FR. DEREK’S FAREWELL MASS

All are welcome to join Fr Derek on Saturday, 15th June at 6pm in Ashbourne Church as our Parish prepares to say farewell to him.  We express our sincere thanks to him for his dedicated service, commitment and leadership throughout his ministry.  We will always be grateful to him for enriching the lives of the people of our parish and also for his guidance & assistance with the various groups and communities within the area.  We offer our appreciation to him as pastor and a friend since he was appointed as Curate for the parish in 2007 and Parish Priest in 2013.  We wish him the every blessing in his new appointment as Administrator in Mullingar Parish and Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Planning and Development for the Diocese of Meath, which he commences on the 17th June.  A reception with refreshments will take place in the Parish Hall after this Mass of Farewell.  As Bishop Tom visits our parish on Sunday 16th May, Fr. Derek will formally say farewell at all Masses the weekend of 8th/9th June. 

CEMETERY DEVOTIONS 2019

Killegland               Friday 24th May 7.00pm

Donaghmore          Sunday 26th May after 10.00am Mass

Ashbourne            Sunday 26th May after 12.30pm Mass

St. Declan’s            Sunday 26th May 6.00pm

Greenogue              Sunday 26th May 7.00pm

Bishop Deenihan has announced the following diocesan changes which will take effect on Monday 17th June next:

Fr Joe Gallagher, PP Tullamore to be Vicar General in addition to Fr Declan Hurley, Navan.

Fr Derek Darby, PP Ashbourne to be Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Planning and Development and Adm, Mullingar.  An Episcopal Vicar is a priest appointed by the Bishop to oversee an important aspect of Diocesan life on the Bishop’s behalf.

Fr Joe Clavin, PP Dunshaughlin to be AP Dunshaughlin, residing in Culmullen.

Fr Paddy Keary, PP Clara to retire.

Fr John Conlon, PP Duleek to be Adm Donore in addition.

Fr Sean Henry, PP Trim to be PP Dunshaughlin.

Fr Gabriel Flynn, AP Dunboyne to DCU and on loan to Dublin, Pro Tem.

Fr Joe Deegan to be PP Clara.

Fr Phil Gaffney, PP Saint Mary’s, Drogheda to be Adm Holy Family in addition.

Fr David Bradley, PP Holy Family, Drogheda to be PP Multyfarnham.

Fr Paul Crosbie, Adm, Mullingar to be PP Trim.

Fr John Nally, PP Ballynacargy to be PP Ashbourne. Read the full post »

We congratulate the children from St. Mary’s, Gaelscoil na Cille, St. Declan’s and the Sacramental Preparation Programme who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this weekend.  We welcome Bishop Tom, Bishop Michael and Fr. Declan as they join our parish community to confirm the students in the Holy Spirit through anointing with the oil of Chrism.  We pray for them: may they deepen their commitment in practising and living out their faith, grow in love of the Lord, and worship in the faith-community in which they have no become full members.  May this moment of special grace sustain them in faith, hope and love.  We thank the parents involved in our parish preparation programme: ‘Confirming our Children’, the Principals, teachers and staff of our schools and Parish Sacramental Preparation Programme, and all who supported the children in their preparation for the sacraments.

Congratulations to the children from St. Mary’s, Gaelscoil na Cille, Gaelscoil na Mí, St. Declan’s and Educate Together NS who receive their First Holy Communion this month.  We pray for them and their families: may this moment of special grace sustain them in faith, hope and love.  We thank the parents involved in our parish preparation programme: ‘Do This in Memory’, the Principals, teachers and staff of our schools and Parish Sacramental Preparation Programme, and all who supported the children in their preparation for the sacraments.

We are recruiting a new Parish Secretary

 Applications are invited for the post of Parish Secretary in Ashbourne-Donaghmore Parish which will become available towards the end of the summer.

• The successful candidate will have substantial clerical/administration experience (two to five years’ experience a desirable minimum).
• Good computer skills including the use of the internet, email, Microsoft Word and Excel. Microsoft Publisher would also be desirable.  A knowledge of basic book-keeping and record keeping.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team.

Letters of application with enclosed up-to-date Curriculum Vitae should be sent to the Parish Office, Frederick Street, Ashbourne, Co. Meath or emailed to info@ashbourneparish.ie.

Closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Friday 24th May 2019.

Further job description information available on request from the Parish Office.

POPE FRANCIS CONDEMNS SRI LANKAN BOMBINGS

Pope Francis denounced the “cruel violence” and “grave attacks” on Sri Lankan Christians as they celebrated Mass on Easter Sunday morning last.  He led thousands in praying for the 359 people who innocently and tragically died from the suicide bombings.  British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt lamented, “To attack Christian worshippers at Easter, which is a celebration of peace and the holiest day in the Christian calendar, betrays in the attackers an absence of the most basic values of humanity.”

Prayer for Sri Lanka:    

As brothers and sisters in your family we are called to care for one another and to carry each other’s burdens.

Open our hearts to our brothers and sisters who suffer because they voiced their faith in you,

because they bear the name of Christian,

because they dare to proclaim your name.

May they know that across the miles, beyond the silence, we add our prayers to yours for them.

Teach us how we can make a difference to their lives.

Turn our hearts to the members of your family who cry to you for help.  Amen.

Good Friday Reflection 2019

 ​(Fr. Derek Darby)​

This year’s Good Friday centre-piece​, created by Jessie Heung and Jane Singleton from Ashbourne Community School,​ focuses on the corpus of Jesus Christ.  The body of Christ-crucified is depicted as wood, sand and flesh.  As the figure of Christ crucified is three dimensional, so too there are three spiritual dimensions which invite us to reflect more deeply on the Passion and death of Jesus:

 Sand:

The sand on part of Jesus’ body, recalls the beginning of Lent where, ‘The Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days’ (Mt. 4:1).  There in the aloneness of the desert surrounded by sand, Jesus was tempted by the devil, lured by the promise of food and the glory of power should he bow before Satan.  In his weakened state, Satan derides Jesus: ‘If you are the ‘Son of God’, while at the same time challenging God to protect him should he throw himself off ‘the parapet of the Temple’.  The sand reminds us that throughout his desert experience, Jesus was protected by God who never abandoned him.  He experienced God’s strength, resolve, fortitude and love.  In a special way, the sand reminds us of our utter dependence on God at times when we need Him most.  Like Jesus, we surrender ourselves to Him.

 Wood:

The wood grain on a portion of Jesus’ body transports us from the manger to the cross.  As Jesus’ journey on earth begins with the wood of the manger, so does it end—not with the warm, welcoming wood of the manger, but with the rough wood of the cross.  Read the full post »