100
Newcastle / Fourmilewater: €689

CONFIRMATIONS This week, our Confirmation Candidates in Ardfinnan and Grange will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation by Bishop Cullinan. We pray in a special way for these candidates, and thank them for all their assistance in our Sunday and other liturgies throughout the year. Come Holy Spirit! 

 PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO PADUA – Sep 18th -23rd  2023

 

I am delighted to announce that our combined parish pilgrimage this year is to visit the Shrines of St Anthony in Padua.

 

Price: €889 per person sharing (Single supplement €225.00) and includes bus from Clonmel and Direct return flights from Dublin to Venice return (10kg bags included).
Our dear friend Mario will be our Joe Walsh Tours Representative throughout the tour with all transfers & tours in Italy by private coach
5 nights Hotel in Padua – Half Board, and a full religious programme
Optional travel Insurance available – There is also an option of an optional excursion to  Venice.

Booking with Joe Walsh Tours on 01-241 0800

(This trip will be made public for others to join if they wish on 1st April, so book now to avoid disappointment.!)

COLLECTIONS

After discussion with the parish council, we will be resuming the passing of the basket at the offertory at Mass from next Saturday / Sunday. Your contributions in the parish are vital in keeping the churches open, and we thank you most sincerely for your ongoing support. For those who would like to make a regular contribution, you can ask the sacristan / Fr Michael and a box of envelopes will be issued to you. Thank you again for your support!

 

WORLD YOUTH DAY

The Diocese of Waterford & Lismore is inviting young people from the diocese aged 18 – 35 to join us on Pilgrimage to Lisbon for World Youth Day,31st July -8th August 2023. More info on www.waterfordlismore.ie/pilgrimages

 

ARDFINNAN DAFFODIL DAY COFFEE MORNING: The Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Day Coffee Morning will be held in The Community Centre Ardfinnan from 9am to 12 on Friday March 24th. Please come along and enjoy a scone and cup of tea/coffee hosted by Peggy Scanlan. Your support will be very much appreciated. 

 

NEWCASTLE DAFFODIL DAY TEA / COFFEE EVENING: Newcastle Muintir Na Tire are holding their support to the Clonmel Daffodil Day Group after 5pm Mass next Saturday, 25th March in the Hall. Donations accepted on the night and a raffle will be held.  Your support will be very much appreciated. 

 

 

FLOWER TEAMS Many thanks to all who assist with the flowers arranging across our parish churches. If you would like to help the teams in anyway, especially in Newcastle Church,  please contact Fr Michael.

 

TROCAIRE BOXES

The Trocaire Boxes are now available in the Churches. Please take one home and thank you in advance for your usual generosity. They are usually returned in Holy Week.

ACCORD – JOIN OUR MARRIAGE PREPERATION TEAM

Accord are currently recruiting volunteers to train as marriage preparation facilitators. Marriage facilitators are part of a team that prepare couples for the sacrament of marriage. Couples find our courses fun, engaging and very relevant, while facilitators gain valuable life skills. If you are interested, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact marriagepreparation@accord.ie for more information.

“REVIVE THE WONDER” 

A 3-part series on the mystery of the Eucharist brought to you by the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore.  Tuesday, 21st, 28th March in St Oliver’s Parish Church, Clonmel at 7.30pm.  Engaging Presentations followed by a time of prayer.  All welcome to come for one night or for all. See Poster in Porches for details. More information on www.waterfordlismore.ie

 

CCTV CAMERAS / LIVESTREAM

Please note that for the protection and security of everyone CCTV cameras are in operation in our churches. All of our Masses are Live streamed in Ardfinnan and are at other times broadcast from Newcastle , Fourmilewater, Ballybacon and Grange on Churchservices.tv and Facebook Live pages.

 

BAPTISMS

Please contact Paddy in the Parish Office on 052-746 4408 or Fr Michael in Newcastle / Fourmilewater for those who wish to book baptisms in the coming months. We can now have two families at one time – but would ask that each family only bring a maximum of 15 people with them, to keep us all safe.

 

God bless, and keep safe!

Fr. Michael