Fr Michael Toomey V.F. / P.P. / ADM.
Baptism of the Lord / First Week in Ordinary Time
6th / 7th January 2024
Website: www.abgnfparish.ie
☏ For Priest on Duty Please Call: 087- 6564170
✉ Please email us at: office@abgnfparish.ie
📫 The Parish Office, Holy Family Church, Ardfinnan, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
☏ Phone: 052 – 7464408 E Mail parishofagb@gmail.com
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
This takes place in our parishes on:
Tuesday’s 10-11am Ardfinnan & Friday’s 2.30-3.30 in Newcastle Everyone is welcome to come and spend some time in quiet prayer and adoration
WEEKLY DIOCESAN FAITH@HOME FAMILY NEWSLETTER AND TO THE HEIGHTS YOUTH NEWSLETTER available at www.waterfordlismore.ie/resources To subscribe weekly email faithathome@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
Parish Office Closure
Please note the Parish Office will be closed on 17th & 18th Jan
WEEKLY ENVELOPE BOXES
The new weekly boxes of envelopes will shortly be available in the churches. These envelopes are distributed to homes in the parish that request them at the beginning of every year to support the day to day running of the parish, and the upkeep of our buildings. They also include the Parish Development fund which goes towards costs in updating our churches (such as Painting in Ballybacon, re-carpeting and new lights in Ardfinnan, New Cemetery area in Fourmilewater, roof work in Newcastle and cleaning the outside area in Grange which was done in the last few years.)
I make a special appeal to all parishioners who regularly or annually contribute to our respective parishes. We can get a Tax Rebate at no extra cost to most parishioners which has allowed us to so far collect over €15,000 across our parishes in the last few years. This can only be done if we have parishioners who receive a weekly envelope box and will be invaluable going forward.
You have all been so generous in these weekly collections in the past and I thank you most sincerely for your support in ensuring our buildings are kept safe and up to date for future generations. Further information will be given in the coming weeks.
PRIESTS CHRISTMAS COLLECION
Sincere thanks for your donations over Christmas to the Clergy Collection in the parish. Your support is greatly appreciated.
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BAPTISMS Please contact the Parish Office on 052-746 4408 for those who wish to book baptisms in the coming months.
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCILS
An important part of any parish in planning and developing our parishes is our parish council teams. We always welcome input from parishioners who may wish to join and have their say in helping our local churches grow and support one another. There will be meetings of our local pastoral councils in the coming weeks particularly discussing how we can work closer together across our three parishes in this pastoral area and discussing the plan we need to put in place where there are a limited number of priests available. If you wish to have anything raised, or wish to be part of this important team, please contact one of the members, Fr Michael, or email office@abgnfparish.ie
Meetings will take place :
Newcastle / Fourmilewater – Monday 15th January 7.30pm in Newcastle Church
Ardfinnan – Tuesday 16th January 7.30pm in Ardfinnan Sacristy
MAINTENANCE TO BE ADDRESSED
There will be some work needed to be done in Ardfinnan church in the coming weeks as there has been a problem with the roof in the back sacristy / office area. While we have done our best to resolve the issue over the years, it will now need a significant amount of work and will cost around €20,000 to resolve.
A similar project may be needed and will be assessed in Fourmilewater Church where leaks occur at times of severe weather. There is also an issue in Grange Church where the back sacristy area will need work on the entrance areas.
The Parish Councils will discuss these issues at their next meetings, and it is hoped that more parishioners will consider sing the weekly envelope collection boxes, where the projects and development fund can be increased by the Tax Rebate Scheme to covert this cost.