Sunday 14th October 2018

Ashbourne Church 11am

All welcome.

Fr. Derek & Fr. Ciarán would like to express their thanks to all who assisted with the ordination of Fr. Fergal Cummins to the priesthood  by Bishop Tom Deenihan in our parish last weekend.  We owe an immense gratitude to Mark Cowley, Cowley’s Haulage & Civil, for cleaning the church carpark, neighbouring businesses (AIB, Super Valu, Conway’s Pharmacy and The Stag’s Head) who offered their carparks to assist with parking; the Knights of St. Columbanus, and those who assisted with car parking.  Thanks to those who decorated the church environs with bunting, our stewards both within and outside the church, Kalef our caretaker, and Paddy and William, the caretakers of our Parish Hall.  Our thanks to those who prepared the vestments and oversaw the vesting of visiting priests.  Thank you to our Parish Safeguarding Reps, those who cleaned the church, sacristans and servers.  Our gratitude to those who prepared food, the many who looked after hospitality, Ephrem & Giovanna Feeley, Ashbourne Church Choir, musicians, cantors and psalmists, those who beautifully decorated the church with flowers, our Junior Readers who acted as ushers, and our Parish Pastoral Council.  To witness the involvement of so many of our parishioners made it a proud day for our parish and a memorable, blessed occasion for Fr. Fergal and his family.

Fr Fergal Cummins (29) was ordained a priest by Bishop Tom Deenihan on Sunday 30 September at 3pm in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ashbourne.  Among those present were his parents JJ and Frances Cummins, his sister Marie, Bishop Michael Smith, priests from the Diocese of Meath and elsewhere, friends from college, seminary and work, and many parishioners from Ashbourne.

The new priest celebrated Mass of Thanksgiving in his home parish, Saint Brigid’s Church, Rolestown on Monday 1 October at 7pm.

He takes up his ministry in St. Mary’s Parish, Drogheda in the coming weeks.

We invite as many parishioners as possible to join together in cleaning the church in preparation for the ordination on Saturday next, 29th September at 10.30am.  Cleaning must be completed by 1pm in order to facilitate the rehearsal for the ceremony.  Please bring cleaning products, marigolds, cloths etc.

Thank you to all who generously supported the second collection last weekend in support of the emergency relief effort in Kerala.  A total of €2,030 will be donated from the Parish.  The Kerala government have indicated 1,028,000 people are now in 3,200 relief camps across the southern state.  Officials said the death toll now stands at 410 since the monsoon started. This gesture of solidarity with the Malayalam community in Ashbourne will help support families and communities in Kerala as they rebuild their lives, homes and communities.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME

Educate Together NS                        Commences 18th September

First Class              Tuesdays    3.30pm-4.30pm

Second Class          Tuesdays    4.45pm-5.45pm

Gaelscoil na Mí                                 Commences 19th September

First Class              Wednesdays    3.30pm-4.30pm

Second Class          Wednesdays    4.45pm-5.45pm

CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME

Year I                                                     Commences 18th September

Tuesdays 3.30pm-4.30pm

Year II                                                    Commences 13th September

Thursdays 3.30pm—5.45pm

‘As I stand here and look out at this great congregation gathered in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, I cannot help but think back to exactly this time last week when I stood on the sanctuary near Pope Francis at the beginning of the closing Mass for the World Meeting of Families.  That gathering was truly a family of families; people from all over Ireland and from more than one hundred countries of the world gathered to praise and worship God with our Holy Father himself.

Last Sunday, when speaking to the bishops of Ireland at the end of his visit, Pope Francis encouraged us, as bishops, to be fathers and shepherds of our people.  He reminded us to be fathers and shepherds of prayer, of hope and of mission so that we can lead the family of families that is the people of God with wisdom, faith and charity.  In today’s ceremony I encourage you to pray for your bishop elect.  Being a bishop today, conscience of our own personal unworthiness and simpleness, we realise that is only by God’s grace that we can be true fathers and shepherds.  During our Mass today let us pray in thankfulness for the Episcopal Ministry of Bishop Michael Smith who has led the faithful in this diocese as a bishop, for thirty-five years. (Extract from address of Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of all Ireland)

PRAYER FOR OUR NEW BISHOP ELECT, TOM

Eternal God, Shepherd and Guide,

may Tom who will serve your Church

be a shepherd after your own heart,

who will walk in your ways

and with loving care, watch over your people.

May he be a leader of vision

and a teacher of your truth.

So may your name be glorified

and your  Church built up

through Christ our Lord.  Amen

Bishop- elect Tom’s episcopal ordination takes place Sunday 2nd September at 3pm in Christ the King Cathedral, Mullingar.  Please keep him in your prayers.